ELIZABETH Grace decided to follow in the footsteps of her community-minded father when she decided to become a Justice of the Peace 25 years ago.
Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki MP recently hosted a morning tea for Mrs Grace and Tony McDonald to thank them for their 25 years' service as JPs and to present them with commemorative certificates.
Mrs Grace was a teacher for 16 years before she was elected as the Federal Member of Parliament for the seat of Lilley from 1996 to 1998.
She was awarded an OAM in 2011 for her dedicated volunteer work in numerous community organisations.
Mrs Grace is currently involved in the Local Ambulance Committee, Quota, and is the chairman of the residents committee where she lives at Willow Glen Retirement Community.
"I meet a lot of new people as a JP and I enjoy doing it," she said.
Mr McDonald enjoyed a long career as a civil engineer in local government and is a life member of the Centenary Heights State High School P&C. He is a civil engineer for Harrison Infrastructure Group.
He was also named runner-up in the 2015 USQ Community Service Alumnus of the Year category.
Mr Janetzki thanked Mrs Grace and Mr McDonald for their service to the community.
"It is a long-standing achievement to serve the community as a JP for 25 years and I congratulate and thank Mrs Grace and Mr McDonald for their invaluable time and commitment to this very important community role," Mr Janetzki said.