JOYCE PINCHIN

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—I wish to acknowledge Joyce Pinchin for her service to the people of Maitland. Joyce is 86-years-old and has volunteered for the Justice Advocacy Service at Maitland Local Court for the last 12 years. Joyce has spent her life giving back, working in our courts supporting vulnerable people, many with cognitive impairments, to change the trajectory of their lives. Clients actively seek out Joyce and ask for her support because of her reputation as someone who does not judge and genuinely wants to help and see them do better. The clients Joyce supports feel disempowered and come with a multitude of issues, but Joyce gives them a voice. The respect Joyce has from services, court staff, Magistrates and the legal fraternity demonstrates the valuable work she does to advocate in an incredibly vulnerable setting with a diverse clientele. Joyce fills in the gaps of an often-unjust system which often sees the most vulnerable in our community slip through the cracks. Joyce is no longer able to drive which has meant that she will no longer support clients at Maitland Local Court. However, Joyce will continue to support clients at Cessnock, where she lives. Thank you Joyce.