More than a century of service to Western Australia
From an inaugural meeting of 29 Justices in 1916 to a Royal association serving JPs across the state.
From the Police Court to Royal patronage
The Justices Association of Western Australia held its inaugural meeting on 20 June 1916 at the Police Court, with 29 in attendance and annual subscriptions set at £1-1-0. Mr. Good served as the association’s first President, and the association incorporated in March 1917. Of approximately 1,500 JPs statewide in 1917, 241 joined in that first intake.
On 1 April 1963, Queen Elizabeth II granted Royal Patent status, establishing the Royal Association of Justices of Western Australia (Inc.) — RAJWA.
Women on the bench since 1920
Women began serving as JPs in Western Australia in 1920. Parliamentary opposition led to the Women Justices Association of Western Australia forming in 1925; it dissolved in 2008 once female JPs achieved equal standing across all roles.
His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM
His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM was sworn in as the 34th Governor of Western Australia on 15 July 2022.
The Dawson family have been part of the early colonial settlers over five generations of farming and law enforcement. The Governor’s great-great-grandparents arrived in the then Swan River colony in Western Australia in 1830.
Chris Dawson AC APM was educated at Perth Modern School before joining the Western Australia Police Force in 1976, going on to provide 46 years of service in Australian law enforcement.
He served in country and metropolitan positions, criminal investigation, training and senior roles. The Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2002 saw him awarded the Australian Police Medal for distinguished service. After 10 years as Deputy Commissioner, he left WA for a national role in Canberra between 2014 to 2017 as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Crime Commission, amalgamating several agencies into the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. He also served as Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology during this period.
He was appointed Commissioner of the Western Australia Police Force in August 2017, serving until July 2022. During the period of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Commissioner Dawson coordinated the State of Emergency and the Vaccine program.
In the Australia Day Honours List for 2023, Governor Dawson was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to public administration through law enforcement roles, to reconciliation, and as the 34th Governor appointed in Western Australia. He is married to Darrilyn Dawson, Education Consultant, with two married children and five grandchildren.
