A sea change for city magistrate
A RESPECTED magistrate has been appointed to the north Queensland town of Bowen after making an impressive mark in the Ipswich legal community.
Haydn Stjernqvist has presided over 55 courts for the past 12 years, and has spent a considerable amount of time in Ipswich.
Having lived in Toowoomba for more than a decade, Mr Stjernqvist was ready for a sea change and will live in Airlie Beach - taking care of Bowen, Ayr and Proserpine Magistrates Courts.
Mr Stjernqvist said the Ipswich legal fraternity was of a high quality, and he said he would miss being in the local courthouse.
"The professionals around here have a really good standing at the bar - both as solicitors and in prosecutions," Mr Stjernqvist said.
Since 2000, Mr Stjernqvist has worked tirelessly with the Ipswich Women's Centre against Domestic Violence, and has supported the unit co-ordinator of the legal practice unit and bar practice unit at QUT by assisting in the drafting of scenarios to assist in the practical training of law graduates.
"I co-wrote and delivered an article with the Warden of the Bar Practice Course on managing expectations for other stakeholders spoke in November 2010 at Bond University," Mr Stjernqvist said.
Since 2003 Mr Stjernqvist has volunteered to examine readers for mock hearings at the magistrates' court in Brisbane.
"I have participated in panels to discuss the effects of the Moynihan reforms on the magistrates court jurisdiction to the Ipswich District Law Association," he said.
Mr Stjernqvist has presided over large call-over and sentences in all jurisdictions, including State and Commonwealth, and has been involved in fundraising for the Leukaemia Foundation and the Brisbane Children's Hospital after participating in the K's 4 Country Kids bike ride each year.
The magistrate said he hoped to be based in Airlie Beach by mid-January.
