Other Newsletters
May 2023 Update
We are keen sponsors of junior sports and during the summer sports season we have again sponsored the swimming clubs of Cootamundra, Gundagai, Junee, and Tumut. The benefits of sponsoring at a community level is that we are doing our bit to provide local children with more opportunities.
Swimming is said to build a child’s confidence, enhances water safety, is great for overall physical & mental health and improves memory & coordination.
This season saw many friendships and PB’s made.
Cootamundra Swimming Club enjoyed a strong season with several members attending the Speedo Sprints competition in Sydney and also several swimmers progressing through to the Australian Age Championships in Queensland last month. Gundagai Swimming Club was fortunate to have 70 children participating. They had 9 electronically timed swimming club nights this season and two training sessions each week. They were also fortunate to have Olympic medallist James Magnussen host a coaching clinic early in the season Junee swimming club had a bumper membership of 72 children. Their carnival attendance increased, and they won the Southern District Carnival march past at Tumut. Two of their swimmers attended the Speedo Sprints competition in Sydney. Tumut Swimming Club has had a great season with strong membership numbers. They have put our sponsorship towards new lap clocks.
Here are a few photo highlights of the recent season.
March 2023 Update
JMA staff and their families were very excited to be part of the Coota Beach Volleyball event recently, and everyone had a lot of fun in the sand!
Coota Beach is a yearly event held on the 3rd weekend of February. 136 Beach volleyball teams converged on a town 400km from the coast, with a beach created in the street with 9 courts using over 700 tonnes of sand. The event has gone from strength to strength over the last 20+ years.
COVID lockdowns saw the event (along with many others) cancelled during the last two years, so it was great to be part of the Coota Beach comeback and the whole town supported the event in many different ways. We experienced typical sunny February weather (albeit a little warm as temperatures headed towards 40 deg), lots of visitors to our town and a great uplifting vibe that was contagious!
Huge congratulations go to the Coota Beach Volleyball committee for all their hard work putting together an awesome event and such a wonderful community experience. Coota Beach is a 3-day event with schools competing on day 1. The following 2 days saw the adults take over the courts. This year there were 1100+ players and 2500+ spectators.
Out in the Community – December 2022
As a firm we are always pleased to assist in our local communities. Recently we sold lolly bags at Christmas on Sheridan in Gundagai and Party on Parker in Cootamundra to raise funds for two of our local Public Schools, Gundagai South and EA Southee in Cootamundra.
Chop the Mop
JMA Legal were one of the many donating funds to Jason Baldocks ‘Chop the Mop’ raising funds for Can Assist Cootamundra. The big chop occurred at Party on Parker Thursday 15th December.
Jason and his wife Tania have done an amazing job raising funds for such an important cause – now more than $100,000. JMA Legal managing director John English supported Jason with his legal research in the lead up and also assisted with cutting off the dreadlocks on the big day.
Its not too late to donate to this worthy cause until Thursday 22nd December. Click here to donate, or to Can Assist directly after that date.
Rebecca Hartshorne Admission
We are very proud to announce that Rebecca Hartshorne has been admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW as a solicitor. Director Amanda Tully attended with Rebecca to move that she be admitted.
Rebecca grew up in Adelaide, and after extensively travelling the world began studying a Bachelor of Laws at Southern Cross University in Lismore. She joined JMA Legal in 2021 as a law graduate working primarily at our Tumut office.
Cootamundra Business Awards
JMA Legal are a very proud sponsor of the Cootamundra Business awards. The Business awards showcase the passion and dedication of our local businesses. This year we had the pleasure of sponsoring the Excellence in Innovation Award.
JMA Legal were thrilled to be nominated for the Excellence in Business Award (21+employees) this year and very honoured to have won. (Picture attached – Directors Amanda Tully & Michaela Schmidt and Managing Director John English). We have now moved forward to the next round of the Business Awards representing our region alongside the other Cootamundra Business Award winners in the 2022 Murray-Riverina Reginal Business Awards. Regional Winners will be announced at the gala evening on Friday 21 October at the Whitton Malt House in Whitton.
Picture above are Directors Amanda Tully and Michaela Schmidt and Managing Director John English.
May 2022 Update
JMA Legal are thrilled to have the opportunity to sponsor Junior team sports in our regional areas. We are always inspired by the drive and dedication of the volunteer committee members. They give up their time to mentor and striving to make a difference in young athlete’s lives. We are equally inspired by the young athletes who attend training each week and push themselves to improve and strive for that new personal best time.
Last summer sports season we sponsored 4 regional swimming clubs in Cootamundra, Gundagai, Junee & Tumut. Pictured are some of the happy members of the Junee Swimming Club. It was wonderful that they could attend various carnivals throughout the swimming season.
One of the Junee swimming club committee members Noel has commented that he still always enjoys coaching the swimmers and is now coaching the children of former swimming club members he coached many years ago.
We also sponsored the JMA Legal “No Witnesses” Futsal team in the recent Wagga Wagga competition. They eventually won the Wagga Futsal grand final in the u14 division. It was a great effort given that they had players travelling to Wagga each week from Harden, Cootamundra, Illabo, Junee, and Tumut.
Managing Director of JMA Legal John English, whose son Alex plays in the team was there to cheer them on and get in on the action in a team photo.
February 2022 Update
This summer sports season we are assisting Tumut, Junee, Gundagai and Cootamundra swimming clubs. With our support Tumut Swimming Club have purchased new kickboards & pullbouys. Junee Swimming club are using our sponsorship to update computers and electronic timers.
Gundagai Swimming club have now been able to update their pace clocks and Cootamundra Swimming Club are organising new team shirts for their members.
We are delighted to support our local swimming clubs as they teach important life skills like water safety, time management, having a healthy lifestyle, social skills, work ethic, team work – a multitude of benefits.
Presentation at St Patrick’s Gundagai
Congratulations to St Patricks student Dale for receiving the “Christian Character in thought, word & action, selfless & faith- filled, courageous in overcoming diversity and believes and acts accordingly to their beliefs” award.
Gundagai staff member Kim Paton presented the award on behalf of JMA Legal. Well done Dale 🙂
Staff member Libby admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW as a Solicitor
We are very proud to announce that Libby Combes has been admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW as a solicitor. Director Michaela Schmidt attended with Libby to move that she be admitted.
Libby grew up on a sheep and cattle station near Mudgee, and after finishing her legal studies moved to the Hilltops region and joined JMA legal.
Cootamundra Christmas Party on Parker
JMA staff were very excited to be able to help out again this year selling lolly bags to raise funds for Cootamundra Riding for the Disabled. It’s a lovely opportunity to meet and greet all the locals as well as supporting a good cause. Our lolly bags are in high demand selling out in record time!
JMA Legal Tumut: Winter sports sponsorship
This winter sports season JMA Legal Tumut is sponsoring the Tumut Bullants Junior Rugby Union Club.
Tumut Junior Rugby Union Club, the “Bull Ants”, is a successful club that aims to introduce young players to the game of rugby union in a friendly and enjoyable club atmosphere.
The Bullants have used our sponsorship funds to purchase the materials necessary to build much needed shelving in their storage facility. Pictured in the bottom right hand photo is Kim Paton, Paralegal with JMA Legal, presenting the sponsorship to Club president Steve Carter and two club players.
JMA Legal Gundagai: Winter sports sponsorship
JMA Legal are very pleased to offer sponsorship to our local sports clubs each year. This winter sports season two of the teams we are sponsoring are Gundagai Netball Club and Junee Netball Club.
Gundagai Netball Club are planning to use their funds to assist in the purchase of jackets for the players to keep the players warm on our chilly winter days.
This photo is of some of the junior players with JMA Legal Law Graduate Maxine Hayes (back row left) as she presented them with our sponsorship at a recent training session.
Junee Netball Club are using their funds to support their health and wellbeing program. They plan to employ a club exercise physiologist and they hold Yoga/Pilates sessions to assist their players to get the best start they can both physically and mentally.
Elouera Special School Fundraiser
Celebrate Coota Shop Local over Christmas
Shopping local supports our economy, the employment of local people, sporting groups and our community in general. JMA Legal is again participating in the Celebrate Coota Shop Local initiative to encourage the community to shop local during the Christmas period.
On the topic of Christmas, we would like to extend our best wishes to our valued clients and referrers for a peaceful festive season and a well-earned break after what has been a challenging year.
Our office will close at 4.00 pm on Wednesday 23rd December 2020 and will reopen for business as usual on Monday 4th January 2021.
New premises in Gundagai
We have relocated our Gundagai office – not too far – in fact just next door to where we were! We are now at 197 Sheridan Street, Gundagai.
Sock it to Suicide
World Suicide Prevention Day was held on September 10, with our staff participating in the Sock It to Suicide initiative, by donning their colourful socks to raise awareness of the high number of people taking their own lives.
According to research, suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and, for every suicide, another 25 individuals attempt to take their own lives. The initiative aims to raise awareness of these alarming statistics and to encourage conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.
JMA Legal Staff Achievements
JMA Legal is pleased to announce the recent achievements of two of our valued team members.
Karen Lewin reached a milestone as we celebrated her 10th year with JMA Legal. Karen has been a Licensed Conveyancer since March 2010 and a Justice of the Peace since 1992.
As a member of the property group, Karen focuses on residential and rural sales and purchases within the Gundagai and Tumut region and assists the commercial group with various property transactions, keeping staff up to date with new conveyancing processes, particularly electronic conveyancing.
She also has extensive experience in the administration of deceased estates, provides probate and property training to team members, and is a regular contributor to the local newspapers, writing articles related to conveyancing topics.
As one of the first members to embrace electronic conveyancing, Karen is a Pexa Electronic Conveyancing Specialist, providing regular training and support to other fee earners.
You can read more about Karen here
Michele Collingridge has successfully completed studies with the Macquarie Law School to qualify for the grant of an unrestricted Conveyancing Licence, enabling her to provide further assistance to our team and clients.
As a strong member of the property conveyancing team Michele has extensive experience in:
• Residential sales and purchases
• Small rural sales and purchases; and
• Electronic settlements.
Michele also provides support to other team members, helps train new staff members and provides support to the Directors of JMA Legal in larger property transactions, gaining invaluable skills and expertise as she moves forward as part of the team. Michele looks forward to continuing and building her reputation amongst her clients and legal colleagues as a reliable and efficient professional.
You can read more about Michele here
Celebrate Coota Shop Local Initiative
This year, JMA Legal is participating in the Celebrate Coota Shop Local initiative, which aims to encourage the community to support local businesses by shopping in their hometown.
Small business is the backbone of our country, and while running an enterprise is tough at the best of times, the past months have posed challenges well beyond those ordinarily expected during the usual lifespan of a business.
By shopping locally, you are supporting the local economy, the employment of local people and also your local sporting groups and community in general.
We recognise the importance of shopping locally to encourage the health and sustainability of the community and we are proud to support and participate in this initiative.
Bushfire Support
Our nation continues to experience the fiercest and most devastating bushfires we have ever seen. We all know how much has been lost – the numbers are devastating.
As our firefighters continue to battle the blazes, those that have been directly impacted by the fires are starting to or are continuing to take stock of their loss.
In true Australian style, everyone wants to help and there is assistance available to those impacted from numerous sources.
Throughout this tough time, we will be doing all we can to assist and support those impacted.
Initially, we hosted free information/support days in January at our Tumut and Gundagai offices.
We would like to reassure those directly impacted by the fires that our support will continue.
We will continue to assist with:
- Completing forms for available/suitable types of disaster relief including printing and sending documents and being a point of contact (if you wish) when you make any applications.
- Directing you to the appropriate organisation or people for your needs.
- Certifying documents, photocopying, sending or forwarding emails on your behalf.
- Researching what additional help is available through the internet.
- Reviewing insurance policies.
- Replacement of title applications or any other registered documents.
- Completing statutory declarations.
Should you require assistance please contact us by telephone or email:
Ph: 1800 618 869 (Toll Free)
E: [email protected]
Raising funds for Headspace & Cootamundra Wattle Time Fair
We recently participated in the Push-Up challenge raising funds for the Youth Mental Health Foundation – Headspace. The staff involved committed to completing a large number of push-ups (or an alternative form of exercise) each day for 1 month and raised much needed funds through sponsorship.
In early 2020 we held a “soup kitchen” stall at the Cootamundra Wattle Time Fair selling mugs of delicious homemade gourmet soup with a crusty baguette, again with all funds donated to Headspace.
Useful Contact details:
AFCA – Australian Financial Complaints Authority – Ph: 1800 931 678
ASIC – Money Smart – Financial Guidance – Ph: 1300 300 630
ATO – Australian Taxation Office – Emergency Support Infoline Ph: 1800 806 218
National Bushfire Recovery Agency – [email protected]
Department of Human Services – Disaster Support Ph: 180 22 66
DPI – Department of Primary Industries – Disaster Hotline Ph: 1800 814 647
Financial Rights Legal Centre – Ph: 1300 663 464
Insurance Council of Australia – Disaster Hotline: 1800 734 621
Justice Connect – Legal assistance to individuals or business not eligible for legal aid – Ph: 8599 2100
Law Access/Legal Aid – Disaster Response Hotline Ph: 1800 801 529
LLS – Local Land Services – Disaster Hotline Ph: 1800 814 647
NSW Land Registry Services – Ph: 8776 3575
BlazeAid – 0418 530 471
NSW Rural Assistance Authority – Ph: 1800 678 593
Red Cross – Ph: 1800 733 276
Revenue NSW – Ph: 1300 138 118
RSL Defence Care – Ph: 8088 0388
Salvation Army – Ph: 1300 662 217
Service NSW – Ph: 13 77 88
St Vincent de Paul Society – Ph: 13 18 12
Mental Health:
Farmers and business owners in bushfire-affected areas can access Farm Gate counsellors and peer support workers on Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
GriefLine: 1300 845 745
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
Lifeline: 13 11 14
MensLine: 1300 789 978