John is only one of three across the Northern Tablelands to be honoured recently and local MP Adam Marshall went to Inverell last Friday to bestow the honour on the retired farmer.

Mr Marshall presented him with a certificate acknowledging his contribution to his community – he’s been a Justice of the Peace for over 50 years. “I think I was about 24 when an old mentor of mine, Jack Black (a former legendary Ashford Shire president and civic leader) suggested I become a JP because there was a need; I think at the time there were only a couple around the area,” John said.

Since then, John’s seen duty as the JP who officially signs all manner of personal and professional papers for people. “It’s been pretty plain sailing though, most people just turn up on the doorstep at home to get you to witness something for them,” Mr Hodgens said. “But it’s different now again because where there was once only a couple of us in the immediate area, now I think there’s something like 50 or 60 around Inverell.”

Mr Marshall has applauded John’s raft of other endeavours and contributions to the community including volunteer in the bushfire brigade, recorder for local rugby union matches and aiding in the Kurrajong re-enactment event in 2016 with his wife Ann. 

His certificate records the laudatory length of service of John Wymondham Hodgens by the NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton. John admitted his second name is a long-ago family one that has some certain irony in his lifetime, too.

“It’s a mouthful that Wymondham word,” John said. “I think I was about 14 before I could pronounce it properly and my father told me I think that it was after Wymondham Abbey and a great great great something grandfather – but I think he was hung by the neck by a king – for trying to free serfs.”