The annual Greater Dandenong Australia Day Awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by people within our community who work tirelessly to enrich the lives of others.
Keysborough resident Joe de Souza JP has been recognised as the Greater Dandenong Citizen of the Year for 2023.
Mr de Souza is a familiar face for many in the Springvale community as he can regularly be found witnessing documents at Springvale Community Hub’s Document Signing Station.
He has been a Justice of the Peace (JP) for 46 years, and leads a team of 15 people at Springvale, which is the busiest signing station in Victoria.
At 93 years of age, Mr de Souza has spent much of his life helping the community, including supporting the Springvale Youth Club, now Springvale Leisure and Activities Centre (SLAC) and The Bridge adult disability service.
“When I came to Australia I had nothing but the promise of a better life and I always knew I wanted to put back into the community that supported me,” Mr de Souza said.
Born in Burma and living in India before he came to Australia, Mr de Souza said his background helped him support people who were confused by the paperwork they need signed by a JP.
“Greater Dandenong is such a multicultural mix with people of all nationalities and it can be difficult for some of them to understand what is happening. With my background I can speak their language and help them understand,” Mr de Souza said.
As a father to six, grandfather to eight and great-grandfather to eight, Mr de Souza encourages everyone to ‘love thy neighbour’ and take care of your fellow man.
