The synod recently farewelled legal counsel Peter Shepherd following 17 years of dedicated service.
Mr Shepherd commenced work with the synod in 1999 and during his tenure he navigated the synod’s complex legal arrangements with calmness and professionalism.
Over those years, Mr Shepherd has provided property law advice, reviewed commercial agreements and government loan contracts, advised on copyright issues, examined trusts arising from bequests and supervised and mentored solicitors in the legal team.
Synod property officer Jim Milne paid tribute to Mr Shepherd at an afternoon tea held at the synod centre.
“Peter’s dedicated involvement in the Uniting Church has been extraordinary,” he said.
“This involvement extended over nearly four decades and during that period, he has been church council chairperson, presbytery representative, board secretary, congregation secretary and church council member, to mention a few roles that he has carried out.”
Mr Shepherd worked with law firm MacKinnon Jacobs Horton and Irving for 20 years before joining the synod’s Property, Insurance and Legal team.
Mr Milne said Mr Shepherd’s extensive tenures at both jobs demonstrated his level of commitment to his work.
Outside the Church, Mr Shepherd coaches basketball for adults with an intellectual disability and was a member of his local Rotary club for more than 15 years.
“On behalf of all those people that you have worked with, connected with, assisted and supported, thank you for your enormous contributions in all of your roles over the past 17 years and especially as synod legal counsel,” Mr Milne said.
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