Geoffery Andrew Ajduk was born in Perth in May 1954. He was the first magistrate of Croatian descent. He graduated from UWA and was admitted as a legal practitioner in May 1979. He worked for the WA Legal Aid Commission, the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department, the Wa Ombudsman’s Office and was appointed Resident Magistrate at Port Hedland.
He was also a champion lawn bowler. In 1982 he became champion of champions in the state singles competition. In the same year he won the Rosenthal Medal. In 1985 he won the Alan Eddy medal for best performance bowler for Western Australia. He played for Western Australia from 1983 to 1987 and in 1986 was the state side skipper. 1
He passed away on 14 January 1993 after a two year battle with skin cancer. He was only 38 years old. In a tribute to Geoff, Chief Magistrate Con Zempilas said: “His dignified courage and cheerful devotion to duty in his darkest hours will be an inspiration to all those who practice the law”. 2
The Magistrate’s Society of WA annually awards the Geoff Ajduk Memorial Prize to a Western Australian law student who demonstrates a commitment to social justice and community service.
- West Australian, 15 January 1993, page 79.
- Sunday Times, 17 January 1993, page 31