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DOWNS & SOUTH WEST QLD LAW ASSOCIATION

Management Committee

President

Alysha Jacobsen

Alysha holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, being amongst the first cohort of graduates in 2011. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland in October 2012. Alysha has worked in the criminal law sector in Toowoomba for over 10 years.

Alysha is a Senior Associate at Bouchier Khan Lawyers and she appears almost daily in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on a range of criminal, domestic violence and traffic matters. She appears in Courts across the Darling Downs and regularly appears in the District and Supreme Courts.

​In 2020, 2021 and 2022 she was named in the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland Inspo List of women who have inspired. She was awarded the DSWQLA Regional Lawyer of the Year in 2023.

Alysha has also served as our Vice President and Marketing Officer in 2023.

Kirstie Smith

Vice President

Kirstie is a Mununjali, Yugembeh woman practicing in criminal law with Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – Toowoomba (ATSILS) on Giabal and Jarowair country and a Lecturer in Law at University of Southern Queensland. She is the first person in her immediate family to not only finish high school, but also go to university. Kirstie has experience working in both prosecution and criminal defence, allowing her clients the confidence of having culturally supportive and sensitive representation.

Kirstie was admitted in 2020 and commenced on DSWQLA general committee in 2022. A mother of three, she worked full-time at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions while studying her dual degree, and undertaking volunteer roles with USQLS, Social Justice Commission Dignity Project, Off the Chain K9 Rescue Toowoomba, and tutoring Indigenous students at USQ under the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS).

She is a member of the Future Leaders Committee with QLS, Women Lawyers Association Queensland, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Inc, and Indigenous Lawyers Association Queensland. Kirstie continues her volunteer work through both DSWQLA and the Social Justice Commission Dignity Project.

Kirstie is on our Early Career Lawyers Sub-committee, Regional & Rural Roadshow sub-committee, the Law Ball Sub-committee, the Annual Cocktail Function Sub-committee, and the Law Right Legal Walk Sub-committee. She is routinely invited to speak on panels in the areas of criminal law, and First Nations issues.

Jon Wiedman

Secretary

Jon was admitted in 1997 and is a partner at Hede Byrne & Hall Lawyers. Jon currently practices in all things succession; drafting wills and powers of attorney, estate administration and estate litigation.

Jon is a member of the QLS Succession Law Committee.

Outside of law, he has qualifications in first aid and sports medicine, and is the senior sports trainer at the Coolaroo Football Club.

Alexandra Edwards

Treasurer

Alex was admitted in 2019 and is a solicitor with Wonderley & Hall. She practices predominantly in Wills & Estates to assist people who are preparing for or navigating some of life's toughest moments.

Alex grew up in the Toowoomba region; having completed her high school studies locally and obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Southern Queensland. Alex is well established in our region and recognises the importance of our small community mentality and the benefits of connections.

Alex is on our Early Career Lawyers Sub-committee.
Alex has served as our Treasurer in 2021 and 2022 and remained on the Committee in 2023.

Bill Munro

Immediate Past President

Bill was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1978. He is an accredited specialist in Personal Injuries Law.
He sees the District Law Association as playing an integral part in the effective delivery of legal services to the community and for the well-being and governance of the profession within the region.

Bill is anxious to ensure that the traditional values and professional courtesies which have distinguished the profession over the centuries are maintained and at the same time ensuring that the practice of law remains relevant, rewarding and interesting to its members.

He is heartened by the advances in technology which enable continuing legal education to be made available to members throughout the region and by the camaraderie and goodwill which is evident among practitioners, despite the rough and tumble of everyday practice with its associated stressors.

He is committed to ensuring that the views and concerns of members are well known by the judiciary and the government of the day. He recognises that the profession is under scrutiny at many levels of society and is committed to leading the association in this region by seeking to ensure that its members continue as “…ethical, engaged professionals and citizens who understand the social, economic and environmental influences on and impact of their actions, and who are self-directed, resourceful, resilient and adaptable to change”*.

* University of Southern Queensland School of Law and Justice

Committee Member

Sarah-Jane MacDonald

Sarah-Jane is an Accredited Family Law Specialist and Director at MacDonald Law. Sarah-Jane is very committed to improving our region and access to justice particularly across the Darling Downs. Sarah-Jane is a member of the Queensland Law Society Domestic & Family Violence Policy Committee, and continues to advocate for good law in the domestic violence space particularly for vulnerable regional Queenslanders. Sarah-Jane has been a special witness before the Legal Affairs & Justice Committee in relation to the recent amendments as a result of the Hear Her Voice Reports. Sarah-Jane is also a member of the Queensland Law Society Practice Management Course Committee.

Sarah-Jane is a Councillor with the Queensland Law Society for 2024 - 2025 and hopes to represent our Region proudly.

Sarah-Jane is a big supporter of the Association, having previously served as President for 3 years and on the Executive Committee for a number of years. Sarah-Jane is a member of the Ladies in Law Committee, among others, and proudly assists the ongoing organisation of this fabulous event.

Darren Lewis

Committee Member

Darren is a Senior Lawyer at Legal Aid Queensland and also sits as a sessional member of the Queensland Civil & Administrative Tribunal. His particular areas of legal knowledge and experience are in the fields of family law, child protection, domestic and family violence and the law of guardianship and human rights. He holds appointments as an Independent Children’s Lawyer, Separate Representative for children, mediator and arbitrator.

He also enjoys committee responsibilities on the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland and the Board of Ethics of the Darling Downs Hospital Health Service. He first joined the committee of the Law Association in 1998 and has served at various times, including as president from 2013 until 2015. Darren is sixth-generation off the land on the Darling Downs. He was proud to be honoured as 2021 Queensland Law Society Indigenous Lawyer of the Year. 

Committee Member

Paige Hetherington

Paige was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2023. She has worked predominantly in the criminal law sector in Toowoomba since approximately 2017 when she first began her legal career.

Paige is a Solicitor at Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers and appears regularly in various Courts across South East Queensland.

In 2024 Paige was a finalist in the Queensland Law Society's Graduate Lawyer of the Year Award.

Paige joined the DSWQLA Committee in 2023 and serves as a general committee member.

Committee Member

Erin McDonald

Erin McDonald was admitted as a solicitor in 2021 and works with Groom & Lavers Solicitors in conveyancing and property law. Erin holds a Double Bachelor of Business and Laws from UniSQ (with Distinction), where she also worked in peer tutoring and volunteered as Education and Careers Officer and then President of the UniSQ Law Society. 

While a student at UniSQ Erin was a recipient of the Unsung Hero Award, Faculty Medal and was included on the Woman Lawyers Association of Queensland Inspo List 2019.

Erin has a passion for serving, and has been involved in various committees from a young age, and is looking forward to the opportunity to further serve the local legal community.

Committee Member

Francene Ridley

Francene completed her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern Queensland in 2023. While studying, she worked part time at the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions in Toowoomba and held volunteer positions with the USQLS. In 2023, Francene was the associate to His Honour Justice Burns in the Supreme Court at Brisbane.

Francene is currently a paralegal at John Davies & Co Solicitors in Toowoomba.

Committee Member

Andrew Hemming

Andrew is an Associate Professor in Law at the University of Southern Queensland specialising in Evidence and Criminal Law. Andrew holds degrees in economics, planning and law, and prior to becoming an academic in 2007 worked in senior management positions in the Victorian Public Service and the Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation. Andrew has published extensively and his latest book is entitled ‘Did They Do It? Six Notorious Australian Murder Trials’ published by LexisNexis in November 2024.

Daryl Dawes

Committee Member

Daryl has completed a Bachelor of Laws Degree as a mature, part time student, with the view of becoming a mediator. Prior to attending USQ, Daryl was a working director of A1 Weighing Equipment in Toowoomba for 27 years. During this time, he was the Qld. Chairman of the WIAA. for a period of 10 years. Prior to that, Daryl was a scale technician, foreman, Qld. service manager, and then Australian service manager for an International Scale Company.

Daryl joined the RAAF starting out as instrument apprentice. He worked on Vampire and Sabre fighters, Canberra bombers, Iroquois, and Chinook helicopters. Working on Iroquois helicopters in Malaysia. When discharged Daryl was in the instrument shop overhauling instruments for the mirage fighters. He obtained the rank of corporal. While in the RAAF, Daryl was presented with the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award by Prince Philip. During his service in Butterworth, Daryl was the training officer for the RAAF Scuba club. Also, Daryl was awarded a Queen's Commendation for bravery for saving a man's life out at sea of the coast of Penang.

Other activities Daryl has been involved include long distance running, squash, rugby union, powerlifting, and golf. He is also a current member of USQLS where he has served as V/P Toowoomba on the USQLS executive.

Sarah Toomer

Student Liaison

Sarah is a Law Clerk at Donaldson Law. She began work as a paralegal in November 2017. She has experience in the areas of Abuse Law, Personal Injuries Law and Family Law. She thrives on making good connections with her colleagues and with her clients.

Sarah has been a valuable member of the Ladies in Law Luncheon Committee since 2019. 2024 was her first year as a Student Representative on the DWQLA Committee.

Sarah was born in Victoria but has been a Toowoomba resident since 2000. She attended The Glennie School, graduating in 2009.

She is currently studying her Bachelor of Laws through UniSQ and looks forward to a long and rewarding career in Law.

In her free time, she enjoys CrossFit, cooking and spending time with her family.