North Coast hardwoods featured once again.

Master craftsman Chris Francis was commissioned by the Magistrates Association of NSW to produce a speaker's lectern in memory of Magistrate Mr Tom Hodgson. Mr Hodgson suddenly passed away in 2015, after serving 25 years on the bench at Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Port Macquarie court circuits.

The commemorative lectern took more than 30 hours to produce by Chris who, together with his brother Kim, operate Francis Furniture, a successful Furniture Design and Manufacturing business specialising in handcrafted solid timber furniture. Says Chris "I am proud to have been given the opportunity to create the lectern as I knew Tom very well. He was a quite, gentle and compassionate man who became a mentor of mine".

The attractive lectern is made from blackbutt, distinguished by its cream to pale brown colour, straight grain and even texture. It will take pride of place in the Port Macquarie Courtroom as a perpetual memorial to Tom Hodgson, said Courthouse registrar Neil Langstaff.