Stephen Michael Szabo was born in 1966, and raised on a small farm in the rural hinterland south-west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.  Educated at Hurlstone Agricultural High School and the University of Sydney, Stephen Szabo graduated from that university in 1991 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  His majors were History and English.

Election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (and entitlement to use the postnominals FSA Scot) took place on St Andrews Day (30 November) 1999.

On 10 October 2001 Stephen Michael Szabo was appointed a Justice of the Peace in and for the State of New South Wales by Her Excellency, Governor Marie Bashir.  He took his Oath of  Allegiance and his Judicial Oath in the Office of Justice of the Peace on 16 November 2001.

The introduction of limited five year terms of office for Justices of the Peace (previously they had been life appointments) saw Stephen Michael Szabo apply for reappointment, said reappointment being made on 18 October 2006 and valid until 17 October 2011.

The above covers the post-nominals that are used by the subject of this biography.  Following is a listing of various other organisations of which he is, or has been, a member. 

Armorial and Heraldry Society of Australasia - Member since 2000.  AHSA seems largely inactive, although it's website is relatively recent and quite colourful.

The Augustan Society - Member since November 1998.  An International Society for those interested in History, Heraldry, Genealogy and Chivalry.  This Society is largely due to the vision of one man - Sir Rodney Hartwell.  The Augustan Society seems to be inactive since Sir Rodney's death in January 2006.

Australian Army Cadet Corps -  Member 1980-1982; Lance-Corporal 1981-1982

Blue Mountains Historical Society - Member since 2000

Book Collectors’ Society of Australia - Member since 2004

Commercial Travellers Business Club, Sydney - Member since 2004

The Harleian Society - Member since 2005

Heraldry Australia - Member since 1997.  He has been Hon. Secretary of Heraldry Australia and Hon. Editor of Heraldry News, the journal of Heraldry Australia, since 2000; and Hon. Editor of the  Heraldry Australia Members’ Circular  since 2002.

Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels - Member since 2005.

An interesting recognition and "rank" was acquired by S M Szabo in 2005 when he received a commission from Ernie Fletcher, Governor of Kentucky, making him a Kentucky Colonel "with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities thereunto appertaining."    The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) is an organisation composed of those who have received commissions which raises funds for worthy charities, chiefly within Kentucky.  S M Szabo holds the 2005 and 2006 HOKC Medal of Distinction for supporting the Order's fund-raising activities.

National Trust (NSW) - Member 1999-2003; rejoined in 2007

The New Australian Bookplate Society - Member since 2007

New South Wales Justices Association - Member since 2002

Scottish-Australian Heritage Council - Member since 2005.  Heraldry Officer since 2005.

Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) - Paid-up member in the period 1985-1990, informal member since 1982 until the present.  The structure of the SCA is such that it permits participation in its activities to all comers.  It is a medieval recreation society, in which participants adopt a "persona" of their own devising.  Within the SCA Stephen Michael Szabo is known as Istvan Pannonius, a sixteenth century Hungarian scholar living in exile in Elizabethan England.  His interest in the SCA's activities has been marginal in recent years, although he still has social contact with a good many members.  If you want to know more about the SCA, try this link to the Australian branch.

Sydney Society for Scottish History - Member since 2006

 United Justices Association 2002-2003