Queensland Police Union Journal April 2012

Transcription

APRIL 2012
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Contents
also in this issue...
ContentsPage
Beneath the surface
Page 23
On any given day, members of the QPS dive squad may be
found crawling through mud and reeds searching for a weapon,
investigating the scene of an abandoned car in a waterway, or
attempting to recover the body of a drowned swimmer in black
water in a known crocodile area...
It must be distinctly understood that any expressions of opinion
by correspondents in our columns must not be considered the
opinion of the Editor, and no responsibility arising from there can
be accepted.
The Editor of the Police Journal reserves the right to grant
permission to reproduce articles from this magazine. Such
permission is hereby granted to any Police Association or Police
Union in Australia and to the Police Association of New Zealand.
Permission is also granted to any Police Association, Police Union
or organisation representing police employees in any other
country.
Acknowledgement of the source must be contained in any reprint.
Where an article indicates that copyright is claimed by the author,
then permission to reproduce is withdrawn unless permission
from the author is granted.
General President & CEO General Secretary Assistant General Secretary
Metro North Region Roundup
Southern Region Roundup
Far Northern Region Roundup
Northern Region Roundup
Central Region Roundup
Metro South Region Roundup
South East Region Roundup
Beneath the Surface of the QPS Dive Squad
A Prized Country Cop
Jack Remembers
Police Recipes Police Living Book Review - The Happiest Refugee From the Archives Out and About Day in the Life of Constable Cindel Richardson
Bits and Bobbies
Red Light and Speed Camera Detected Offences
Kelly From Kynuna
Championing WH&S Change
Is Your Police Car Unhealthy?
Letters to the Editor
Police Health
QRPA
Journal Contact
Queensland Police Union Journal
PO Box 13008 George Street Brisbane QLD 4003
TEL: (07) 3259 1900 FAX: (07) 3259 1950
[email protected]
Mick Gerrard
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Kaye Ellis
Membership
Carly Beutel
Reception
Melissa Lindner
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SERVICES
Stephen Mahoney
Senior Industrial Officer
Industrial Officer
Chris Stephens
Workplace Health
Rosemary
& Safety
Featherstone
General President & CEO
General Secretary
Asst General Secretary
Vice President
Treasurer
Ian Leavers
Mick Barnes
Denis Sycz
Shayne Maxwell
Darren Lees
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Far North Region
Northern Region
Central Region
North Coast Region Metro North Region
Metro South Region
HQ & SCOC Region
Southern Region
South Eastern Region
Marty Bristow
Peter Thomas
Bill Feldman
Des Hansson
Shayne Maxwell
Tony Collins
Paul Mullen
Darren Lees
Bob Smithson
EXECUTIVE SERVICES
Corporate Affairs &
Journal Coordinator
Journal & Media
Systems Specialist
& Journal Sub Editor
Finance Officer
Executive Secretary
LEGAL SERVICES
Solicitor
Legal Support Officer
Barrister (retained)
www.qpu.asn.au
MEDIA ENQUIRIES: TEL: 0459 241 291 [email protected]
ADVERTISING: TEL: (07) 3259 1989
SUBMISSIONS: The Journal accepts letters and articles to be
considered for inclusion.
UNION STAFF
Field Officer (North Qld)
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Simon Tutt
Andrea Appleton
James Johnston
Kelly Harris
Janice Gaden
Calvin Gnech
Wendy MacDonald
Larissa Krasnoff
Troy Schmidt
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
Finance, Audit & Risk Management
I. Leavers (Chair)
M. Barnes
D. Sycz
S. Maxwell
D. Lees
Legal
S. Maxwell (Chair)
P. Thomas
D. Lees
B. Smithson
Membership Services
D. Lees (Chair)
B. Smithson
S. Maxwell
P. Mullen
Rules
T. Collins (Chair)
P. Mullen
B. Smithson
B. Feldman
Workplace Health
& Safety
P. Thomas (Chair)
M. Bristow
B. Feldman
T. Collins
Women’s Advisory
D. Hansson (Chair)
Committee
A/Snr Sgt Virginia
Miller
General President, General Secretary and
Assistant General Secretary are ex-officio
members of all committees.
1
IAN LEAVERS
ELECTION RESULTS AND COMMITMENTS
With the election come and gone, the people of Queensland have decisively shown their contempt for the way Anna
Bligh and the Labor party had been running our great state.
All votes are counted, and the results
On the other hand, the LNP outlined
on police officers to 14 years, and they
are in: 78 seats for the LNP, seven
more structured and focused law and
plan to review the criminal and civil
for Labor, two for KAP, and two for
order election commitments, and we
protections available for police acting
independents. Labor’s resounding
at the Union see it as a large part of
in good faith.
defeat at the ballot box, and the LNP’s
our role to ensure that these election
emphatic victory, is a good result
commitments are met.
With regards to murder, the LNP will
commitments made by both parties
The LNP have committed to 1,100
murder to 20 years, and the non-
prior to the election.
new, additional police over the four
parole period for murder of a police
for us in light of the law and order
increase the non-parole period for
officer to 25 years. They will also
“Labor’s resounding defeat
at the ballot box, and the
LNP’s emphatic victory,
is a good result for us
in light of the law and order
commitments made by
both parties prior
to the election.”
All Labor was able to offer us prior to
year period, with at least 300 of
March 24 was a continuation of the
these police being recruited in the
police helicopter for the Gold Coast
first year. They have also committed
area for three years, and a strange
to redeploying 200 police from
increase in the jail term for ram
non-operational areas back into
raiding.
operational roles, bringing the total of
At the last moment, practically
additional police up to 1,300.
invisible under the pile of desperate,
They have committed to not only
eleventh hour promises, there
a permanent police helicopter for
appeared to be a plan to recruit 800
the Gold Coast, but also another
new, additional police over the four
helicopter for south east Queensland.
year period.
increase the non-parole period for
multiple murders to 30 years.
The LNP have also committed to a
‘two strikes’ policy for repeat sex
offenders, and youth offenders will be
sent to boot camp rather than jail in a
trial to cost $2 million.
They are also planning tough new
evade police and hooning laws
that will see evade police offenders
“I have also met with
new Police Minister
David Gibson, and
already he has been
more effective for us
in one week than our
outgoing Minister
Neil Roberts
ever was.”
Also a boon for the Gold Coast
Unfortunately for Labor, many
area, the LNP have committed to a
receive a minimum $5,000 fine, the
voters will have recalled a similar
permanent, increased major crime
loss of their licence for two years, and
commitment which led to only 99
squad, at the cost of $4 million.
possible crushing of their car.
financial year, so this commitment
They have committed to double the
We are off to a good start in holding
failed to impress.
maximum penalty for serious assaults
the LNP to their promises, and I have
police being recruited in the last
2
already met with the Deputy Premier
disciplinary processes that never
Could this be in response to the
Jeff Seeney to discuss some of our
seem to move forward to resolution.
aforementioned disciplinary situation,
the lenient judicial system, the lack
issues.
The QPS disciplinary situation has
of support from our Commissioned
I have also met with new Police
become insufferable. We have noted
officers, or any number of other
Minister David Gibson, and already
the entire disciplinary system as a
reasons why our members feel so
he has been more effective for us in
topic for consideration for the new
overworked and unappreciated that
one week than our outgoing Minister
Commissioner to tackle, and hope
they seek alternative employment?
Neil Roberts ever was. I will report
it is one area that will see great
Regardless of how many recruits are
promised in election campaigns, we
“Let’s be clear:
you have a right to not only speak to a
Union representative prior to an interview,
but you also have a right for that Union
representative to attend the interview
with you.”
will always be playing catch-up if our
most valuable assets, our dedicated
and experienced coppers, are leaving
the job. We hope that with a new
era ahead of us, in terms of our
new government, we will see better
conditions, work environments, and
protections for our members, which
will stop the exodus, an issue we’re
back to you with results of my further
improvement with some new blood in
discussions with David Gibson in the
the top office.
determined to fix.
THE DIVE SQUAD
coming months.
This month the Journal goes
THE EXODUS
beneath the surface with the dive
UNION REPRESENTATION AT
A few of our Regional Reps and
INTERVIEWS
other members across the board
It has recently come to our attention
experienced officers who provide
have recently noticed that our
that some of our members are
a statewide capacity to respond to
valuable officers are leaving the QPS
emergency situations, and to work as
being denied their right to speak to
in droves.
underwater crime scene investigators.
squad, a small unit of dedicated and
a Union representative before being
interviewed.
Let’s be clear: you have a right to not
only speak to a Union representative
prior to an interview, but you
also have a right for that Union
representative to attend the interview
with you, if you would like their
“Regardless of how many recruits are
promised in election campaigns, we will
always be playing catch-up if our most
valuable assets, our dedicated and experienced
coppers, are leaving the job.”
support.
Do not be bullied into attending
interviews alone. If you know of any
instances where this has occurred, or
if you feel you are being pressured
during similar situations, do not
hesitate to contact your branch
official, your Regional Rep, or one of
us here at the Union. It’s what we’re
here for.
DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM
In a similar vein, we are aware that
some of our members are still stuck
in limbo in the middle of drawn-out
Drink cooler in memory of David.
3
General President & CeO
If you wish to make your own
donation, the NAB account details
are as follows: BSB 815000, Account
No. 000883749, Account Name:
David Rixon Memorial Fund. We
have enclosed an article about David
written by NSW Police News in this
Journal. Rest in peace, David.
Stay Safe
Ian LEAVERS
0419 786 381
David and his wife Fiona.
They are looking to recruit new
members for their team, so have a
look at their article if you can see
yourself underwater.
RIP DAVID RIXON
We were greatly saddened to hear of
the loss of Senior Constable David
Rixon this month, a dedicated and
well-respected member of the NSW
police force.
After our own recent losses of Dan
Stiller and Damian Leeding, we can
commiserate with David’s family and
with our fellow officers in NSW.
I attended David’s funeral with QPU
Vice President Shayne Maxwell and
QPU South Eastern Regional Rep Bob
Smithson, and the QPU has donated
to David’s Memorial Fund.
4
General secretary
MICK BArnes
WeLCOMe MInIster
March 24th created history with an overwhelming victory for the LnP in winning government in Queensland.
Welcome to the new Minister for Police, the hon. David Gibson, Member for Gympie. to say that the Minister faces a
challenge would be an understatement.
After a series of television news stories
on the state of police Communications
Centres across the whole of the state,
one of the priorities that must be
addressed is greater resourcing both
in staffing and in digitally encrypted
communications. This of course will
only be considered if, in the words of
our new Premier, the Commissioner
asks for it. Who knows: he may step up
to the mark and speak up.
Welcome, Minister! Our relationship is
new, however I can assure you that this
Union, its members, and I only want
to work together with you to achieve
positive outcomes that will provide a
safer community for each and every
Queenslander.
“To say that the
Minister faces a
challenge would be
an understatement.”
GREAT SPECIAL OFFER
The Park Regis Hotel on North
Quay have recognised the special
contribution that all of Queensland’s
police and emergency services’
personnel make every day by
creating an Entertainment Card
with great benefits for both food
and refreshments at the On Quay
Restaurant and Bar.
A number of the Entertainment Cards
are available for members at Reception
at the QPU Office.
START WITH QINVEST NOW
I couldn’t agree more with The Sunday
Mail’s Noel Whittaker, co-founder of
Whittaker Macnaught Pty Ltd, when he
recently stated ‘there are good reasons
this Union, and was unwavering in his
support for fellow officers. Ted’s son
David is stationed at the City Station.
Knowing both Ted and David, they both
have cause to be proud of each other.
“One of the priorities that must be addressed
is greater resourcing both in staffing and in
digitally encrypted communications.”
to start a relationship with an adviser
at as early an age as possible’
(p 55, The Sunday Mail, 01/04/12).
He was of course referring to a
relationship with a financial adviser.
In conjunction with QInvest, the
QPU Executive has recognised the
importance of this philosophy and
offer all members 50 years and over
a rebate if they access the services of
QInvest Financial Planners. QInvest are
now solely owned by QSuper. In the
interest of a comfortable retirement,
ensuring members maximise their
superannuation outcomes is equally
as important as maintaining income
levels.
If you are 50 years or over and haven’t
received your mail out, contact the
QPU office to check your address and
request further information on this
offer. A comfortable retirement may
depend on it.
Thank you, Ted, for all those you
helped, and for those you were
ready to support in any time of need.
Many thanks, too, to your family who
supported you when you were helping
others. Rest in peace, Ted.
TO DO LIST
Tip #2 for the new Commissioner, to be
added to the list:
To Do:
2) Fix the police Communications
network. Lives depend on radio and
telephone communications.
Be Safe
Mick BARNES
General Secretary
0411 453 335
FAREWELL TED
Former QPU Executive Member,
Treasurer, and Life Member Ted Kenny
recently passed away after a battle
with cancer. Ted was responsible for
establishing a sound financial base for
5
Assistant General secretary
DENIS sYCZ
there seems to be a growing trend within the QPs to deny members their right to ask a union official or unionbased solicitor to accompany them to interviews they are required to attend, or to even seek advice from a
union representative at all.
There have been two matters in the
past few months that have highlighted
the practice of some investigators to
deny our members their chance to
obtain advice before an interview.
In fact, some investigators have
denied Union solicitors the right to
even speak with members prior to
an interview, or in some cases have
removed Union officials and then
denied members the right to speak
with an incoming solicitor.
Now, I’m aware of the provisions of
the PSAA and the Code of Conduct as
they relate to discipline matters, and I
know that the majority of investigators
are doing a difficult job, sometimes in
the face of adverse publicity. However,
there are instances where we have
seen over-zealous investigators do
more than their duty, and in fact turn
interviews into more of an inquisition
than a fact finding exercise.
Just because the Courier Mail or
other media source reports about a
member’s indiscretions and becomes
the judge, jury, and executioner at the
same time, and just because the QPS
hierarchy jump to their tune, this does
not give zealot investigators the right
to trample all over our members so
that they can get their jollies.
be like if the shoe was on the other
foot.
As can be seen from the recent
incident on the Gold Coast, the
Courier Mail has been shaping police
discipline for many years now, and
the recent reporting on this incident
highlights the lack of standards the
media have when writing about these
issues. The blatant lies that some of
the articles contained were nothing
short of scandalous, and we will seek
redress in the appropriate forums.
“You have a right to
know what you will be
interviewed about, and
a common law right to
seek legal advice.”
This Union will be keeping a close eye
on these very matters to ensure that
“There are instances where we have seen
over-zealous investigators turn interviews
into more of an inquisition than a fact
finding exercise.”
Be aware that the Union has been in
discussions with the QPS and that we
are attempting to protect members'
rights as they should rightly be
protected. It appears that the zealots
are still with us, and at times I watch in
amazement as these people go about
their work in a truly industrious manner.
6
all members have the right to seek
advice before an interview, as well as
the right to have someone attend with
them at an interview if they wish. All
we can ask is that those people who
think they can bully by virtue of their
positions have a good, long look at
their behavior, and think what it would
This sort of conduct is bullying at
its worst, and the Union will have
no hesitation in taking steps in the
Industrial Commission to protect our
membership.
The HRMM specifically provides for
Union representation at discipline
interviews. You have a right to know
what you will be interviewed about,
and a common law right to seek legal
advice. Members should be forthright
in exercising these rights and seeking
advice prior to entering interviews.
Denis SYCZ
Assistant General Secretary
0417 724 883
Metro North Region Roundup
SHAYNE MAXWELL
I sit here reflecting on the damage that the Bligh government inflicted upon the Queensland Police Service during
our last pay rise debacle, where the arbiter recognised that members of the QPS deserve better than the lousy deal
offered by Anna. I believe we can now call Bligh just ‘Anna’, as stated in her 2012 election campaign.
Anna would have you believe that
we can provide a better service to the
community by finding the extra $27
million for our wage rise in our current
budget. It appears to me that Anna
treated the QPS as a business, and
was relying on the good intentions of
our members to serve the public and
protect property.
In 2011, New South Wales police
underwent a Ministerial audit of the
Force. Yes, shocking, I know: they
still use the word ‘Force’. This review
was undertaken by former Assistant
Commissioner Parsons. Parsons
identified that the NSW police were
being managed ‘more like a business
than a provider of community safety’.
“It appears to me that
Anna treated the QPS
as a business.”
Sound familiar? The review further
criticised the lack of police in both
the metropolitan and regional areas,
describing a ‘chronic situation’.
When viewing the police Gazette
each week, it does not take long to
see that police are walking. Since
6 January this year, the QPS has
lost 99 police: 26 through age or
voluntary retirement, 9 through
medical retirement, and 64 through
resignation.
Look at the resignations: twice as
many police are resigning than are
retiring. The QPS cannot continue to
bleed at this rate and still maintain the
quality of service to which the public
of Queensland are entitled.
Parsons’s NSW review continues to
mirror our own situation. It describes
the farcical system where police
are removed from their core duties
to transport juvenile prisoners. It
has been common practice here in
Queensland for police to transport
juveniles to correctional centres,
courts, and watchhouses.
that members of the public have an
expectation of a better use of QPS
resources.
The QPS cannot lose sight of its core
business: serving and protecting
the community. I believe that the
government of the day has to
immediately stop managing the QPS
“Since 6 January 2012, the QPS has lost
99 police: 26 through age or voluntary
retirement, 9 through medical retirement,
and 64 through resignation.”
Furthermore, the continued
detainment of prisoners in our
watchhouses was raised recently.
Watchhouses are becoming more like
correctional centres, because there
are not enough beds in correctional
centres around Queensland to
hold prisoners who have just been
sentenced or remanded in custody.
Police are being taken away from their
core duties to supervise.
When you rob Peter to pay Paul,
everyone loses on the roundabout.
The QPS has to wear the brunt of the
costs of supervising and transporting
“When you rob
Peter to pay Paul,
everyone loses on the
roundabout.”
as a business in which profit and loss
is more important than the service
provided to the community.
In order to obtain optimal effort and
performance from our members, it
is important that we are treated as a
very important asset of the QPS, and
not as mere machines working in an
environment where our goodwill and
dedication is constantly taken for
granted.
Play Safe – Stay Safe
Shayne MAXWELL
(Chook)
Regional Representative
Metro North Region
QPU Vice President
0438 112 741
prisoners, and the community loses
the delivery of services that could be
provided by the QPS. One would think
7
Darren Lees
The QPS Disciplinary System – The Laughing Stock
Ladies and gents, I thought I might spend some time this month discussing the current QPS disciplinary system, and
try not to laugh too hard as I go. We are all well aware of the way the disciplinary system works. In simplistic terms,
if there is a complaint made against one of our members, the matter is assessed as to whether it can be dealt with by
way of desktop resolution.
If it can’t, a 466 is completed (a
complaint against a police officer). The
matter is assessed at a Regional level,
to determine whether it is a breach of
discipline or a matter of misconduct,
and the compass file is completed.
The matter is overviewed and assessed
again by ESC, and the determination
of a breach of discipline or a matter
of misconduct either remains or is
changed accordingly.
“I have not seen a
matter classified as
a breach of discipline
for so long that I think
I can recall my first
communion better.”
It seems apparent from recent history
that there is no longer such thing
as a breach of discipline. I have not
seen a matter classified as a breach of
discipline for so long that I think I can
recall my first communion better.
It seems the QPS has lost the ability
to act impartially and with conviction.
It seems they have lost the ability
to apply the appropriate grading to
matters that quite frankly are no more
a matter of misconduct than the Indian
cricket team are fans of the decision
review process.
Difference between breach of
discipline and misconduct
The Misconduct Tribunal explained
the difference between a breach of
discipline and misconduct in Shauer
v Banham (Misconduct Tribunal, 24
8
February 1997), where the sitting
member Dr Forbes observed:
While all misconduct is a breach
of discipline, not every breach of
discipline is misconduct. Misconduct
is merely one of seven grounds of
disciplinary action and on a general
ascending scale it comes just below
the stigma of a conviction of an
indictable offence. The more serious
the charge, the more careful the
tribunal must be before it finds itself
satisfied that the person charged is
guilty.
The legislature cannot have
intended that any and every
breach of discipline be classified as
misconduct. Reasonable members
of the community do not regard
police officers as professionally
unfit or substandard just because
they fail to obey every jot and
title of departmental instructions.
Reasonable people may say, ‘he
could have done better there’ or ‘that
was a bit risky’, without applying
the stigma of misconduct which is a
pejorative charge to be used with due
discrimination.
that you would think is on par with a
charge of murder?
It is very hard to do this article justice
without quoting examples that I have
been involved in. However, in fairness
to those members involved, I will not
highlight these examples for obvious
reasons.
But believe me, there are situations
where I have just had to shake my
head, and in some cases shake it along
with our legal representatives from our
QPU office.
It is hard enough to get my head around
the classification process without then
having to deal with the overall discipline
process itself. In my opinion, it is a
process that has been designed to treat
our members like second class citizens,
for no apparent reason other than for
the QPS to save face at any cost.
Length of process
Yes, ladies and gents, in my humble
opinion, we have a system that is
designed to treat allegations as
substantiated, unless proven otherwise
(as opposed to the notion of innocent
until proven guilty).
“We have a system that is designed to be
dragged out so that every man, woman, and
their favourite pet can review an investigation.”
But it doesn’t stop there, ladies and
gents. How many times have you heard
an example—or perhaps been involved
in one yourself—where a seemingly
minor matter is investigated, and
inexplicably blows up into something
We have a system that is designed
to be dragged out so that every man,
woman, and their favourite pet can
review an investigation before it seems
anyone is in a position to make a
decision and get on with the process of
finalising the allegation or convening a
disciplinary hearing.
the flagship off into the night without a
scratch on it.
Quite frankly, troops, I was going to
suggest that our current disciplinary
system is seen by most of our
members as a joke, but unfortunately
I really believe that it is now beyond a
joke.
The QPS needs to understand that
there are real people involved in these
processes, some of whom experience
endless sleepless nights, relationship
breakdowns, and physical and
emotional illness as a result of waiting
“I was going to suggest that our current
disciplinary system is seen by most of our
members as a joke, but unfortunately I really
believe that it is now beyond a joke.”
I could list you an endless number
of examples whereby disciplinary
proceedings (from original complaint
to disciplinary hearing) have taken two
or more years to come to fruition. Now,
if that is not a joke, I don’t know what
is. I have seen murder investigations
finalised in a shorter time frame.
The upper echelon of management
within the QPS will tell you that they
would like the discipline system to be
carried out impartially and quickly, so
that everyone involved can get on with
their lives.
Well, it’s pretty obvious that this is
a throw away line, and that nothing
could be further from the truth. I might
interrupt my little tirade to say that our
Regions seem more than willing to
finalise matters, only to find they are
hamstrung at the palace, 100 Roma
Street, Brisbane.
You see, ladies and gents, what they
seem to constantly forget is that
while they are making decisions to sit
on investigations to see if anything
embarrassing could be alleged towards
the mighty flagship ‘QPS’, and while
the ten people that need to overview
the investigation report tear it apart,
our members are going through hell,
just wanting to get on with their lives.
I won’t even try and explain the
heartache it causes their families.
When is the QPS going to get real
and understand that there is more to
life than reports, reviewing reports,
reviewing the reviewed reports, and
re-writing the reviewed reports? It
seems all the QPS wants to do is to sail
for their matters to be finalised by a
system that is a laughing stock.
Newsflash for our Commissioner,
because the buck stops with him on
this issue: we are all human, and like all
other humans, we make mistakes.
That doesn’t mean that we should be
tortured by a system that is draconian,
and is lacking both empathy and a
proper decision-making process.
Independence from the CMC
Another concept I find frustrating
at disciplinary proceedings are the
comments about being careful and
perhaps imposing what may be
considered a heavy sanction, because
the CMC is watching over our shoulders.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if the QPS
is convening disciplinary hearings
and appointing prescribed officers to
hear matters, is there not a premise
in law, and indeed within the HRMM
itself (section 18.3.1.3), that says the
prescribed officer will act fairly and
impartially in proceedings, and will
only consider the matters before them,
without taking into consideration any
irrelevant, external matters?
How then can any prescribed officer
fulfil their role if they are thinking,‘I
have to appease the CMC here and
impose a heavy sanction, or find
against the member regardless of what
I really think, so that the mighty CMC
does not appeal my decision.’
If the CMC want to take over the
investigation of all complaints against
police, let them do so. If not, then let
the system work impartially and fairly
as it is supposed to, not as some halfbaked process that takes an eternity
and is designed to pander to the whims
of an external agency, especially an
external agency that has avenues of
appeal if it does not believe sanctions
are appropriate.
Purpose of discipline
In concluding this month’s article, I
would like to leave our Commissioner
and Senior Executive with this thought,
which is straight out of their own pro
forma read out in disciplinary hearings:
The purpose of discipline is to:
• maintain public confidence in the
QPS
• maintain the self esteem of
members of the QPS
• maintain confidence in the ability
of the QPS to fulfil its statutory
functions
• maintain proper standards of
conduct for members of the QPS
(by specific and general deterrence
principles)
• maintain the efficiency of the QPS,
and
• protect the reputation of the QPS.
Commissioner, how many of the above
listed dot points do you honestly
believe the current QPS disciplinary
system is achieving?
We need to fix the system. We need
to put a stop to a process where our
members’ lives can be placed on hold
for years. We don’t need any more
reviews, or any more excuses. We need
to put in place a decent system with
time frames... and we need to stick to
them.
You may then find that our members
will more graciously accept the decision
of the umpire, and be more able to get
on with their lives and their careers.
Troops, that is my say for this month.
Keep up the good fight, and
stay safe.
Darren LEES (Beefa)
Southern Region
QPU Treasurer
0417 776 184
9
far northern region roundup
MArTY BrIstOW
Over the past few months, I have had a number of members approach me with questions in relation to rostering. I
thought it was time to clear up a few points so members know where they stand when receiving or reading their
roster, and for those given the difficult task of compiling rosters.
TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF ROSTER
Firstly, it should be pointed out that
the roster ‘should be posted in a place
conveniently accessible to Employees
at or before 2.00pm on the seventh
day preceding the commencement
of the next 28 day roster period’ (see
Clause 6.7.2 of The Police Service
Award – State).
ROSTERING REST DAYS
Another issue that has been raised with
me relates to the rostering of rest days,
particularly the rostering of single rest
days. The Award is again very clear on
the rules for rostering of rest days, with
Clause 6.8.2 stating that:
Therefore, if your roster starts on
Saturday 15 January, a copy of the
roster should be completed and
posted no later than 2.00pm on
Saturday 8 January.
When completed (hopefully within
the required timeframe as mentioned
above), the roster is to be posted (that
is, printed out and pinned or placed
on a notice board) in an area where all
those on it can easily see it.
“The Union often has disputes with the
QPS about their ‘justification’ for not
granting a 10 hour break.”
Rest days are to be allowed so that
where practicable, each Employee
is rostered to have:
As stated above, the Award specifically
states that the roster ‘should be posted
in a place conveniently accessible
to Employees’, which means that a
roster that is only made available for
members on a user drive of a PC is not
complying with the requirements as
stated.
(a) 2 consecutive rest days off in each
week; or
CHANGES TO ROSTER
Once a roster is posted, any changes
that need to be made are to be visible;
no whiteout and no going back and
reprinting the roster after changes
have been made.
(a) one day off in one week and 3
consecutive days off in the next
week.
While this may seem to be a pain
and may leave you with a roster with
untidy changes that are difficult to
read, this is the proper way to show
changes.
10
The Determination now makes it
clear that ‘Employees required to
work more than 10 consecutive shifts
for whatever reason will be paid at
overtime rates for each additional shift
worked’ (QPS Determination 2010,
Schedule 1, Clause 4.5 (4)).
(a) one day off at the end of one week
and one day off at the beginning of
the next week; or
(a) 4 consecutive rest days off in a
fortnightly period; or
CONSECUTIVE SHIFTS
The next issue I wish to address is
the rostering of officers in excess
of 10 days in a row. The Enterprise
Bargaining Agreement (now called
QPS Determination 2010) has always
stated that there should be no more
than 10 consecutive shifts.
BREAKS
Members have also asked about the
rules surrounding the provision of 10
hour breaks.
It is a longstanding provision that
‘unless there is a sufficient and
warranted reason to do otherwise’,
there is to be a 10 hour break between
ordinary rostered shifts (with the
exception of swaps and for officers
living in close proximity to their
station).
A justifiable reason includes any of the
following:
• Where the duty to be undertaken
cannot be planned for and is
outside of the control of the
Service (e.g. late notification of an
attendance at Court);
• Where the work of the station,
section or establishment cannot
proceed without the employee
far northern region roundup
in question being on duty (e.g. a
crew cannot operate without that
employee being available for duty)
and there is no other alternative;
• Where it is imperative that the work
being undertaken by the employee
in question is not delayed (e.g.
urgent investigative work).
The second aspect of the 10 hour
break arises when a member has to
work overtime that is continuous with
their rostered shift (not call outs) and
there is not a 10 hour break between
the end of the overtime and the start
of the next rostered shift.
Again, the entitlement is that unless
justifiable, the member should get a 10
hour break. The question is – when do
I start my next shift?
At the normal rostered start, after a 10
hour break, or can the QPS give me a
10 hour break and then expect me to
work a full shift?
to whether a 10 hour break can be
given. If there is no justification
which would warrant a shorter
break, the employee will be granted
a 10 hour break.
b) At the time of granting the 10 hour
break a second decision has to be
made, i.e. is there justification to
warrant a change of shift? If there
is no justification the employee
commences duty after the 10 hour
break and completes the remainder
of that shift. If there is sufficient and
warranted reason to alter the shift
the employee, after a 10 hour break,
would commence an 8 hour shift.
Don’t be forced into leaving yourself
open for criticism by breaching the
Award. If there are holes that can’t be
filled, contact management and advise
them of the issues you are having.
If you are still unable to reach some
legitimate agreement, then it’s time
to contact the IR section at the Union
office in Brisbane.
Marty BRISTOW
Far Northern Region
0438 767 839
c) If there is sufficient and warranted
justification to warrant not granting
the 10 hour break, then the
employee would resume duty at the
commencement of the next rostered
shift.
Needless to say, the Union often has
disputes with the QPS about their
“Remember your roster clerk is only human,
and like all of us can make the odd mistake.”
The answer is that it could be any
of these three options, and the
authorising officer must decide
what option is applicable before you
complete the overtime.
The guidelines as to which option
is applicable are contained in the
Determination, Schedule 1, Clause 4.3
(3), which states:
If an employee works overtime past
the completion of a rostered shift
which would result in the employee
not having access to a 10 hour break
prior to the commencement of the
next rostered shift, the following
procedure is to be followed:
a) A decision must be made, before
completion of such overtime, as
‘justification’ for not granting a 10 hour
break.
If a member believes that there is
not legitimate justification for failing
to grant a 10 hour break in certain
circumstances, they should contact me
immediately.
Finally, remember your roster clerk is
only human, and like all of us can make
the odd mistake every now and then. If
you find something you believe is against
the Award, raise it with them in a civil
manner.
Don’t go into accusation mode; it may be
a legitimate mistake. Roster clerks: if you
feel you are being forced to breach the
Award, contact a Union representative to
discuss the issue.
11
PETER THOMAS
The Good
Workplace Health and Safety harmonisation a bonus for service residences
During February and March, I attended
a number of stations within the
Region. I met with OICs, inspected
general working conditions, and
also inspected a number of service
provided residences.
As some of you may be aware, with
the harmonisation of the Workplace
Health and Safety Act, service provided
accommodation is now also covered by
the same guidelines as your workplace.
Therefore, your service provided
residence must meet the same
standards.
Your Union is in discussion with the
service as a whole and also the Regions
individually to ensure that the standard
of your residences are in compliance
with the WH&S requirements.
I encourage you to submit work order
requests for repairs to your residences
to ensure that they are a safe
environment in which to live, and if a
hazard is identified, enter it on the QPS
hazard management system.
As your Regional Representative,
I sit on the QPS Regional Housing
Committee, and I ask that if you submit
any work order requisitions, could
you also provide me with an e-mail
advising of the request? In this way, I
can monitor the repairs to your service
residence.
residence, or live in a residence that
would qualify as a candidate for
‘dump of the month’, please contact
me on the below telephone number,
and I would be more than happy to
attend your residence, conduct an
inspection, and have the deficiencies
addressed.
“If you live in a residence that would qualify
as a candidate for ‘dump of the month’, please
contact me.”
Rosemary Featherstone, the QPU
WH&S guru, has developed an
inspection checklist that will be rolled
out by the time that this Journal is
printed, and it will be available on the
QPU web page. It is an in-depth audit
document that Rosemary developed for
QPS establishment auditing, and can
be adapted to your residences; take the
time to use it.
If you have any concerns about the
condition of your QPS provided
Townsville District Physical
Challenge
The start of 2012 commenced with
Inspector Damian (Gooch) Irvine
organising a simple six week physical
activity challenge for all employees
in Townsville district. The challenge
encouraged employees to form a team
and then improve their fitness levels.
The challenge started on 16 January
with 29 teams consisting of 163 people.
The competition had teams from
The winning team – The Flaming Marshmallows. L-R back: Sgt Sharna Pegg, Sgt Matt Pegg.
Front: Sgt Megan Benson, Halley Pegg , Max Benson, Corey Benson.
12
throughout the District, and some had
very ingenious team names, including
the D.E.T.O.nators, The Sweaty S.O.C.S,
Gerry & the Atrics, The Flaming
Marshmallows, and Wii not Fit.
It amazes me that a system that has
been in place for this period of time
still requires operational officers to
access assistance or refer to the user
guide because of its complexity.
Damian said, ‘The whole idea is to
create a reason to do more than you
usually do. The challenge definitely
motivates some to really increase their
training, and that competitive nature in
some really shines.
These are operationally savvy officers
who battle with this system day in
and day out in an attempt to have an
offender before the courts with the
charges completed and transferred
within a timely manner.
‘Although the challenge is not a weight
loss program, when it was run three
years ago, the additional training and
exercise meant that weight loss in most
people became a natural by-product of
the challenge’.
This is a system that has been designed
for desk jockeys who have the luxury
of time to go between screens, linking
in data and drilling down to locate
information, so that they can present
wonderful statistical trends for OPR.
“Any government can promise further
growth positions in recruiting, but if our
officers are leaving as quick as they’re
being recruited, we are always going to
be playing catch up.”
Damian intends to run another
competition starting on 14 April. The
challenge will again run for six weeks,
and this time the challenge will be
opened to other Districts and Branches
throughout the state.
The program was supported by a
number of internal and external
agencies, and Damian said he
appreciated the support of the Police
Union for donating the trophies that
went to the truly deserving winners,
‘The Flaming Marshmallows’.
The bad
It has been a while since the wonderful
QPRIME system has been mentioned,
and I think it is time to revisit. It has
been a little over three and a half years
since we had this time consuming,
almost impossible to navigate system
implemented, and I still don’t believe
that it is any better.
I cannot say that the Version 5 update
has achieved anything other than
change the field colours.
I would think that a gauge of a system’s
user friendliness would be its user
friendliness.
If this system is so good, why do we
still have so many exceptions?
I call on the QPS Senior Management
to urgently conduct a review of this
mongrel of a system, and to talk to the
people at the coal face who use it on
a daily basis, rather than the QPRIME
team. I guarantee that the responses to
QPRIME will not be very favourable.
Here is a challenge for any
Commissioned Officer at the rank of
Superintendent or above: in a training
environment in QPRIME, arrest an
offender and process them on multiple
burglary charges, throw in a DV breach
and a fail to appear warrant, and
complete the charge processing.
This is a combination of offences
that are not too out of the ordinary.
Only then will you understand the
complexities of the QPRIME system,
and the frustration experienced by
operational officers.
The downright ugly
This Service is very sick. The loss of
our members to alternate employment
is akin to a deathly plague. Hopefully
there is a cure before too long.
I was reading the Gazette dated 9
March 2012 and was again astounded
at the number of resignations. This
prompted me to go back through each
Gazette for 2012 and tally the number
of resignations.
This does not include dismissal, age,
or medical retirement; this is simply
sworn members who have had
enough. 6 January – 4, 13 January
– 9, 20 January – 18, 27 January – 3,
3 February – 7, 10 February – 5, 17
February – 2, 24 February – 3, 2 March –
6, 9 March – 12.
It doesn't look too bad, with the
exception of 20 January and 9 March,
but when you tally the total number
that have left over a ten week period,
it is a staggering 69 members. It is
appalling that the Senior Executives
of this organisation are not looking
inward and asking themselves why this
is happening.
It takes 25 weeks to train a recruit,
should they successfully complete the
course, and then another 52 weeks
for them to complete the First Year
Constable program.
That’s a total of 77 weeks before we
have a replacement, qualified ‘bum on
seat’ in a patrol car. The recruitment
and training is barely covering the loss,
and therefore we are continually losing
the ability to fill a roster.
If we maintain the same attrition rate,
the Service will have suffered a loss of
173 members during the recruit phase
alone. This is not hard to work out (10
weeks - 69) + (10 weeks – 69) + (5 weeks
- 34).
This is not too different to the Costa
Concordia disaster, where the ship was
sinking rapidly and the Captain, in our
case Commissioner, abandoned ship. Is
it too hard to address?
Could it be that struggles with the job—
QPRIME, ITAS, Moynihan disclosure,
the no pursuit policy where offenders
goad police and we sit back and watch,
a lenient court system where we are
scrutinised more than the offenders, a
discipline system that is antiquated and
does not follow the principles of natural
13
northern region roundup
justice, and throw in on top of that the
fact that Senior Management in Roma
Street never stand up and commend or
support the troops for their actions—
are the real reasons our members
leave for other employment, where
remuneration is higher and efforts are
appreciated.
I ponder the following questions: what
does the Equity and Diversity Unit do
with the information contained within
the surveys of resigning members?
Where does this information go? Is it
filed away because it is too damning of
management?
Why is it that we have a dedicated unit
that is not stemming the flow of our
members to alternate employment?
What suggested measures are proposed
to stem the tide?
By the time this Journal is printed and
distributed, we should have a new
state government, and hopefully the
announcement of a new Commissioner.
Something constructive has to be done
to address this serious situation.
Any government of the day can
promise any number of further growth
positions in recruiting, but if our
officers are leaving as quick as they’re
being recruited, we are always going to
be playing catch up.
If you want an honest evaluation as to
why our members are leaving the QPS
in droves, have the QPU conduct the
resignation surveys and provide you
with the responses. I can guarantee that
there won’t be any candy coating to
make the real reasons easier to swallow.
I will not elaborate any further. I feel
ashamed at the manner in which this
award ceremony was conducted,
and even more so at how each of the
award recipients have been treated
by the incompetents running this fine
Service.
“If you want an honest evaluation as to why our
members are leaving the QPS in droves, have
the QPU conduct the resignation surveys.”
ALMOST TOO UGLY TO MENTION
Oh, and by the way, Commissioner and
Deputy Commissioners: the awards
ceremony held on 7 March in secret so
that a handful of people would not be
offended was a disgrace, and each of
you should hang your heads in shame.
As an officer who was directly involved
in the incident, I personally pass
my gratitude, and that of twentyone others, to these fine men and
women. We are very grateful for their
tremendous efforts, and wish that we
could have been there to see them
acknowledged.
The year is rolling along rapidly and I
am hoping to have visited all stations
within this Region by the end of
September. If you have any issues you
want raised or addressed, please do
not hesitate to contact me, or your local
branch official. Until next month, stay
safe, and:
No Union Rep = no interview
Peter THOMAS
(Thommo)
Northern Region
0409 591 270
I personally will be forever grateful
for your actions that ensured that my
colleagues and I got home alive to our
families that night.
If it happens, protect yourself and your family
by immediately contacting the QPU office
Ph 3259 1900 (24 hours)
or your regional representative.
They will steer you in the right direction.
14
BILL FELDMAN
MORALE: DELICATE, TENUOUS, AND LOW. CAN IT BE FIXED?
The truth about morale in the Queensland Police Service is that it has hit an all-time low. Having been in the
Circus—I mean, the Service—for over 36 years, I have seen the highs and lows as far as morale and the love of the
job goes. I feel that this is the lowest it has been, even taking into account the Fitzgerald Inquiry years.
Can it be fixed? I believe that it
can.
The next Commissioner needs to take
the complaint system and the transfer
and promotion system by the ears and
give them both an almighty shake, to
fix them both for the betterment of the
QPS.
The perspective of every officer out
there is that when a complaint is made
against a member of the Service, it is
investigated in microscopic detail until
some fault can be attributed against an
officer involved in the incident.
An Inspector can then hang his hat on
it and feel that it is a job well done,
even if the investigation takes four
years. Who cares about the stress,
pressure, and confinement of the
police involved? It certainly does not
appear to worry the benevolent QPS.
An example for you. Let’s say the year
is 2009 (and this is not fiction). Let
us say a watchhouse keeper (name
and location kept confidential) has a
complaint levelled at him that:
1) he handcuffed and arrested a
prisoner
2) he broke the prisoner's wrist
during the cuffing and arrest
3) he covered up his name on his
uniform so that it could not be read
by the prisoner.
The complaint is now over two years
old. The original three-part complaint
was found to be completely untrue
(watchhouse video shows exactly how
untrue, all recorded and date and time
stamped).
Now enter the zealots. In the course of
the investigation, this violent, criminal
complainant, who had assaulted other
persons prior to his arrest, and who
had wilfully and unlawfully damaged
a police service vehicle, was found to
have levelled the first accusation at
the watchhouse keeper: that he had
assaulted him and broken his wrist.
Despite the fact that this was untrue,
and found to be untrue, the QPS felt that
the injury (that did not exist) (and that
he knew he did not cause, anyway),
because after the violent drug- and
alcohol-fuelled offender had finished
punching his cell walls and doors
and throwing wet toilet paper at the
cell cameras to cover them up, he
appeared to be favouring his right
arm. The offender had already lied
on many occasions; why should
any actions from that point on be
construed as truth in any fashion?
“The perspective of every officer out there
is that when a complaint is made against a
member of the Service, it is investigated in
microscopic detail until some fault can be
attributed against an officer involved.”
the accusation was in fact a complaint,
and that the officer had an obligation
to report that complaint. I was unaware
that an accusation was a complaint.
I don’t know how you make a false
complaint about a false complaint
(because you know it’s not true), but
perhaps I am not a crazed zealot from
the ESC or CMC.
Now, the alleged broken wrist was
not broken, and an examination the
day after the arrest and incarceration
revealed that there was no fracture.
It was also held by the zealots that the
subject officer should have reported
When later interviewed himself by
the zealots, the complaining, violent
criminal accused the investigating
zealots of tampering with the timeand date-stamped video evidence.
Now, this subject officer faced a
discipline hearing over failing to selfreport a false complaint about himself,
and failing to report an injury that he
did not believe that this person had.
And we wonder why morale is taking a
nose dive!
When the original complaint was
found to be completely untrue, one
of the big kahunas ought to have told
15
this criminal liar that his complaint
was pure fabrication, and the subject
officer could have got back to his job.
Why would the big kahunas go any
further with this?
We now see why the ESC is filled with
Inspectors, and has the second highest
budget in the QPS, after the Traffic
branch. They have to find some charge
to justify their existence.
It’s as though there is belief that if
they don’t find something wrong
somewhere, and have a charge against
the subject officer that they can hang
I am hopeful that a new Commissioner
under a new regime will change the
attitude that is becoming prevalent in
all these internal investigations.
accusation as a complaint, and see
if you can blow up the complaint
system.
In the short term, if the CMC and ESC
are looking for more work: let’s give it
to them.
Work smart, work safe –
make it home.
Bill FELDMAN
“The QPS felt that the accusation was in fact a
complaint, and that the officer had an obligation
to report that complaint. I was unaware that an
accusation was a complaint.”
their hat on, then the CMC will find
fault with the investigation. It’s as
though there’s a ‘someone must pay
the cost mentality’, and it’s always
the poor copper doing his job, who
missed crossing a t or dotting an i.
16
I have not had the space to attack the
transfer and promotion system; I’ll
tackle that next month. Remember:
every accusation levelled against
you is a complaint, make sure to
self-report every false and vexatious
Central Region
0419 659 105
Metro South Region Roundup
TONY COLLINS
It is time to put frontline police first
After the unfortunate incident at the West End police station, the Workplace Health and Safety spotlight is being
shone directly onto Metro South. At the time of writing, the front stairs and footpath of West End station are being
repaired and replaced. The Union has done a complete inspection and I have advised Assistant Commissioner
Henderson that this will be just the start. To his credit, A/C Henderson has taken Jenny Reilly around Metro South to
all the houses we call police stations: West End, Moorooka, Annerley, and Coorparoo.
It is now the 21st century, and these
relics need to be put out to pasture.
These houses combined have almost
350 years under their belts. They were
built in an era long past and one to
which we will never return. It is time to
remedy this situation. It is time to move
forward.
You just cannot say we are a world class
policing outfit when we work out of
houses, and when at least one does not
even have an interview room. One leaks
a rusty, blood colour when it rains. One
is so small for the allotted staff that you
cannot swing a cat.
Finally, the last has wiring in the day
room that looks like a rat’s nest (see
picture). This is a real photo, taken just
recently. These are all distinct problems,
but most importantly: they are houses,
and not purpose-built police stations.
Therefore, it was with a feeling of
great disappointment that I discovered
Metro South is to build a new regional
headquarters, instead of replacing any
of these relics.
“You just cannot say
we are a world class
policing outfit when we
work out of houses.”
This decision by headquarters
shows the complete disregard this
department has for its frontline troops.
In my opinion, the $5 million plus that
has been earmarked for a regional
headquarters would be better spent in
replacing these houses, and providing
better working conditions for our
“The $5 million plus that has been earmarked
for a regional headquarters would be better
spent in replacing these houses, and providing
better working conditions for our members.”
members. I think it is time to bring
back dump of the month. We have four
contenders without looking very hard at
all. It is time to prioritise our service by
putting frontline police first.
hopefully they will be fixed sooner
New look QPRIME
A brilliant example of change
management also occurred recently
with the new look QPRIME. The major
outage advertised was in fact the
uploading of a new version of QPRIME.
Therefore, it was a great surprise when
a number of officers turned on QPRIME
to find a new and brighter version. A
much brighter version.
look QPRIME, some of our members
There are some glitches to be resolved
with this new version, and after
speaking with Assistant Commissioner
Stewart and Superintendent Johnson,
rather than later. The brightness of the
screen is a concern for some people,
and not so for others. So, to assist any
of our members in adjusting to the new
from Oxley have created a new QPRIME
training tool to help you adjust to the
brightness (see picture).
For maximum benefit, simply stare
intently at the training device for
a minute before attempting to use
QPRIME. This will assist your eyes in
adjusting to their new environment.
Tony COLLINS
Metropolitan South Region
0414 804 472
17
South East Region Roundup
Bob SMITHSON
MANAGING DIMINISHED WORK PERFORMANCE
The process of Managing Diminished Work Performance (MDWP) has been around for as long as I can remember.
The policy and guidelines are found in Chapter 13.3 of the Human Resource Management Manual (HRMM). I haven’t
heard of it being used for a long time, but over the past few months I have been made aware of at least three
instances where this course of action has been imposed upon our members. These have all occurred in the Gold
Coast District. It must be the ‘flavour of the month’, so to speak.
Although it is a process that we could
do without, it is not something that we
should dread: it’s not the end of the
world. The opening sentence in the
HRMM under the heading of ‘Principles’
reads, ‘The purpose of the policy and
associated guidelines is to support
employees in achieving the performance
requirements of their roles’.
Sounds very warm and fuzzy, doesn’t
it? But after you read the entire
guidelines and policy, the process is
reasonably fair for the subject officer,
and there is plenty of scope available
for the member to come out at the end
of the process successfully.
“The LNP have come
to the party with some
form of commitment...
We just now have to
wait to see if they
deliver.”
So this is all very well and good if
the process is followed correctly.
But herein lies the problem. As we
have come to expect in the QPS, the
management don’t always seem to
follow their own rules.
They take shortcuts and only have their
eye on a final outcome that suits them.
They are not too concerned if they cut a
few corners on the way.
If you happen to find yourself being
a subject member in the MDWP
18
process, please get in touch with me
or your local branch official for advice
and support, preferably at the very
beginning of the exercise.
To date, the LNP have come to the
party with some form of a commitment
in each of these areas. We just now
have to wait to see if they deliver,
“The three big ticket items our Union has
been seeking from all sides of politics are a
substantial increase in police numbers across
the board, civil protection for police acting in
good faith in the execution of their duty, and
realistic penalties for evade police offenders.”
QUEENSLAND STATE ELECTION
As we enter the final stages of the
state election campaign, we once again
see the LNP trying to snatch defeat
from the jaws of victory. It must be
something embedded in their culture.
But you would have to think that this
time they will manage to stumble
across the line.
If that turns out to be the case, at least
we can say we have been promised
some sweeteners by the LNP. But the
same cannot be said for the Labor
party. They appear to be playing catchup like a game of poker: ‘I’ll see your
helicopter and raise you one more’.
The three big ticket items our Union
has been seeking from all sides of
politics are a substantial increase in
police numbers across the board, civil
protection for police acting in good
faith in the execution of their duty,
and realistic penalties for evade police
offenders.
or if they come up with some lame
excuses to weasel their way out of the
promises. Time will tell.
FUNERAL FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
SENIOR CONSTABLE DAVID RIXON
On 8 March I attended the funeral in
Tamworth for New South Wales Police
Officer, Senior Constable David Rixon.
David lost his life in the line of duty on 2
March when he was shot during a traffic
stop in a suburban street of Tamworth
(see article in this Journal).
This is yet another sad example of the
dangers that police officers all over the
world face every day of their working
lives.
Please take care out there.
Rest in peace, David Rixon.
Bob SMITHSON
South East Region
0408 120 110
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR STATION
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Queensland Police Union of Employees, PO Box 13008, George Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4003
Phone (07) 3259 1900
Fax (07) 3259 1950
Email [email protected]
QUEENSLAND POLICE LEGACY SCHEME
Suite 75, Level 11, Northpoint
231 North Quay, Brisbane, 4000
Telephone: (07) 3236 2276
Fax: (07) 3236 4219
Email: [email protected]
AUTHORITY TO DEDUCT
Manager
Payroll Services
Partner One – QPS Payroll
Level 6, GPO Box 1395
BRISBANE 4001
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the sum of $
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This authority replaces all previous authorities and shall remain valid until cancelled
by me in writing to the Queensland Police Legacy Scheme.
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Beneath the Surface
Beneath the Surface
of the Qps Dive Squad
By Andrea Appleton
On any given day, members of the QPS dive squad may be found
crawling through mud and reeds searching for a weapon, investigating
the scene of an abandoned car in a waterway, or attempting to
recover the body of a drowned swimmer in black water in a known
crocodile area...
Senior Constable Matthew
Guitman pauses under the murky
water. He has spent most of the day
crocodile documentaries, of the huge
very intense in the water. There may be
reptiles lying in the mud, waiting for
black water, currents, obstacles, known
prey.
threats in the area… police diving is not
trudging through the mud of flooded
‘I don’t mind sharks, but crocodiles…
cane fields outside of Innisfail,
I don’t know, they’re evil creatures,’
searching for people believed missing
he says, ‘Of course, there are control
from a car swept away in the floods.
measures in place in that sort of
Covering the area via helicopter, local
situation.
‘The EPA (now DERM: Department
in a tree, and have seen crocodiles
of Environment and Resource
feasting on wild pigs stranded between
Management) do a survey of the area,
the flooded cane drains.
and the SERT guys were on hand with
Const Guitman and members of the
QPS dive squad have searched all day,
“Police diving is not
about going out to
photograph Nemo.”
THE SQUAD
police have found one woman stranded
It is these same cane drains that Snr
about going out to photograph Nemo.’
The QPS dive squad is based within
flashbangs and shotguns; but still,
the Operations Support Command at
the Brisbane Water Police complex
at Lytton, and is currently made up
of only three full time officers—Sgt
crocs are in the back of your mind,
because you know they’re out there.’
Murdoch, Snr Const Guitman, and
Senior Constable Chae Rowland—and
knowing that large crocodiles often
‘It’s always about risk management,’
six part time officers who otherwise
linger in them for the ready supply of
says Sergeant Rick Murdoch, OIC
work general duties or with SERT.
trapped barramundi.
of the dive squad and an ex navy
‘We’d like to recruit another full
“Members of the QPS dive squad have
searched all day, knowing that large crocodiles
often linger for the ready supply of trapped
barramundi.”
time officer, and to build our pool of
part timers up to 12 again,’ says Sgt
Murdoch, ‘We’ve had a full time squad
in Queensland since 1996, and there
was a part time section before that.
Towards the end of the day, the dive
clearance diver, ‘But it also depends on
‘The part time guys are great,’ he
squad came across a small dam,
the circumstances. If there’s a chance
continues, ‘But there are difficulties,
and Snr Const Guitman kitted up for
someone is caught in an air bubble, if
because a minimum job will take a day.
the dive. He has some vision in the
there’s a chance of saving someone’s
Sometimes we can be deployed for
water, which is unusual for the work
life, then we’ll take whatever
10 days, because we cover the entire
he undertakes; as a fulltime member
immediate action is possible.
state, so any unit supplying a part time
of the dive squad, most of his work is
undertaken in zero visibility.
officer leaves rostering difficulties in
‘If there’s no way the person we’re
the other workplace.’
searching for is still alive, then we’ll
He squints in the brown water, and
take longer to work out the best
To comply with Australian diving
tries to forget the footage he’s seen in
approach. Either way, sometimes it’s
standards, a deployment for the squad
21
Beneath the Surface
requires a minimum of four divers: a
supervisor, a diver, a diver’s attendant,
and a standby diver for emergencies.
The success of every job depends on
the professionalism and teamwork of
each member of the squad.
The supervisor is in charge of
undertaking the risk assessment of
any particular job, and of working
out the logistics and best approach
to complete a search. They are
responsible for ongoing risk
management and for the situational
awareness of the team.
Sgt Murdoch recovers a gun known to have used in a recent murder.
“If there’s a chance
someone is caught in
an air bubble, if there’s
a chance of saving
someone’s life, then
we’ll take whatever
immediate action is
possible.”
The updating of control measures is
possible because the diver is relaying
information about currents and
obstacles from underwater through
a series of pulls on a rope (lifeline)
that connects them with the diver’s
attendant on the surface, who can relay
information back to the diver in the
Police diving can involve very difficult work conditions.
same manner.
If the minimum number of four divers
have been deployed, there will only
be one diver and one attendant to
conduct the thorough, sweeping search
required, and the attendant ensures
the rope remains taut so as to retain
communications with the diver.
Finally, there is always a safety diver
who remains on standby, and hopefully
will not have to get wet.
Senior Sergeant Jim Whitehead, the
state OIC of Search and Rescue, is a
great supporter of the dive squad.
‘These guys are working in an area
Seven of the current nine members of the QPS dive squad.
22
that’s inherently dangerous, across
Beneath the Surface
the entire state. They’re conducting
may have only their sense of touch and
‘Whatever you do, you can’t let go of
searches for people, weapons, and
their acumen to aid them.
the lifeline, because that’s what the
property,’ he says, ‘They can be
safety diver will be following to find
deployed at a moment’s notice,
‘In black water, you can’t see your
you. If you let go of the lifeline, you
because it’s important to get to the
bubbles, so you don’t know which way
may head for the surface, but you may
area in question as soon as possible for
is up, unless you’re oriented on the
have something above you, a wreck, or
the best results.
bottom,’ says Sgt Murdoch, ‘If you get
roots of a tree, that you can’t see. You
may then get entangled, and your gas
“To comply with Australian diving standards,
a deployment for the squad requires a
minimum of four divers: a supervisor, a diver,
a diver’s attendant, and a standby diver for
emergencies.”
will run out. You’ll be lost.’
RECRUITMENT
Recruitment for the QPS dive squad
is a rigorous process, and not every
officer who applies is suitable for a
position in the squad. Recruitment
and training culminates in a nine week
‘There can be a lot of travel involved,
stuck, entangled around a log or a car
commercial diver’s course in Sydney,
and because of the numbers shortage,
body underwater, you have a limited
but first potential divers must satisfy
sometimes they go from one job to the
supply of gas.
certain selection criteria during a four-
next to the next. They only get a dive
day pre-selection process conducted by
allowance if they actually dive, rather
‘You have to follow your lifeline back
than for maintaining their fitness to be
to the entanglement, free yourself, and
able to dive.
either head to the surface, or re-orient
The QPS selection process is not about
yourself for the search.
diving, but is rather designed to test
‘Yet they are very proactive, and very
professional. They are determined to
‘For example, we had to search an old
provide the Service with a top notch
quarry that had been flooded and never
dive squad, and it would be great if
emptied,’ he says, ‘It was a murder
they could recruit more officers as part
site; they thought a young lady had
of their team.’
been thrown over the edge. There were
countless cars dumped down there,
the QPS dive squad.
physical strength and endurance,
ability to search in a sensory-deprived
environment, reaction to both tight
spaces and heights (necessary for
jumping out of helicopters), and
aptitude for cognitive reasoning when
fatigued and under duress.
QUALITIES OF A POLICE DIVER
and they were precariously balanced
The attributes required of a successful
on top of one another in zero visibility
Applicants must conduct searches
police diver are very different to those
water.
wearing a blackout mask and
of the average recreational diver, and
even the average commercial diver.
Sometimes the risks faced by police
divers are misunderstood, because
a lot of divers judge ability and
experience by the number and depth of
dives undertaken.
“Police divers are judged by their ability to
search in black, contaminated water, with
unseen obstacles in their path, and with the
threat of marine predators or crocodiles within
their search area.”
Police divers, however, are judged
by their ability to search in black,
‘So there was the constant threat of
wallowing in knee-deep mud. In
contaminated water, with unseen
getting the line tangled around a part
addition to completing the standard
obstacles in their path that may cause
of a car, or even the whole pile of cars
Academy PT test, they must complete
entanglement, and with the threat of
collapsing on top of us. So that was a
other physical tasks involving repeated
marine predators or crocodiles within
very difficult search.
duck diving, treading water, and
their search area.
swimming underwater while holding
‘You can’t panic underwater,’ he
their breath.
They require physical fitness,
continues, ‘You have to have the right
psychological resolve, an ability to
attitude, and be able to indicate that
They must undertake a number of
work well with their team at the other
you’re in trouble. We can put our safety
search operations in confined spaces
end of their lifeline, and strength
diver in, and we’ll be able to indicate
with minimal vision, including crawling
of character to persevere through
through the lifeline that we’re coming
(or most often wriggling) through a
unexpected encounters where they
to help.
firefighter’s rubble pit.
23
Beneath the Surface
They also must climb and jump from
a height, fin themselves through a
number of tasks in the murky water
at the Port of Brisbane, and conduct
successful weight-carrying and knottying tasks underwater, without vision,
and within a certain timeframe.
Dr Deanne Hawkins, a QPS
psychologist and senior HSO, is on
hand during the selection process.
‘All applicants applying for the dive
squad undergo a comprehensive
psychological assessment,’ she
says, ‘This is due to the complex and
hazardous nature of their role.
“In black water, you
can’t see your bubbles,
so you don’t know
which way is up.”
‘The psychological assessment
comprises just one aspect of an
overall rigorous and comprehensive
assessment and selection process,
and ongoing support and assistance is
offered to successful applicants given
the demanding nature of their role.’
UNIQUE POLICING EXPERIENCES AND
EQUIPTMENT
Once selected into the dive squad,
many deployments are certainly
demanding in nature, but they are
also uniquely rewarding. There is the
opportunity to travel around the state
with a close-knit team determined to
complete whichever recovery task is
presented.
Sometimes, there are logistics
involved, such as at a recent industrial
accident where a crane driver was
pinned underwater by heavy-duty
machinery. It is the dive squad’s role
to determine the best way to extract a
person in a given circumstance, and to
organise resources that are required to
do the job.
On other occasions, a search area for
a person or object may be extensive,
24
Beneath the Surface
Retrieval of a car from a Bundaberg waterway following the The dam searched by Snr Const Guitman in Innisfail.
recovery of a deceased person.
Gun recovered from a Gold Coast canal where there was
some visibility.
Crocodile near a possible dive site at Proserpine.
A search and recovery exercise during recruitment.
Dive squad recruitment.
A dive squad training exercise.
25
Beneath the Surface
and the dive squad may be able to use
Of course, the dive squad is not always
the job done. We’re a close team,
sonar equipment to refine their search.
deployed to areas where the conditions
we have to be, so it’s good to work
allow the use of state-of-the-art
together.’
‘We have two sonar tools, one of which
equipment in relatively clear water.
Senior Sergeant Grant Newman from
is the same piece of equipment that
was used to find the Titanic,’ says Sgt
‘It’s not like we always head off to the
the Commissioner’s Office agrees that
Murdoch, ‘It’s a very expensive piece of
Barrier Reef to go diving with our sonar
he likes to get out of the office, and
equipment, worth around $160 000, but
equipment,’ Sgt Murdoch says, ‘We
says the teamwork is an aspect he
if we tow it under a vessel and survey
also spend hot, stinking days trudging
enjoys. He notes that the role of a diver
the area, sometimes it allows us to
through mud, searching among animal
is quite physically challenging, but says
nominate a number of targets.
bones in dams in central Queensland.’
the mental side of the job is equally
“We have the Side
Scan Sonar tool,
which is the same
piece of equipment
that was used to
find the Titanic.”
FROM THE SQUAD
important.
‘Grantham was like that, too,’ says
‘We did have a female officer who
Constable Michael Turner from Surfers
got through the course and all the
Paradise generals, ‘We were in wetsuits
training,’ he says, ‘So it’s quite
and swift water gear, and we waded
possible for a female to be a part of
along the waterways, sometimes in
our team.’
mud up to our knees.
Snr Const Rowland recently supervised
‘We were trying to identify smells,
a job at Wappa Falls on the Sunshine
‘We can’t always differentiate between
crawling through debris and animal
Coast were a young person had
targets because the movement of the
carcasses, and we identified targets
drowned. The body was caught
water creates bubbles, and because it
where deceased were later recovered.
underneath the falls, so there was a
uses soundwaves, the sonar bounces
They were long days, very full on, so I
hydrology danger in sending a diver
off the bubbles, which can obliterate
thought that was a tough job.’
into the underwater environment.
data in your picture. But still, it does
pick up targets, and allows us to focus
our diving in a particular area.
‘In a best case scenario, we will be
“Some of the jobs are pretty terrible, but if
it was your loved one down there, you hope
someone would do it for you.”
able to send a diver down and watch
him move towards a target, giving
Constable Corey Shwereb from
Snr Const Rowland conducted a risk
him directions through our in water
Stafford generals nominates his first
assessment and weighed the possible
communications,’ he says.
dive as one of his most difficult.
dangers against the public pressure to
The ropes used by the dive squad
‘It was a swift water dive out at Nebo,
have communications wire built
a deceased person,’ he says, ‘There’s
There were many people in the area
into them, so a diver is able to talk
a bit of pressure, because you want to
who knew what had happened and
through his mask to his team above
recover the body for the family of the
everyone was very upset, and the dive
water. Alternatively, a diver can wear
deceased. Some of the jobs are pretty
squad managed to rig some lines and
a transponder and transducer on his
terrible, but if it was your loved one
safely retrieve the body.
back, and the dive attendant uses a
down there, you hope someone would
headset and a transducer. Though this
do it for you.
retrieve the body.
technology can be very effective, the
Snr Const Guitman agrees that it is
difficult when grieving family members
transducers are affected by water eddies
‘Everyone’s got their preferred dives,’
are at the site. He was responsible for
and thermoclines, and both forms of
he continues, ‘I like dams because you
retrieving two children who drowned
communication rely on batteries.
don’t have to worry about sharks! It
in a multimillion dollar irrigation dam
can be scary, and anyone who says
near the Condamine River.
‘Anything that involves batteries or
they’re never scared down there is
electronics around water is subject
lying.
to failure at a phenomenal rate, so
‘You really just need to concentrate on
the task at hand,’ he says, ‘And think
divers still need to know the traditional
‘But it breaks up my role in general
about keeping the line taut, and the
rope pulls to signal if the hardwire
duties, and gives me another aspect
search integrity. You can concentrate on
and through water communication
of work,’ he says, ‘Plus I like the
remembering the position you find them
capability fails,’ Sgt Murdoch admits.
opportunity to travel, and I like getting
in, which may be important for evidence.
26
Beneath the Surface
The dive squad recovers two target stolen weapons, plus seven unrelated weapons, in Oakey.
‘It doesn’t really effect you when you’re
colder months, when crocodiles are not
down there doing your job... it’s more
as aggressive, and when they have to
afterwards, when you see the family
get out of the water to warm up.
Side Scan Sonar imagery of a drowning victim.
members at the surface,’ he says.
‘We would do the dive at low tide, or at
While the divers’ searches for
the turn of the tide, and we would do
people weigh most on their minds,
a survey with the DERM officers. We
another important part of their job is
would look for slide marks, and walk
recovering property, weapons, and
marks, and we’d put a boat in the water
other evidence.
the night before the dive, because
“Anyone who says they’re never scared down
there is lying.”
“We’re effectively
underwater crime
scene investigators.”
end of the day, they’re dinosaurs, and
they’ll do their own thing.’
Sgt Murdoch admits there is a
They recovered a knife with a broken
that’s when you can see their eyes
possibility the dive would still have
tip in the Endeavour River that had
glowing red in the dark.’
gone ahead if there were reports
been used in a stabbing murder on the
back of a fishing trawler.
a person was trapped in the car,
Snr Const Guitman says there has been
especially if it was possible they were
only one situation he has been involved
still alive.
They are routinely called out to check
in where a dive did not go ahead due
cars in waterways. Once, they were
to a crocodile threat. It was the case of
‘The dive squad is committed to
looking for a gun thought discarded in
a dumped vehicle at Proserpine, and
bringing bodies back to families for
a river, and came across a whole cache
there was no intelligence to suggest
closure,’ says Snr Sgt Whitehead,
of weapons.
there was a person inside.
‘They also complete many jobs to
‘We’re effectively underwater crime
A survey of the area noted significant
they may be only a handful of people,
scene investigators,’ says Sgt Murdoch.
crocodile activity, and Snr Const
especially at the moment, they’re a
Guitman himself took photographs of
vital part of the Service.
secure underwater evidence. Though
‘Sometimes, these jobs are not as
a large crocodile on the bank of the
immediate as searching for a person,
waterway they were to dive.
‘They have top quality gear, lots of
so we are able to spend more time
travel around the state, and great esprit
thinking about the best approach,’ he
‘You have to weigh up whether it’s
says, ‘For example, if there is suspected
worth diving in such an environment,’
property underwater somewhere up
says Sgt Murdoch, ‘Despite completing
‘Get in touch if you think you’ve got
north, we may do the search in the
surveys and risk assessments, at the
what it takes!’ says Sgt Murdoch.
de corps,’ he continues.
27
By NSW Police News
Senior Constable David James Rixon VA
31 July 1971–2 March 2012
Senior Constable David Rixon
‘Myself and my children are struggling
VA loved life. He loved his family, his
of our family. I therefore ask that we are
community, and his job, which sadly
with the reality of losing the cornerstone
not placed under any more undue stress
demanded the ultimate sacrifice on 2
and are given as much time as we need
March. Judging by the hundreds who
to grieve in peace and privacy.’
gathered for his funeral at St Paul’s
Anglican Church in West Tamworth,
As news of this tragedy reached the
he was greatly loved and respected in
Police Association, our thoughts went
return.
first to his grieving family and his fellow
officers. The David Rixon Memorial
Senior Constable Rixon’s death has
Fund was established to safeguard the
dealt a devastating blow to his wife,
Fiona, and six children Renae, Jemma,
“David’s courage and conviction inspire
us now, and will into the future.”
Scott, Matthew, Hayley, and Patrick.
‘We as a family have lost a most
treasured husband, father, son, friend,
financial future of his family. At the
respects. Also present were the Premier
and workmate,’ Mrs Rixon said in a
time of printing, the fund is just over
of NSW Barry O’Farrell, Police Minister
statement.
$380,000.
Mike Gallacher, Police Association
‘The city of Tamworth has lost a
Contributions can still be made directly
passionate and dedicated police officer.
to the David Rixon Memorial Fund, PCU
‘I have lost the best part of myself.
‘David was my soul mate and my rock.
His mother has lost her only child and
Account number 269978 S1 (for PCU
members) or BSB 815000, Account
number 269978 (for contributions from
other financial institutions).
our children have lost the most amazing
A link account has also been established
and supportive father any child could
for people to make deposits at any
ask for. This senseless tragedy has left a
National Australia Bank branch. Account
huge hole in our lives that can never be
details for contributing at NAB are: BSB
filled or replaced.
815000, A/C: 000883749; A/C Name:
‘We would like to express our sincere
thanks and appreciation for the help,
support, and expressions of sympathy
representatives, and police leaders from
across Australia. Hundreds of men and
women in blue stood outside watching
the service on large screens. Tamworth
Police had been granted special leave
to attend the funeral, with officers from
outside relieving them.
The NSW Police Force flag had been
placed at the altar, alongside symbols
of Senior Constable Rixon’s life: his
flower-wreathed portrait, his cherished
David Rixon Memorial Fund (members
Canterbury Bulldogs jersey, and his
should mention that it is a PCU account
police medals.
at the time of deposit).
‘In the fog of this senseless tragedy, this
and condolences offered from our
On 8 March, Senior Constable Rixon’s
much we know: we have lost a beloved
police family, the Tamworth community,
widow, Fiona, and six children joined
father, husband, son, and friend,’
and beyond at this devastating time in
hundreds of mourners who packed St
Commissioner Andrew Scipione said in
our lives.
Paul’s Church, Tamworth, to pay their
his eulogy.
28
witnessing the trauma of the road toll,
and constant vigilance, Mr Scipione
said. Senior Constable Rixon fulfilled
these duties with great zeal.
‘Over time, David mellowed into a
typical prized country cop.’
A spotless record
David James Rixon joined the NSW
Police as a keen 19-year-old and was
attested on 26 April 1991. He initially
performed GDs at Hamilton and
Belmont. On 12 February 1995, he was
“David mellowed
into a typical prized
country cop.”
transferred to the Waratah Highway
Patrol and performed HWP duties in
Newcastle, Gunnedah, and Tamworth.
On 2 March 1996, he was promoted to
the rank of Senior Constable.
During the course of his service, Senior
Constable Rixon was awarded the Police
Medal, the National Medal, and the first
and second clasps.
On 8 March, Commissioner Scipione
presented Fiona Rixon with three
posthumous awards: the Commissioner’s
“Hundreds of police lined the route in a
last salute to a much-loved and thoroughly
decent man.”
Valour Award for conspicuous merit and
exceptional bravery whilst under fire,
the Commissioner’s Sesquicentenary
Citation, and the National Police Service
Commissioner Scipione described Senior
Mortally wounded by an armed
Constable Rixon as ‘a highly regarded
offender, Senior Constable Rixon
officer who served his community with
returned fire and attempted to take him
Close friends and former colleagues,
courage, honour and distinction.
into custody before collapsing. He was
Peter Grinter and Ian Mason, also
rushed to Tamworth Base Hospital, but
delivered eulogies.
‘David’s courage and conviction inspire
us now, and will into the future. The
Medal.
died as a result of his injuries.
After the service, police vehicle Oxley
fatal assault on him will only serve to
‘In the best traditions of policing, David
203, which Senior Constable Rixon
strengthen our resolve to protect and
embraced his role as a police officer: for
was driving on 2 March and which has
serve the community. Of that David can
the safety and harmony that he could
now been rebadged ‘Rixon’, led an
be sure.’
promote, for the good that he could do,’
impressive cortege of motorcyclists,
Commissioner Scipione acknowledged.
police band mounted police, and 21
While the exact circumstances of
HWP cars. Hundreds of police lined the
the 2 March shooting on Lorraine
‘He never wavered from this approach,
route in a last salute to a much-loved
Street, West Tamworth, are under
right up to his moment of passing.’
and thoroughly decent man.
Constable Rixon acted bravely and
The duties of a highway patrol officer
He was buried during a private service
steadfastly to the end.
involve travelling vast distances,
that same afternoon.
investigation, it’s clear that Senior
29
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Jack remembers
Jack Remembers
After 20 years spent largely in northern Queensland CIBs—
Cairns, Atherton, Ayr, and Townsville—and another 10 years as
Townsville’s chief police prosecutor, John (Jack) Sanderson
retired in 1981 with many stories to tell. He shares some
anecdotes from his time in the Service with the Journal:
a vehicle had crossed a gully, leaving
the imprint of tracks readily seen in
the soft sand.
Men at both houses were arrested
and subsequently charged with the
offence of unlawfully killing a bullock.
I went back to Atherton, purchased a
quantity of plaster of Paris from the
The following day, the two offenders
were to appear before the Magistrate
“I went back to Atherton,
purchased a quantity of plaster
of Paris from the local chemist, and
returned to the creek crossing to take a
plaster cast of the tyre treads.”
Jack Sanderson
Incident over the slaughtering of a
bullock
One Saturday morning, a local
grazier came to the police station
and alleged that one of his bullocks
had been shot and the carcass
removed. I went to the property,
which was several miles from
Atherton, towards Herberton, and
found where a bullock had definitely
local chemist, and returned to the
creek crossing to take a plaster cast of
the tyre treads.
That afternoon, Constable Youngberry
and I were driving down Main Street,
when I saw a utility parked outside our
local RSL Club. I got out of the police
car and carefully compared the tread
on the plaster cast with that of the
utility. They were found to be identical.
I had taken the local tracker named
Brusher Gordon with me, because
we often used indigenous trackers in
After court, both men were being
fingerprinted, and joked about their
stupid behavior. One said to the other,
‘We were light fingered in knocking
that bullock off’.
The local clerk of the court was
approached and on information sworn,
a search warrant was issued. The
following morning, three Constables
and I executed three warrants.
The other offender said, ‘You know,
it’s the Melbourne Cup today, and a
horse called Light Fingers is running.
We should have a bet on it because
we were light fingered in knocking
that bullock off.’
Half a bullock’s carcass was found in
a large bathtub in one house, and the
other half of the bullock was found
in a refrigerator in another house.
Both men left the police station, and
went to the local TAB which had only
just commenced operations. They
placed a bet on Light Fingers, which
been killed because there was blood
on the ground.
on his visit to Atherton. On pleading
guilty, they were convicted and fined
a large sum of money, however they
were given time to pay.
those days.
He and I followed the vehicle tracks
for several miles, through open
country, and found tyre tracks where
31
Jack Remembers
went on to win the Melbourne Cup
at 15/1.
good omen. I won about five pounds,
which was a considerable amount of
money in those days.
Both men were said to have won
enough to pay their fines, with a
little money left over.
Suffice to say, I also had a small bet
on the horse, as I thought it was a
Light Fingers. Photo source: sporthorse-data.com
Shoot out at Moonlight Creek
A man named John Kelly, a wellknown grazier and meat works
owner, took up five blocks of
unoccupied land on Cape York
Peninsula. The total area of these
blocks was about 3,000 square miles.
Also included was a block on the
northern side, which was adjacent to
Batavia Downs. This property was
stocked with 2,000 head of breeders
brought from the Normanton area
that had been walked to the property
up the west coast of Cape York
York Peninsula family, to supply him
conversation with Toohey. Harris
with 300 breeders to stock the block
told Toohey that the cattle had been
to redevelop the property. These
mustered on the boundary, and he
blocks had a low Crown rental and
claimed a half share of the clean skins.
a number of clean skins running on
them.
An argument developed between the
The head stockman of Batavia
Toohey offered to fight Harris.
Downs was a man named Toohey.
He had been profoundly deaf from
produced a 32 calibre revolver and
make himself understood. He was
shot Toohey in the stomach. Harris
an experienced and able stockman
got on his horse and rode off.
and bushman, a big and powerful
indigenous man.
“Toohey went
and laid down on
his swag under
the fly tent in his
camp, believing
he was mortally
wounded.”
Two brothers, Dick and Ted Parrison,
were employed by Kelly, together
with indigenous stockmen to
pioneer the property. There were
no improvements at the time on the
blocks, however there were quite
a few hundred head of clean skin
cattle.
that he had more country than he
needed, so he surrendered the lease
of the northern property, about 300
square miles in area.
Toohey went and laid down on his
swag under the fly tent in his camp,
believing he was mortally wounded,
but after a time, he didn’t feel too
bad. He got up and got a bolt action
repeating rifle and followed Harris’s
tracks. He caught up with Harris and
shot him seven times in the stomach.
The indigenous stockmen soon
caught up with Toohey and Harris
and took them to Batavia Downs
station air strip, where they
Toohey was mustering on Moonlight
were both transported by aerial
Creek, which was the boundary
ambulance to the Cairns base
between the northern property and
hospital. There, they were put in
Batavia Downs. He had not notified
beds beside one another.
Harris that he was mustering on the
A man named John Harris had a
boundary, which was the normal
contract to carry mail from Coen to
practice. Toohey and his stockmen had
the Moreton telegraph station by
about 300 head of cattle in the yard,
pack horse.
and about 100 of these were clean
On learning that Kelly had
It was at this stage that Harris
birth, however he could talk and
Peninsula.
The following year, Kelly decided
two men, which became heated, and
skins.
Both men underwent operations for
their wounds, and they both fully
recovered. Both men refused to
talk or cooperate with police. The
police made several efforts to secure
evidence of the shootings, with
surrendered the northern lease,
At about 10am on the morning
negative results. No action was ever
Harris asked his wife, Vera Costelow,
in question, Harris rode up to the
taken by the police for any offence
a member of the well-known Cape
yard unaccompanied, and had a
committed by either man.
32
Jack Remembers
large cigar. He would stop and admire
The Magistrate stationed at
the sign, being the first such sign in
Herberton only visited Atherton when
the District, and it became well known
required, because he was also a
among locals that he admired it.
mining warden. He came to Atherton
One morning, the OIC came to work
that afternoon.
and lo and behold, some letters on
The lads appeared in the court at
the sign had been covered with black
2pm, and the OIC—who never went
paint, leaving the sign to read ‘L.I.C.E’.
near a court if he could help it—let it
Photo source: Centre for the Government of
Queensland
The OIC stormed into my office and
be known in no uncertain manner that
demanded an immediate investigation
he intended to prosecute the matter
Police sign damaged at Atherton
“One morning, the OIC came to work and lo
and behold, some letters on the sign had been
covered with black paint, leaving the sign to
read ‘L.I.C.E’.”
The police station at Atherton was of
brick construction and was facing the
main street, near the court house. The
police department was refurbishing
stations, and had decided to place
electric signs outside to ensure that
visitors could readily locate the police
station if required. The Atherton
electric sign read ‘P.O.L.I.C.E’ in bold
letters, and at night could be seen
hundreds of yards away.
This sign became the pride and joy of
our local OIC, who used to walk along
the street at night after tea, smoking a
into the terrible deed that had
been perpetrated upon the police
department in general, and the sign in
particular. The OIC demanded action
forthwith.
After two days of investigation, two of
our local lads were apprehended and
charged with ‘willfully and unlawfully
damaging a police sign’.
in court. The facts were read to the
Magistrate on a plea of guilty, and
both lads pleaded guilty.
The OIC, in a most firey address to
the Magistrate, emphasised that he
was certainly not a ‘louse’, as the sign
indicated.
The lads were placed upon a bond,
and ordered to clean the sign.
33
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Car Loan
Police recipes
Police Recipes
FISH TACOS WITH AVOCADO
SALSA
Everyone loves a taco, but not
everyone loves the stodginess of
traditional beans, melted cheese,
and generous dollops of sour cream.
Originating in Baja California in the
northwest of Mexico, fish tacos are a
twist on the old favourite, and are as
easy to make as their beef and bean
counterpart. Try these fish tacos with
your friends and family, a light and
refreshing meal that will still bring the
flavour of Mexico to your kitchen, and
allow dancing at a fiesta afterwards.
What do I need?
• 600g skinless white fish fillets
• large pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 8 taco shells
• 1 cos lettuce, finely shredded
• coriander leaves, to serve
Salsa
What do I do?
Fish
1.
5.
Meanwhile, dust fish with cayenne
and cumin.
6.
Heat oil in frypan and sear fish for
1-2 minutes on each side until just
cooked through.
Salsa
2.
• 1 avocado, finely chopped
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbs coriander leaves
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 1 tbs olive oil
Halve tomatoes, squeeze out and
discard seeds and juice, finely
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 green capsicum, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 180.
chop flesh.
3.
Place in bowl with remaining salsa
ingredients, mix to combine.
Assembling
7.
Fill each taco shell with a layer of
cos lettuce, then a layer of fish,
and spoon avocado salsa over the
top.
8.
Scatter with coriander leaves and
serve.
Taco shells
4.
Stack taco shells upright on baking
tray and heat in oven for five
minutes.
Recipe Source:
Jill Dupleix in Delicious magazine
Do you have a favourite recipe that you’d like to share with members?
E-mail us at [email protected]
35
Police Living
Police Living
TACTICAL PRO TWO WAY RADIO WALKIE TALKIES
There’s no better way to keep in touch when you’re camping, bushwalking, or fishing. Put these in a
couple of cars in a convoy to relay information about camping spots, or carry them in bushwalking
backpacks for track leaders to give directions to stragglers. Or, better still, keep one in your pocket
while out beach fishing so you can radio your mate down the beach to watch you land a big one!
Kids also love walkie talkies, and if you let them use these, they’ll entertain themselves for hours
without once stopping to ask if they can use your mobile.
Features
• LCD backlight display
• 40 public channels
• Ear/mic/charger jack • Mini size: 115 x 52 x 38 mm • Push to talk function
• Fixed antenna and removable belt clip
Optimal range
5 km
Frequency
476.425 Mhz
Watts
500m watt TX output power
Power Source
3 AAA batteries
Runtime
60 hrs stand by, 2 hrs talk time
Weight
192g
Primary activities Communicating while camping, bushwalking
Got a good photo of yourself camping, bushwalking, or fishing? We have a $50 BCF
voucher up for grabs for our favourite shot of the great outdoors. Send your entries
to [email protected], and you might see yourself in the next Journal.
36
Police Living
Below are our favourite photos we received in
response to the Police Living section.
Senior Constable Ian Buckmaster is the OIC of Cecil Plains station, and he recently
took two of his kids fishing while on a family holiday at Caloundra.
Senior Constable Ian Buckmaster receives a $50 BCF Voucher to put towards some
walkie talkies, or (perhaps ambitiously) a couple of bigger fishing rods!
Two future recruits, Hannah and Lachlan Buckmaster, testing
the water.
Senior Constable Ian Buckmaster congratulates Lachy on his
first ever fish.
Lachy suspects this one is probably not a keeper.
But Hannah thinks this one is!
37
Book Review - The Happiest Refugee
Book Review
The Happiest Refugee
By Andrea Appleton
It is hard to reconcile Anh Do, one of Australia’s favourite
comedians, who has appeared on Thank God You’re Here, Good News
Week, and Dancing with the Stars, with the image of a dehydrated
two-year-old crouched in the bottom of a nine metre fishing boat
in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Yet Do describes his desperate
journey with thirty-nine other refugees
as part of his heartfelt and hilarious
memoir, The Happiest Refugee. The
story of Do’s family will simultaneously
Despite sewing garments all through
the night, they were often unable to
afford the fees, uniforms, and books
required for the private school they
insisted their children attend.
tug at your heartstrings, make you
Life did not get any easier when Do’s
snort with laughter, and remind you
father left his mother when Do was
to appreciate the simple pleasures of
13, yet Do’s mother made do, altering
life in Australia. One of Do’s earliest
school blazers with material that didn t
teachers was right: he is a good story-
quite match, saving crumpled five and
teller.
ten dollar notes in a sock for school
Do’s story starts with the meeting of
his parents in a tumultuous, war-torn
Vietnam in the late 1970s, as told to him
by members of his extended family.
fees, and all the while offering her
home as a refuge to any extended
family or friends who needed a place
to stay.
His parents were desperate to secure
Despite the difficulties faced by his
a better future for Do and his brother
family, Do was a good student, and
Khoa, and they risked Communist
finished high school and went on to
border patrols, pirates, dehydration, and
study law at University. During his final
drowning at sea to eventually arrive in
year, Do was offered a sought-after
Australia as refugees.
corporate position, which would finally
Do and his family were overjoyed to
Anh Do
Allen & Unwin
Sydney 2010
RRP: $32.99
provide financial security for his family.
have been offered a fresh start in life,
About to accept the job he knew he
and faced the poverty, racism, and
wouldn’t like, he asked the employer
of Vietnam vets. In many ways, it pays
misunderstandings that their new
how many hours he would work per
homage to his family, especially his
country threw at them with humbling
week. Upon hearing he would work 60
mother, who despite the odds raised
positivism and strength of spirit.
hours, Do asked one of his comedian
children who eventually became
friends how many hours he worked per
Australian Comedian of the Year (Do)
week. The answer was four; and the
and Young Australian of the Year (Khoa).
There are many laughs in the book,
such as pictures of Khoa dressed as a
little girl in the clothes that St Vincent
rest is history.
The Happiest Refugee is an amusing
De Paul provided the Do family, yet
Do’s memoir does not ever ask for
and touching memoir of the
there are also many moving anecdotes
sympathy; instead, it is littered with
unequivocal love of a family, and is a
of the sacrifices Do’s parents made to
wry stories from Do’s life, such as the
reminder to appreciate and relish the
provide for their children.
horror of doing stand-up to a roomful
little things in life.
38
from the Archives
From the Archives
POLICE PRECISIOn AnD TRICK MOTORCYCLE TEAM, 1962
Constable Bill Hargreaves sails over his very trusting coworkers in the Police Precision and Trick Motorcycle team in 1962.
A former British Army warrant officer, Constable Hargreaves migrated to Australia in 1956 with his wife and children, and
became one of the top police motorcycle officers in the Queensland Police Force. The Police Precision and Trick Motorcycle
team gave regular public exhibitions.
Source: National Archives of Australia, series number 2004/00287481, barcode number 7450403.
Each month we will print a photo from the archives to
showcase the history of the Queensland police service.
We are always on the lookout for any old policing photos,
so please send in any you may have.
39
Out and About
Out and About
DES HAnSSOn’S FAREWELL FROM CALOunDRA STATIOn
Victoria, North Coast Regional Rep Des Hansson, Linda, Nancy Brown of
Caloundra station.
Ross Hamilton, Mark Garwronski, Deagon Grime.
AT THE ‘gABBA,
AuSTRALIA VS InDIA
Brendan White, Shane Rutherford, Dave Harbison.
OFFICIAL OPEnIng OF REFuRBISHED
gOODnA STATIOn
Snr Sgt Andrew Dupere, South Brisbane DDO, and
Snr Const Jasmine Burge, South Brisbane TCS.
QPU President Ian Leavers and QPU Assistant General Secretary Denis Sycz join others at the
official opening of the Goodna station refurbishments.
40
Snr Sgt Andrew Gillies, Acacia Ridge.
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Home Loan
Day in the Life of Constable Cindel Richardson
Day in the Life of Constable Cindel
Richardson, General Duties, Rockhampton
By Andrea Appleton
Constable Cindel Richardson does not like to talk about herself.
She is the 2012 recipient of the Jim O’Sullivan award for initiatives that
enhance the standing of women in the QPS, but she downplays her
admirable commitment to both her police work and her team leader
role with the SES. She even seems a little surprised at the attention.
‘My bosses nominated me for the
award,’ she says, ‘I don’t see what I do
as anything special compared to anyone
else I work with; I’m not really doing
anything out of the ordinary.’
‘But my Mum is proud of me,’ she
admits.
Const Richardson was nominated for
the award in recognition of her longstanding involvement with the SES,
which she balances alongside her
general police work.
‘When I was eight years old, I decided I
wanted to be a police officer,’ she says,
‘As I got a little older, I realised that I
Constable Richardson addresses a group of SES volunteers during her role as Assistant SARMC of a 14 day
search for a 79-year-old man at Capella.
needed experience, and life skills, and
“Const Richardson was nominated for the
Jim O’Sullivan award in recognition of her
long-standing involvement with the SES.”
we had a close family friend who was a
leader of the Yeppoon SES.
‘From when I was 13 years old, I went
to watch the training, and so for three
years I just sat there, watching and tying
knots.’
16, she became a full SES member and
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE AS
A POLICE OFFICER?
started participating in the training,
‘For me, I just want to go out there and
putting the years of knot-tying to good
help others,’ Const Richardson says.
As soon as Const Richardson turned
use. She now works as an SES team
leader in many deployments in the
Rockhampton Region as one of the
When she formulated this goal at
a young age, she got involved in
more senior members of her SES group.
everything she could that would
‘If there’s an incident, and I’m not
officer: martial arts, pistol shooting,
already deployed through work, then
and advanced driving courses.
improve her skills to become a police
I’ll volunteer my time,’ she says, ‘For
Constable Richardson (right) receives the Jim
O‘Sullivan award on International Womens Day. With
her is Sergeant Jane Healy, runner up for the award.
42
example, every day that I wasn’t at
‘My goal has always been to join the
work during the 2010-11 floods, I was
Service to help others and to give back
volunteering with the SES.’
to the community,’ she says.
Day in the Life of Constable Cindel Richardson
Constable Richardson (right) patching up the roof of
a church during Cyclone Larry in 2005.
Constable Richardson (kneeling near left leg of the ‘injured’) helps complete an exercise at an inter-SES
competition at Fairbairn Dam. Constable Richardson’s Yeppoon SES group won the competition.
“You’ve just got to
take everything as it
comes, and if you
don’t know what to
do, someone
else will.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
‘It’s not hard to do, but it’s time
As with her work with the SES, Const
consuming,’ she says, ‘Time could be
Richardson enjoys never really knowing
spent better on the road helping people,
what to expect.
rather than sitting in an office.’
‘Something different happens every day,
a flood boat operator, and regularly
and I still learn something new every
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR STICKIEST
SITUATION?
day,’ she says, ‘You’ve just got to take
Again, Const Richardson has to think
as well as attending three SES training
everything as it comes, and if you don’t
hard for examples, but not because she
sessions a month.
know what to do, someone else will.’
has had a lack of tough times.
Const Richardson says she also likes
‘There have been plenty of incidents,’
fishing, or working on assignments for
the ‘QPS family’ mentality, and the
she says, ‘Where do you start? I was
her advanced diploma in emergency
teamwork of her colleagues.
one of the first three officers to attend
management.
is more often than not volunteering
with the SES. She has recently become
spends time out on the water training,
She also spends some of her spare time
“From when I was 13 years old, I went to
watch the SES training, and so for three years
I just sat there, watching and tying knots.”
‘And, of course, I’m passionate about
an address that led to the last police
search and rescue,’ Const Richardson
shooting in Rockhampton.
‘Yes, I’m even studying it!’ she says, ‘I
don’t do all this for awards. I initially
got involved as a 13-year-old because
I wanted to be a police officer, and
I’ve become passionate about it. I love
search and rescue; I like to go out
and help people. I’ve been involved
continues, ‘I always have been, because
in a number of land searches and
of my time with the SES. It’s a different
‘A male was armed with a knife
kind of policing.
underneath his house, and it turned
into a 24 hour siege, with negotiators
‘Instead of dealing with people you’re
storm, or a missing person alert, she
and the Inspector called.
deployments now, and I have a good
rapport with a lot of the SES volunteers
because I’ve known them for so long.
The time that volunteers give when
arresting, or who are on the wrong side
of the law, you’re dealing with people
‘I wasn’t there when he eventually came
they’re called out for an incident is very
wanting to find their loved ones. The
at a number of officers with knives, but
much appreciated. Everything they do is
feeling you get when you return a loved
it was an interesting situation. As I said,
appreciated.’
one to a family is hard to explain.’
he was shot, but he survived.’
WHAT DO YOU NOT LIKE?
WHEN YOU’RE NOT AT WORK, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING?
refers to herself, the Jim O’Sullivan
Const Richardson is hard-pressed to think
of examples, but she admits the time
If Const Richardson is not at work and
recognising and appreciating her efforts,
officers spend on paperwork is frustrating.
there is an incident such as a flood, a
as well.
And though Const Richardson never
award shows that others are certainly
43
Bits and Bobbies
Bits and Bobbies
White and Yellow Pages Celebrates
Local Flood Helping Hands on Toowoomba Cover
Toowoomba emergency
service workers who went above and
beyond during the 2011 Toowoomba
floods have been selected to appear
on the cover of this year’s Toowoomba
White and Yellow Pages book, to be
distributed throughout Toowoomba,
Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi,
and Crows Nest this month.
This year’s Covers Program theme,
‘A Helping Hand, The Aussie Way’,
recognises representatives from the
Toowoomba Police, Queensland Fire
and Rescue Service, Queensland
Ambulance Service, and Toowoomba
State Emergency Service for their work
during the floods.
The eight emergency service workers
honoured on the cover were on duty
on 10 January 2011 when an ‘inland
tsunami’ hit the town.
Representing the Toowoomba Police on
the cover are:
• Senior Sergeant Jamie Deacon,
Toowoomba Police. Snr Sgt Deacon
played a key role in overseeing
Toowoomba Police’s response to
the flood disaster. Requisitioned as
executive officer in the Toowoomba
protected in the event of future
people to safety. Weighed down
District Disaster Management
natural disasters.
by her police belt and weary after
Group, he coordinated essential
resources to support the disaster
hours of work in hellish conditions,
Wright represents the dozens of
she feared she would drown until
on-duty police officers who put
her partner pulled her to safety.
is presently concentrating on
their lives on the line to help others.
Now an officer in Ayr, Const
implementing recommendations
A police officer for just 10 weeks
Wright is proud to have served
from the Commission of Inquiry
when the floods hit, Const Wright
Toowoomba’s residents during the
to ensure the Region is better
entered raging floodwaters to help
floods.
response, including fresh water
and helicopters. Snr Sgt Deacon
44
• Constable Joanna Wright. Const
Bits and Bobbies
HORSING AROUND IN CHARLEVILLE
Charleville station has started a friendly
‘Prints of the Month’ competition in
an attempt to improve the standard of
fingerprints.
Recently, one of the ‘Stockies’, PCSC
Condon, submitted a good entry,
and Sergeant Matt Russell sent the
station an e-mail advising of the good
standard of offender prints submitted.
PCSC Condon replied with the
following to the station:
It’s not that hard, my friends. Take
a piece of paper. Grab hold of your
suspect’s limb. Dip that thing in some
ink. Apply light pressure to paper =
bam! You’ve got yourself a quality print.
Here’s a demo…
See? Easy! Now you know why Stockies
get 41%.
Due process for a quality print.
45
Red Light and Speed Camera Detected Offences
Red Light and Speed
Camera Detected Offences
By Denis Sycz, QPU Assistant General Secretary
On occasion, police officers will be detected by red light and/or speed cameras as a
consequence of performing their official duties. In such circumstances, officers have
access to the exemption from the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act
1995, pursuant to section 144. Additionally, the Queensland Road Rules 1999, section
305, provides an exemption from the Rules itself.
Previous articles have been
published by the QPU in relation to
intersection and determine whether or
examines the possibility an officer was
not it came to a complete stop.
being deliberately dishonest in the
submission of the report.
the operation of these exemptions.
When submitting official reports
Officers having queries in relation to
claiming the exemption, officers are
The QPS and the CMC both view
of the exemptions are encouraged to
obliged to be honest and accurate.
dishonesty in police officers as being
contact the Office of the QPU Solicitor
In recent times, there have been
significant misconduct, and going to
on 3259 1900 prior to submitting any
reports or providing any ‘versions’.
“Where errors are identified in reports,
the QPS launches an investigation not
only into the relevant driving, but also
examines the possibility an officer was
being deliberately dishonest in the
submission of the report.”
The QPS will often vigorously
investigate officers’ claims for the
exemption. These investigations will
look at data recorded by the relevant
camera. In relation to speed cameras,
“Officers are
reminded to be
extremely careful in
wording any reports
seeking the
exemption, and to
ensure such reports
are completely
accurate.”
occasions where officers were
the heart of a person’s fitness to remain
mistaken as to their actions, or in
a sworn officer. It will almost always be
the heat of the moment, believed
the case that sanction for dishonesty
they had come to a full stop prior to
will be much greater than the penalty
proceeding through a red light, only for
for the relevant traffic offence. In the
the subsequent investigation to raise
first instance, an officer’s career is on
doubts in this regard.
the line, whereas the latter is usually
only a fine.
Officers are reminded to be extremely
careful in wording any reports seeking
The Office of the QPU Solicitor will
the exemption, and to ensure such
provide officers with legal advice in
reports are completely accurate. If you
investigators will have regard to the
relation to camera detected offences,
can’t remember coming to a complete
time lapse between the detected police
and should be the first point of call
stop, it is preferable to indicate same,
vehicle and the suspect or intercepted
for officers considering accessing the
rather than simply assuming you
vehicle, as well as any radio
exemptions.
applied with the letter of the policy.
transmissions, logs, and RBT data. In
respect to red light cameras, the QPS
Where errors are identified in reports,
is able to calculate the speed at which
the QPS launches an investigation not
the police vehicle entered the relevant
only into the relevant driving, but also
46
Don’t break
the safety
chain
Report all health
and safety hazards
If you identify a work-related hazard – report it in the
on-line Health and Safety Hazard Management System
Safety & Wellbeing
Safety & Wellbeing
Workplace Health and Safety Representative
Name
Phone number
Safety & Wellbeing
Safety & Wellbeing
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Unit
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Unit
Queensland Police union of emPloyees
Kelly From Kynuna
Kelly From Kynuna
By Des Hansson, Chair of the Women’s Advisory Committee
Due to work commitments, I am resigning as chair of the QPU
Women’s Advisory Committee. I would like to think that during my
tenure as the chairperson of this important committee, we have
seen a greater engagement by women in Union activities.
There has been a marked
increase in the number of women
being elected as Union delegates,
many women gave evidence in the Full
Bench Wage Case, and the Part Time
Committee is now up and running.
I would like to thank all members and
Union officials who have taken the time
to get this committee motivated, which
has led to its ongoing success.
“Where the bloody
hell is Kynuna?”
I would particularly like to thank the
main driving force, Virginia Miller, and
also note the support and assistance
given by Wendy and Rosemary from
the Union office. Well done: you have
all done a great job.
a single mother of three and a well
respected member of her community,
which just happens to be one of the
most isolated divisions in outback
Queensland.
So where the bloody hell is Kynuna?
The division includes areas of great
historical interest, such as Dagworth
station (north of Winton), where
shearers set a woolshed alight as part
of the Great Shearers’ Strike in 1894,
and Combo Waterhole, a small body
of water nearby that inspired Banjo
Paterson to write Waltzing Matilda.
The town itself is about 100kms north
west of Winton, 80kms south east of
“There is no QAS, doctor, bank, mobile phone
reception, and most critical of all for us city
people, no Coffee Club!”
I thought a fitting way to say goodbye
would be to highlight the amazing
work done by all women in the job by
highlighting the role of a female officer
I have only recently met. I have never
previously worked outside the south
east corner, so winning the spot as OIC
of McKinley station has been a (very
enjoyable) eye opener.
My neighbouring division is Kynuna,
and the OIC there is Senior Constable
Kelly Garrett. Kelly is an outstanding
example of a police officer. She is
48
Kelly From Kynuna
McKinlay, and about 100kms south
west of Julia Creek. It’s right in the
middle of bugger all, except for cattle
properties, scrub, and red dirt.
The town boasts a roadhouse and a
pub (the famous Blue Heeler Hotel),
and along with Kelly at the police
station, women are also in charge of
these other local establishments!
Kynuna is part of McKinlay Shire,
which is in itself isolated, but it is in the
most isolated part of the shire. There is
no QAS, doctor, nurse, or bank, there is
no mobile phone reception, and Telstra
can’t supply the internet.
There is no school, daycare, or
playgroup, and most critical of all
for us city people, no Coffee Club!
It’s in the middle of Matilda Country,
which boasts of being the heart of the
outback.
Kelly doesn’t have a partner to share
the load, either, yet she has organised
schooling for the two of her three
children of school age, and she
manages the house and runs the police
station on her own.
“A recent rat plague
where Kelly was
catching dozens of
rats every night is
one example of the
unique challenges
faced by country
officers.”
Hopefully Kelly won’t take offence
when I say that I had quite a laugh
when I first met her and she pulled up
in her QPS 4WD troopy with three baby
seats secured along the back seat.
This is just one of the steps that Kelly
has taken to help her in her isolated
existence. She has also modified a
disused watchhouse and made it into a
school room, she has about 20 square
metres of veggie garden in her front
yard, and the rest of her large yard is
absolutely immaculate.
Importantly, Kelly is well respected
within the community, and in addition
to her policing duties, she also helps
many of the locals with odd jobs. A
recent rat plague where Kelly was
catching dozens of rats every night is
one example of the unique challenges
faced by country officers.
There are many other members in
isolated areas doing similar things
to Kelly, and each and every one
deserves the support and respect of
the QPS.
Well done, Kelly. You represent all
that is great about country policing,
49
Kelly From Kynuna
and you are an inspiration to all our
members.
So next time any of you get a warm
(rather than hot) latte and you’re
contemplating how tough life can be,
spare a thought for Kelly and the rest
of her colleagues in the bush who are
really doing it tough.
50
Championing WH&S
Change
By Peter Thomas, Chair of the QPU Workplace Health and Safety Committee
Senior Sergeant Tony Melrose’s story
Back in February 2009, the
QPU conducted a WH&S inspection
of Townsville police station. The
request came from former Regional
Representative Mick Gerrard and
Following the QPU inspection, a report
where his station and related issues
was sent to the Manager of Safety and
were on the agenda. The Townsville
Well-Being, Colin Anderson, who
station had a record of the air-
directed it to the Assistant
conditioning system failing during the
Commissioner of the Northern Region
seasonal hot periods.
(NR).
Over 100 QPS employees are attached
myself, then the Townsville Branch
President, as a result of ongoing issues
In order for the problems to be
to the Townsville station, and they
with air conditioning and problems
effectively rectified, the report was sent
were required to work within this
relating to toilet and sanitation, the
to the Officer in Charge of Townsville
building in conditions that included
front counter, and the Taser training
station, Senior Sergeant Tony Melrose,
air temperatures greater than 23 to
facility.
for comment.
26 degrees Celsius, and a relative
The then Regional WH&S Coordinator
Speaking with Snr Sgt Melrose
was unable to attend at that time, and
recently, it was discovered there was
The Union recognised that Snr Sgt
the OIC of the station was not available
a time early in that process that he felt
Melrose and management had
on the day of the inspection.
that as the OIC, his Union was targeting
attempted to alleviate the heat stress
him and holding him responsible for
by installing evaporative cooling
It should be noted that at the time of
the WH&S issues.
machines, but using this short term
the inspection, the Service’s Hazard
Management System was in its infancy
and there were many people, including
humidity greater than 30 to 60%.
control measure had created another
He quickly came to the conclusion,
workplace hazard by blocking corridors
though, that the best way to deal
and access.
managers, who were not fully familiar
with its capabilities and its purpose. At
times, the system was regarded as just
another way to increase workload.
Generally, workplace health and safety
issues were not a high priority for the
Service and its managers, and the
“POST and Taser training was conducted in
a room that was formerly a garage, with only
one exit, no air conditioning, and loud wallmounted fans that prevented officers from
hearing directions one metre away.”
constant story was that there was ‘no
money’ to fix them.
The change in WH&S legislation which
allowed the Service to be cited and/or
fined for WH&S violations required a
change within the organisation. A real
change was required, that saw both
with the task at hand was to work
The age of the air-conditioning system
collaboratively between the Region and
and the apparent lack of regular
the QPU.
maintenance were a huge problem,
and one that wasn’t going to be fixed
Thus began the three year campaign
overnight.
to ensure that WH&S issues were
With the assistance of the QPU and
addressed.
management and employees working
the NR WH&S Committee, Snr Sgt
together to achieve a safe and healthy
Snr Sgt Melrose attended one of the
Melrose was able to implement a Heat
workplace for all.
first NR WH&S Committee meetings,
Management policy for Townsville
51
station as a short term control
measure.
This allowed for the provision of
circulating fans, a review of the dress
code, the provision of additional
drinking water, and the ability to allow
some staff to work at other locations.
It was a step in the right direction, and
there was commitment to have the
air-conditioning system repaired or
replaced, but that would take time.
There were still many issues that
needed to be addressed. The front
counter did not have a security grill,
barrier, or guard.
The prisoner processing area did
not have duress alarms, which
Snr Sgt Tony Melrose.
risked officers being hurt during the
fingerprinting process.
There were ongoing issues of sewage
leaking from the male toilet area, with
urine seeping into the floor below.
POST and Taser training was
conducted in a room that was formerly
a garage, with only one exit, no air
conditioning, and loud wall-mounted
fans that prevented officers from
hearing directions one metre away.
Additionally, the rear entrance of the
Townsville station opens onto the
adjacent car park. The car park area
was generally sloped, which caused
issues in the rain.
The bitumen roadway area was cracked
and uneven, and did not provide for
The offending kerbing with repairs.
safe access to and from the station.
At the back door, there was concrete
kerbing that included a section of
kerbing that had been dislodged.
At the time of the report, the Union was
aware of two workplace injuries, one in
2008 and one in 2009, that had occurred
at that location. The Service’s reaction
the NR WH&S Committee meeting
the person then made allegations of
and was told that since the report had
undue force from the officer.
been received, another incident had
occurred at the kerbing.
An officer was removing an
uncooperative member of the public
During the Committee meeting, this
issue came up, and the Committee
and Union were advised that the short
term measure of painting the hazard
was to paint the trip hazard yellow.
from the vehicle who clearly didn’t
want to go into the station, and a
would stay in place for 18 months,
I remember that the QPU’s WH&S
struggle ensued. Needless to say,
until the entire parking area was
Officer arrived in Townsville to attend
both tripped at the broken kerbing and
repaired.
52
I can look back now and remember the
Union’s WH&S officer becoming very
insistent, and by the end of the meeting
there was a work order prepared and
signed, and movement was made to
get it fixed urgently.
Snr Sgt Melrose and I were discussing
this incident recently, and he told
me that although he wasn’t initially
happy with the report that the Union
had prepared, he began to see the
importance of immediately identifying
hazards and working quickly to
eliminate them, or to implement
appropriate control measures
until such time that they could be
completely eliminated.
“Bad news
doesn’t get any
better with age.”
Snr Sgt Melrose said that he was
reminded of a wise old officer’s
adage—‘Bad news doesn’t get any
Former Northern Regional Rep Mick Gerrard (now North Queensland Field officer), QPU WH&S Officer
Rosemary Featherstone, Snr Sgt Tony Melrose, former Townsville Branch President Peter Thomas (now
Northern Regional Rep).
better with age’—when he thought
learning and continuous improvement,
As he says, ‘The Hazard Management
about what had occurred at his
and that management and employees
System acknowledges the hazard,
station.
value the WH&S process.
allows for risk assessment, and
Well, it’s been three years since
Snr Sgt Melrose’s view is that
hazards are not forgotten. Placing
the initial inspection, and a lot has
although the initiation of the Union’s
a hazard on the system does not
provides a tool for ensuring that
happened with the QPU and the NR
WH&S Committee to keep Townsville
station on the agenda, and as Snr Sgt
Melrose and the troops at Townsville
station know, the ‘news has gotten
better’.
“The Hazard Management System provides
a tool for ensuring that hazards are not
forgotten.”
Hazards have been eliminated,
including changes to the front counter
actions regarding Townsville’s WH&S
area and the prisoner processing area,
mean that I have not done my job in
issues was daunting at first, in the end
the lighting has been repaired, the
ensuring a safe and healthy workplace.
it was the best thing for his staff and
car park has been shaded with sails
I recommend that everyone use this
for his station.
system.’
sewage issues have been permanently
He said that he was appreciative of the
Changing organisational culture
fixed through replacement, and the air
Union’s perseverance, and that he now
is sometimes thorny, and today’s
conditioning has been permanently
has a much better understanding of
economic climate can make it even
repaired at a cost of $400 000. Staff
the Hazard Management Process.
more difficult, but Snr Sgt Melrose,
in place for sun protection, toilet and
morale has greatly improved as a result.
the QPU, and the Northern Region
Tony has become an ardent supporter
have together ensured WH&S issues
From a Union perspective, one of the
of ensuring a safe and healthy
are now very high on the agenda
most important aspects of achieving
workplace for himself and his staff,
indeed.
desired WH&S objectives is to ensure
and highly recommends the use of the
that the culture of the QPS is one of
Hazard Management System.
53
Is Your Police Car Unhealthy
(and maybe making you ill)?
By Peter Thomas, Chair of QPU Workplace Health and Safety Committee
Just recently, I witnessed a police officer deal with a very unclean
member of the public, and then get into his car and eat a sandwich
in the driver’s seat. Of course, I wondered whether this transaction
may have transferred germs and caused an illness or injury.
Upon investigation, I discovered
a study conducted by Dr Ron Cutler,
Director of Biomedical Science degree
programs at Queen Mary University in
London.
The study found that on average, the
steering wheel, driver’s seat floor,
rear seats, and gear stick of a car
contained 700 bacteria per 10 square
centimetres.
The worst area was the boot,
with 1000 bacteria per 10 square
centimetres. Public toilet seats, noted
the researchers, contain an average of
80 bacteria per 10 square centimetres.
Dr. Cutler stated that ‘while most of
the bacteria were unlikely to cause
health problems, some cars were
found to play host to a number of
potentially harmful bacteria species’.
“The gear stick contained an average of 700
bacteria per 10 square centimetres. Public toilet
seats contain an average of 80 bacteria per 10
square centimetres.”
These ‘potentially harmful’ bugs
Certainly sounds like some police
As always, Fleet Management came
included bacillus cereus (found in rice,
vehicles!
back with good, sound advice.
food poisoning, and arthrobacter (found
The role of Chair of the QPU’s
Fleet Management branch’s Health,
in soil and human skin), a bacteria often
Workplace Health and Safety
Safety, Environment, and Rehabilitation
found in rotting organic matter.
Committee has brought me new
Coordinator, Neil Pledger, stated:
pasta, and potatoes), which can cause
responsibilities, and I am serious
How did all this ‘ick’ pile up? Well, the
about ensuring our members have a
study found that 42% of motorists eat
safe environment to work in.
during driving, while only a third clean
Sanitary wipes which normally
contain alcohol and/or
chlorhexidine are best used,
A discussion was held with the QPU’s
bearing in mind that some sanitary
HSO, who recommended that we
wipes can leave a residue and
About 10% said they never bother
request some advice and assistance
odour, and some people are highly
to wipe down surfaces or vacuum.
from Fleet Management.
sensitive. Reducing one risk may
the inside of their car once a year.
54
produce another. Additionally,
This may not be the biggest issue
• Remove any wrappers, empty
alcohol and chemicals will break
drink containers, and papers on a
facing our members today, but it helps
down the steering well plastic
daily basis.
to remind us all of the importance
cover and may leave black marks on
the hands of the driver.
So what do we do?
Both the QPS and our members have
an obligation to ensure a safe working
environment and to minimise injury
and illness.
Here are a few handy tips to keep the
car clean and fresh:
• Keep cleaning supplies and
• Clean up any food or drink spills
of taking responsibility for WH&S
as they happen. Leaving them will
issues, and in remembering that any
leave you with a sticky mess that
implemented control measure (like
dust, hair, and dirt will attach to.
using sanitary wipes) needs to be
“The study found that 42% of motorists eat
during driving, while only a third clean the
inside of their car once a year.”
• Talk to the cleaner (if you have
monitored to ensure that the control
cleaning cloth in the vehicle.
one who cleans the vehicles)
measure doesn’t produce another
Having them handy might help you
and make sure that they clean all
hazard (like the deterioration of the
if you have a few minutes waiting
hard surfaces in the cabin, paying
steering wheel cover).
in the car and are able to do a quick
particular attention to hand contact
clean.
areas such as the steering wheel,
Stay safe and healthy!
gear stick, cd/radio, climate control,
• Clean out all the clutter; it’s harbouring
germs and covering up dirt.
windows, indicators, and door
handles.
55
If it happens, protect yourself and your family
by immediately contacting:
The QPU office Ph 3259 1900 (24 hours)
or your regional representative.
They will steer you in the right direction.
Letters to the editor
Letters to the Editor should be no longer than 400 words if possible and sent to: (Letters may be edited for length and clarity.)
PO Box 13008 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4003 Fax: 07 3259 1996 or Email: [email protected]
QPS BLUES
Verse 1
It’s nightshift again and I’m feeling like
a wreck
But my spirits didn’t rise when I looked
at my pay cheque
Yes we won a recent pay claim for a
mighty 4 percent
But coppers in the mining towns can’t
even pay their rent.
And crime ravaged Queensland is
‘Cause the courts protect his rights
policed by skeleton crews
while the victims just don’t rate.
‘Fund your own payrise,’ trills a
desperate Bligh
Verse 10
As she ignores Police Remembrance
But don’t pursue that crim, keep your
Day to honour those who died.
foot right off the pedal
Or maybe they won’t give you that
Verse 6
shiny new flood medal
Can we have mandatory sentencing,
Yes we’re Queensland’s finest, we catch
the answer would be no
crooks from near and far
Can we have in-car computers, the
Just as long as they are walking and
government said ‘ho, ho’
not driving in a car.
Verse 2
Can we have sufficient staffing, once
Yeah, I got them QPS blues baby and I
again the answer’s no
Verse 11
got them real bad
There’s no Santa Claus for us, no fat
Transparency’s the aim, the police get
Dealing daily with destruction and the
man saying ‘ho, ho’.
no immunity
mad, the bad, and sad
Slithering stealthily in the dark,
reptilian thieves in the night
Serpents of the underworld who sleep
in the daylight.
Then give us the same rights as the
Verse 7
rest of the community
They sit in the front row at our funerals
How will I ethically slip if I get a burger
pretending to feel our pain
for free?
And use honourable deaths
What of the skeletons in the closets of
dishonourably in some election
those who are judging me?
Verse 3
campaign
Take your new Taser out son, but don’t
These shameless charlatans and
Verse 12
be silly enough to use it
shysters who dare look us in the eye
I got them QPS blues baby in this
‘Cause even if you like your job, there’s
As a police widow and her children cry
cynical song I sing
and wonder why.
And I watch the tragic, frantic struggle
a chance you’ll lose it
Don’t put those cuffs on tight, read the
grub his rights
Why is it coppers and not crims who
are in the media’s sights?
amongst those who would be king
Verse 8
A Shakespearian drama unfolds with
Fine young men and women with high
daggers plunged in backs
ideals and starry eyes
Will good triumph over evil, or will we
Give themselves selflessly through the
be ruled by the hacks?
Verse 4
lows and the highs
Make sure you cross every ‘t’ and dot
Serving a community which
Verse 13
every ‘i’
increasingly gives no thanks
The guitar is crying now as the chorus
Or the grub’ll blow you a kiss as he
And a management that delights in
is sung once more
waves goodbye
division amongst the ranks.
As the HMAS QPS sinks under policy
Verse 9
The band is playing on as coppers
The blues are playing loudly now as I
always do
hear their mournful wail
I sing the blues of hopelessness as I
QPS blues baby, as that scumbag just
head to my next blue.
Then comes the best bit, the horror and
the shock
As you wonder at the irony as you
stand behind the dock.
and not law
Verse 5
got bail
The black dog is howling now as I sing
He’s on the loose again, free to hurt,
By Tim Beard
the blues
take, and hate
(Dinosaur)
57
Dear Editor,
I don’t know whether those at the
Union office will remember, however
the Union donated Appeal money to
my husband Gerald and myself to
assist us with recovering from the
flood. We were visited after the flood
and your donation was gratefully
received. Gerald worked tirelessly on the
house, and with the assistance of
the donation, we were able to live
comfortably in the house by July 2011.
This is a very belated thank you,
and please accept my apology for
not responding earlier. I don’t know
whether the Union knew or not, but
Gerald had bowel cancer that had
spread through his entire body, and
since July I have been nursing him,
made several calls to Marty regarding
of Union representation, but also
this matter over the following days, and
sudden medical or financial issues
he was at all times very patient with
that can require their services.
my confusing, stressed out ramblings.
When I was about to be interviewed by
ESC, Marty told me that Snr Sgt Pete
Bannaghan (Spot) would be sitting in
on the interview with me, as Marty was
driving to Innisfail to pick up another
Unity is strength.
Sergeant Stephen Cannon (retired)
officer who had to be interviewed
regarding the same matter. Both Marty
and Spot were in on their days off, and
I appreciated their support immensely. I
know that Marty says it is all part of the
job that they do, but in my opinion, the
Reps up here go above and beyond. I
am grateful for their continued support. Regards
Dear Editor,
I have recently become the subject
of an internal investigation into
a complaint of excessive use of
force after I arrested a recidivist DV
merchant and lodged him at the
watchhouse. I work in a regional
station where police are the
Constable Damien West
watchhouse keepers as well as the
Cairns Station
arresting officers.
The gentleman who made the
so everything else took a back seat.
He passed away in December, so I am
Good luck and best wishes to all.
Dear Editor,
complaint against me has made
certain allegations about the manner
only now catching up with my ‘thankIt is with much regret that I tender
in which I was alleged to have
my resignation from the Queensland
assaulted him in the watchhouse post
I would like to thank the Union and all
Police Union of Employees due to my
arrest. As a result, this gentleman
members who donated towards the
retirement on medical grounds from
the Queensland Police Service on 10
has received the very best in medical
flood Appeal, as with this donation, it
meant we were able to recover earlier
February 2012.
you’.
than we thought.
Many thanks for your assistance.
I would like to take this opportunity
to thank the Union and all of its
delegates over the last 36 years for all
Shirley Jenkins
their support and assistance, not only
for when I had need to call on them,
Dear Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity
to express my gratitude to the
Representatives that the Union have
supporting us in the Far Northern
Region. We had a critical incident
in Cairns during February, and the
response we had from Marty Bristow
was outstanding. I called him at 11:30pm
but also for all of the other matters
they are involved in to make a better
working environment for police. This
includes the like of wages, allowances,
work practices, and equipment.
care from the QAS free of charge—
attendance, hospital admittance, CAT
scans, etc.
And, would you believe, absolutely
none of the doctors, nurses, or even
medical scanning imaging instruments
found any evidence whatsoever of any
injury. As a matter of fact, absolutely
all of his tests came back ‘normal’.
One medical professional even stated
that the symptoms the gentleman
allegedly presented with did not
I would especially like to thank the
match the nature or probable outcome
Union’s involvement in the Sick Leave
of the mechanism of the alleged
Bank, without which my family would
assault. No surprise there, then.
have suffered immensely in the last 18
months.
on the night in question, and my call
Obviously, I made available all
recordings of the event: mine, as well
went to message bank. Fifteen minutes
I would urge all police officers to
as the footage from the watchhouse.
later, Marty called me back, apologising
ensure that they are members of the
Lo and behold, the watchhouse CCTV
for missing the call. My call went to
Union, and that they are up to date
is inoperable, and not a single image
message bank because he was already
financially with their membership.
was recorded. The CCTV saga has
dealing with the matter while on other
It is not only allegations and false
been ongoing for a number of years
Union-related business in Cooktown. I
complaints that will find you in need
now, but that is another story.
58
When I enquired recently as to the
guilt, or not, has yet to be proven,
by superior officers too browbeaten to
status of the investigation—when I
yet I am already facing punishment,
stand up for their staff to allow police
am going to be interviewed, so that
however passive it may be.
vindictively complained against to level
I can get on with my life—I was told
charges against this gentleman, and
that the PPM has decided that police
And all of this because one man
should only be interviewed once this
decided to make a complaint against
gentleman’s court matters have been
police. Just goes to show: for as long
I request that my name is kept out of
finalised in their entirety.
as our ‘management’ operate on
the Journal, because despite this and
others like him, of making false reports.
the basis that all non-commissioned
other gripes I may have, I will remain a
Right. This said gentleman has a
officers are brutish criminals just
copper until some gentleman succeeds
stupendous history for dragging court
waiting to pounce, all of us will be at
in discharging me from service by
matters out over several months
the receiving end of punitive action,
making up other complaints. before finally pleading not guilty,
even if that action is simply to direct
and until he has been heard at court,
the investigating officers to drag the
I am to be left in limbo. I cannot be
investigation out for however long it
promoted or transferred, for example.
may take.
Why is it that this District has a policy
And no, the gentleman’s complaint
whereby all assaults are to be finalised
has absolutely nothing to do with the
within 28 days, yet when coppers
charges against him (there is no police-
are the suspects, we simply have to
judicial interwoven aspect). It has
wait to have our matters investigated,
simply to do with his ability to make
never mind finalised, at the behest of
vexatious complaints with impunity.
the District PPM? I don’t know about
This and other similar complainant-
you, but I believe that this method of
actions by our adoring public that we
operation is punitive against me. My
serve on a daily basis is perpetuated
Name withheld
Please be aware that we are
legally unable to publish letters
if we do not know the verified
author. The Editor may withhold
names at her discretion.
59
Police health
Police Health
by Peter Shanahan, Police Health Chairman
Food For ThoughT
POWER OF ANTIOXIDANTS
The same process that causes a variety
of objects around us to deteriorate also
contributes to heart disease, wrinkles,
cancer, arthritis, and many of the other
problems of aging. This process is
called oxidation.
Some of the degenerative conditions
caused by free radicals include:
The same air that gives us life also
causes iron to rust, fruit to turn brown,
and your body’s cells to break down
and age. Through a series of chemical
reactions, oxygen molecules in our
bodies lose electrons, making them
unstable. These unstable molecules are
called free radicals.
• Acceleration of the ageing process,
and wrinkles
Free radicals try to stabilise themselves
by stealing electrons from the healthy
cells in the body. Every time they
steal an electron, two things happen:
a healthy molecule is damaged, and
more free radicals are created.
Free radicals can damage vital genetic
information within your cells, proteins
in tissues, and other components that
keep you running properly. Unless this
process is controlled, more and more
cells are damaged every day, and your
health pays the price.
EFFECTS OF FREE RADICALS
The body can cope with some free
radicals, and needs them to function
effectively. However, an overload of
free radicals has been linked to signs of
aging, as well as certain diseases and
inflammation, including heart disease,
liver disease, and some cancers.
Oxidation can be accelerated by
stress and carcinogens such as
cigarette smoking, alcohol, sunlight,
pollution, and by other factors like
food preparation. However, adequate
supplies of antioxidants may
counteract these actions.
60
• Deterioration of the eye lens, which
contributes to blindness
• Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
• Damage to nerve cells in the brain,
which can contribute to Alzheimer’s
disease
• Increased risk of coronary heart
disease
• Certain cancers, triggered by
damaged cell DNA
ANTIOXIDANTS AND FREE RADICALS
To keep the free radicals under control,
nature provides an array of antioxidant
compounds in foods that can stop free
radicals from doing harm.
Even though your body naturally
maintains its own antioxidant system,
the antioxidants in foods give you a
powerful boost of additional protection
against free radicals.
Antioxidants that are found in certain
foods include vitamins A, C, and E, the
minerals copper, zinc, and selenium,
and phytochemicals in plants.
Additionally, antioxidant minerals
or vitamins can act as pro-oxidants
or damaging oxidants if they are
consumed at levels significantly above
the recommended amounts for dietary
intake.
A well-balanced diet is best, which
includes consuming antioxidants from
whole foods. If you insist on taking a
supplement, seek those that contain all
nutrients at the recommended levels.
An accredited practising dietician
can provide expert advice on dietary
sources of antioxidants, and can help
you to include these in your diet.
The Australian National Health
and Medical Research Council has
stated that it is possible to get all the
nutrients required from eating plenty
(and a variety) of vegetables and
fruit, including some nuts and seeds,
wholegrain cereal foods, reduced
fat dairy foods and lean meats, fish
(particularly those rich in omega-3 fats)
or poultry, as well as small amounts of
poly or monounsaturated fats and oils.
Although you can get these
antioxidants from supplements, the
Dieticians Association of Australia
suggests a better choice is eating
a wide variety of fruits, vegetables,
and other plant foods which contain
antioxidants.
Although studies show that diet
can play a key role in preventative
medicine, it is very important that
you discuss any diet changes with
your doctor if you are currently
using medication, or undergoing
cancer or serious illness treatment,
as well as checking if it is okay to
add supplements, as there may be a
reaction to medication.
VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS
My Dr does not support trying to
improve your health by buying
antioxidant diet supplements, such
as vitamin & mineral tablets, and
suggests that antioxidants are less
effective when isolated from food and
presented in tablet form.
In addition to this, many pharmacists
specialise in nutritional supplements
knowledge, so a chat with a pharmacist
who knows what medicines you may
be taking can be a good starting
point. If you have a particular medical
problem, you should discuss it with
your doctor.
Police Health
Where to get help
Sources of antioxidants
Good sources of antioxidants include (but are not limited to):
• Your doctor
•
Allium sulphur compounds - leeks, onions, and garlic.
• An accredited, registered
dietician
•
Anthocyanins - eggplant, grapes, and berries.
•
Beta-carotene - pumpkin, mangoes, apricots, carrots, spinach, and parsley.
•
Catechins - red wine and tea.
•
Copper - seafood, lean meat, milk, and nuts.
•
Cryptoxanthins - red capsicum, pumpkin, and mangoes.
•
Flavonoids - tea, green tea, citrus fruits, red wine, onion, and apples.
•
Indoles - cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
•
Isoflavonoids - soybeans, tofu, lentils, peas, and milk.
•
Lignans - sesame seeds, bran, whole grains, and vegetables.
•
Lutein - leafy greens like spinach, and corn.
•
Lycopene - tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon.
•
Manganese - seafood, lean meat, milk, and nuts.
•
Polyphenols - thyme and oregano.
•
Selenium - seafood, offal, lean meat, and whole grains.
•
Vitamin C - oranges, blackcurrants, kiwi fruit, mangoes, broccoli, spinach,
capsicum, and strawberries.
•
Vitamin E - vegetable oils (such as wheatgerm oil), avocados, nuts, seeds, and
whole grains.
•
Zinc - seafood, lean meat, milk, and nuts.
Police Health pays generous benefits
towards health services provided by
recognised dieticians on policies that
have extras cover.
This article provides a general
summary only. Professional advice
should be sought about specific
cases. Police Health is not responsible
for any error or omission in this
article. The information provided
reflects the view of the organisations
from which the information has been
sourced and does not represent any
recommendations or views of Police
Health.
Police Health | Ph: 1800 603 603
www.policehealth.com.au
Information sourced from: Dieticians Association of Australia; the Victorian
Betterhealth Channel; Nutrition, Dr Michael Jones, Medical Editor, myDr, UBM
Medical Australia, Exercise & Prostate Cancer 2009 Prostate Cancer Foundation
(US). The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
61
QRPA
QRPA NEWS – APRIL 2012
State Secretary: Jillian Steinkamp
[email protected]
0411 401 596
QRPA Website: www.qrpa.asn.au
Email: [email protected]
MESSAGE FROM MICK O’BRIEN, STATE PRESIDENT,
QRPA INC
Well, we got over St. Patrick’s Day once again in one piece. As
Aussies, many of us are of immigrant stock somewhere along
our lineage, and it is great that we can celebrate, be proud of
our heritage, and be so grateful that those relatives, distant or
otherwise, decided to settle in this wonderful country.
Our hearts and condolences go out to the family and colleagues
of Senior Constable David Rixon of Tamworth police, who was
killed on duty in March. His funeral again showed the police
family at its finest, and the community’s participation in the
service was a wonderful exhibition of the public feeling for such
a loss. May he rest in peace. It is comforting to know the New
South Wales Police Legacy Scheme will be of great assistance
in the education of the six children left behind.
It is on these sad occasions when a serving officer is lost
that we are reminded of the support of Police Legacy in each
state. As State President, I am proud to remind all members of
the valuable financial support we give to Queensland Police
Legacy through our branch activities each year. I know we will
keep up the good work.
I know many of the serving officers who read our news in the
Police Union Journal do take advantage of the Police Legacy
subscription page and either join or increase their contributions
to the scheme. I know from my experience on the Legacy
Board that many serving officers would not know how much
they promised to contribute from their pay when they first
joined Legacy at the Academy. Perhaps it is time to revisit, and
if possible, increase those subscriptions.
QRPA Legacy Bowls Days soon get underway, together
with other fundraisers for Legacy and local charities in our
16 branch areas throughout the state and in Tasmania.
Bundaberg’s wonderful long-running fundraiser is the Annual
Bargara Bowls Day for Police Legacy and Bundy charities. It
is set down for 7 May this year. Get in touch with Secretary
Grannie Pearce who will provide all the information necessary.
They always have a good rollup, but it would be great if more
RPA and local bowlers made the journey from their club to
play in the tournament, pick up some of the great prizes, and of
course, join in the fellowship. Bundaberg branch ladies always
get huge applause for the quality of the lunch provided to all
participants.
The huge Annual QRPA Bowls Day in Brisbane will be held on
6 July this year at the usual venue, the very supportive Wavell
Heights Bowls Club. I wonder if this year we can provide a team
on the day from each branch in the south east to have a roll of
the bowls and thoroughly enjoy the competition? You do not
have to be a hot shot bowler to enjoy these charity days. There
are always the very experienced bowlers who like competing
for the prizes, but there is also a place for the amateurs on the
rink to share in the fun, laughs, excellent prize money, and
trophies. Naturally, at every Legacy charity day there is also the
chance to win prizes in the continuous raffles. The Chairman
of QPCU usually attends the Brisbane and Bundaberg charity
days with directors and their partners. He has been known to
have his arm twisted to buy a cold drink for all after a long
day on the rinks. Each year at the Wavell Heights club, QRPA’s
major sponsor, The Queensland Police Credit Union, presents
the annual cheque for $10,000 to support Police Legacy. This
donation is a highlight of the Police Credit Union’s continuous
dedication to the police community.
We will be looking for sponsors again this year and if a reader,
or business owner, or both, would like to join our sponsors
to make the day a huge success, please phone or e-mail our
hardworking State Secretary, Jillian Steinkamp, whose contact
details are above.
Jill will put you in touch with the Bowls Day Committee. This
money, together with the funds raised on the day, contributes
to Legacy’s important and increasing financial obligations to
the excellent standard of the Legatees. The President of the
Wavell Heights Bowls Club donates the Green Fees to swell
the funds raised on the day. This is a very generous donation
and one QRPA and Legacy appreciates very much. Also much
appreciated is the excellent luncheon provided each year by
the Ladies Committee.
Annual luncheons: Redlands branch really showed the way
and set the benchmark in February as the first luncheon for
2012, with some 107 or so people attending their function.
Members from a number of branches attended and had the
usual happy time. Members of the NSW RPA, Brisbane and
Northern Suburbs branch, who are great supporters of our
functions, also attended and took away prizes as usual. The
Redlands Sports Club always provides a great buffet. It
seems to usually stump even our people, some of whom (it is
rumoured) do not have a lazy tooth in their head.
It was very pleasing to see Assistant Commissioners Ann Lewis
and Andy Henderson representing the Commissioner, as well
63
QRPA
as Chief Superintendent Brent Carter and the District Officer,
Superintendent Jim Keogh, all attending and enjoying the
lunch and fellowship. I have never seen such a high-powered
presence at a luncheon. On that note, however, it was not that
unusual, as we are all well aware of the excellent support and
rapport that now exists between our Association and the entire
membership of the QPS. I have had personal experience in the
Far Northern Region, Central Region, and Metro South Region,
where Ann and Andy were always available and helpful to our
members and the widows in the branches in their Regions.
They were always available to attend and address our
luncheons, or in the case of Rockhampton, the annual dinner.
We appreciate and respect our serving officers, and wonder
at times how they continue to do such great work under such
trying circumstances that generally did not exist ‘in our day’.
Working in your Community: Many of our members work with
Meals on Wheels and other similar charitable organisations
and service clubs. Retired and former police officers have a
lot to contribute to any of these organisations as a result of
the skills and knowledge they have accumulated over their
many years of service. If you can help out in this area, please
give it a go.
Please continue to provide assistance to our members and
their partners who are not in the best of health or who just
need a hand around the house for a while. Please make
contact with those in hospital and provide strong support
for the widows and widowers in our branch areas. In other
words, please take care of yourself and all around you. Until
the May Journal, best wishes and God bless all.
Mick
QRPA Expansion: As usual, we are looking to expand QRPA
as the state expands. We have many retired and former police
officers from all jurisdictions who have made their home in
Queensland. I believe it is incumbent upon us to seek out and
find whether it is a viable proposition to reach out to those
people and their partners to join us in the Association, and if
possible, form a branch. It doesn’t have to be as spectacular
as Redlands and Logan-Beenleigh, when they started off with
Mick O’Brien
State President
such high numbers. A new branch needs to have sufficient
people to keep it viable, and in particular spread the police
SPOTTED AT REDLANDS LUNCHEON
family atmosphere of fun and good humour over a lunch, or
even morning tea, once a month.
I still have my eye on the space now between the LoganBeenleigh branch catchment and the northern end of the Gold
Coast. The very energetic President Max Moloney of LoganBeenleigh is scouting out the area’s possibilities, and who
knows, we may in due course create another branch of this
great Association. In Logan-Beenleigh, retired and former
officers came out of the woodwork to join the new Branch.
Many were already our members who found that it was too
far to travel to Brisbane to attend meetings. This was also the
impetus for the Redlands Branch to grow so well. Our SMC
thoughts are still on the Gold and Sunshine Coast areas, where
the populations are big and still growing fast.
What was in the cheesecake to make these chaps so happy?
Financial Status: As we move further into the 2012 year, I
respectfully remind every member to please ensure that you
are financial. At this stage of our lives, when we are often busier
than when we were ‘in the job’, we sometimes do not think
about this subject. Check with your Treasurer and put aside the
subs so that you can pay back subs and then become financial
for the start of the 2012-2013 financial year on 1 July. Your subs
contribute to the running of your branch and the Association;
they also cover the cost of insurance, badges, funeral notices,
administration, etc. If you are not financial, you are not insured
for public liability. If you are on a branch executive and you are
unfinancial, you are not covered for officer’s liability insurance.
The Association finances this additional and very essential
insurance safeguard for the executive officers of all branches
and the State Management Committee.
64
A lucky prize winner, Harry Burley.
Harry and his wife celebrated 61 happy years of marriage in March.
QRPA
RECENT QPSM PRESENTATIONS
DATE CLAIMER
Attention All Bowlers, and those who would like to give the
game a go:
The annual QRPA Police Legacy Charity Bowls Day is on again
this year at the Wavell Heights Bowls Club. Great competition,
hourly raffle prizes to be won, and much, much more. So don’t
forget to note this date in your diary:
FRIDAY 6 JULY 2012
Full details of this event will be advertised in due course.
QRPA MEMBERSHIP: Are you financial?
Bob Meagher and Chief Superintendent Peter Crawford in Brisbane on 5 March.
It will soon be time to pay your annual membership dues again.
They are due on 1 July every year.
Some of our busy members have not yet remembered to pay
their dues. Please ensure your membership is current. You
can check this with your branch treasurer or with the State
Treasurer, Len Bracken, on 0438 661 392.
Payment should be made in the first instance to your branch
treasurer, or alternatively by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to
BSB 704 052, A/c No 1013730, A/c name QRPA, or by cheque
payable to ‘QRPA’ and posted to The State Treasurer, QRPA,
48 Betheden Terrace, Ashgrove Q 4060. NB: if paying from a
QPCU account, simply transfer your fees to account 1013730
S1, or, easier still, why not set up a periodic payment? Simply
set and forget.
Fred Gillam and Darling Downs Branch President, Kev Weise in Toowoomba on
9 February.
Barry Ingham and Assistant Commissioner Andy Henderson in Redlands on
28 February.
A TIME IN HISTORY
The death notice of Ailsa Millicent Warnick (The Courier-Mail,
Tuesday, February 21, 2012) jogged the memories of some
members who recalled Ailsa as being one of the ‘original
police women’. Born on 11 June 1925, Ailsa was appointed
(not sworn) to the Women Police on 22 May 1950. Her number
was 26WP. Fifteen years later, on 31 March 1965, Ailsa was
one of eight women to be sworn as a police officer in the
Queensland Police Department. Her registered number was
PW3. Ailsa separated from Queensland Police on 20 August
1967. She is survived by her sister Alvia and extended family.
Vale Ailsa.
NEW MEMBERS & ASSOCIATES
The Association continues to attract new retirees to its numbers.
Welcomed into the Association in March 2012 are:
Members—Edoardo Gallo (Redlands), medically retired as
Senior Constable from Mt Molloy in 1989; Douglas George
MacKinnon (Redlands), resigned as Senior Constable
in 1975; Leonard John Potts (Brisbane), retired as Chief
Superintendent from Deputy Commissioner’s Office in 2012;
Brian Kenneth Weston (Townsville), medically retired as
Sergeant from Townsville in 1992; Sandra Jean Burns (Gold
Coast), medically retired as Senior Constable from Stuart in
2009; Keith Noel Bunkum (Gympie), retired in March 1998;
Jeffrey Arch Bremner (Logan-Beenleigh), retired voluntarily
as Inspector in 2010.
Associates—David John McNamara (Gold Coast), partner of
new member Sandy Burns; June Robyn Weston (Townsville),
partner of new member Brian Weston
QRPA MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATES
Veteran (over 75yrs and 10yrs financial membership)
• Leslie David Wilson
Senior (over 65yrs and 10 yrs financial membership)
• Douglas John Sologinkin
BIRTHDAYS—90 and over
• George Walter Shaw, 93 years on 03.03.12
WELFARE REPORTS
• Darryl Saw has visited Brisbane for cardio tests, and his
next trip is on 22 March at the Wesley.
• Vern MacDonald is going through a rough patch with
65
QRPA
back and neck troubles. Vern would like to hear from
some old mates – ph 07 3343 66673.
• John Hopgood is not travelling too well.
• Ernie Lemon has been treated in the Mt Isa Hospital
after a fall but is expected to return to Cloncurry soon.
• Rod Bevan is not too well.
• Phil Hocken has problems with his legs and breathing.
• Keith Smith is not well.
• Tom Howe is on new medication.
• Bob Coops has trouble walking (see Near North Coast
news)
RECENT OBITUARIES - May They Rest In Peace
Members—Life member and former Senior Sergeant
Alexander Esplen Mitchell, 6.02.12, aged 97 years; Member
and former Senior Constable Roderick Donald McRae,
15.02.12, aged 62 years; Senior member and former Detective
Inspector Kelvin John Weeks, service 27.02.12, aged 75 years;
Member and former Sergeant Atholl Jordan, 5.3.12, aged 68
years.
Non-members—Former Senior Sergeant George Robert
Tanzer, 13.02.12, aged 78 years; former Constable Ailsa
Millicent Warnick, 14.02.12, aged 86 years; former Sergeant
Samuel Unwin, service 06.03.12.
Family—June Maynard, wife of Fred Maynard, service
22.02.12; Maureen O’Neill, widow of retired Superintendent
Ray O’Neill, 22.02.12.
Serving member—Senior Constable David Rixon [NSW
Police], 02.03.12.
BRANCH NEWS
Bundaberg
Welfare news notes that Cec Bartlett has transferred to high
care at Tri Care in Bundaberg. Cec can no longer care for
himself and had to leave his home of many years in Wilson
Street. He will be 98 in October. Marie Hoare is still at home
and is making some slow progress after her stroke. The branch
wishes Marie well in her recovery. Mary Waugh has had a
further operation on her right eye which will hopefully return
vision in that eye.
The Police Legacy Bowls Day at the Bargara Bowls Club is
on Monday 7 May, the Labour Day Holiday. The date was
allocated by the Club and cannot be changed. New sponsors
and raffle prizes are being sought. On the subject of bowls,
the ‘A’ team was represented at the Association’s Presidents
Day at Burnett Bowls Club on Sunday the 12th. Several regular
members were not available due to championship games at
their Club. However, a team skipped by Geoff Donaldson with
Tom Carroll, Bob Hayes, and Ray McInally fronted up and went
down fighting to a well oiled Bargara Club Team.
Secretary Graham Hohenhaus who organised the supply of
shirts for Bundaberg.
Darling Downs
Darling Downs Branch had their first meeting for the year on
9 February at the West Toowoomba Bowls Club. Kev Weise
presented Fred Gillam with his Queensland Police Service
Medal.
The meeting noted that Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson
would take over the Southern Police Region from AC Steve
Gollschewski on 5 March.
Members discussed a visit to the Army Aviation Museum and
RSL at Oakey and it was agreed to make the trip a week after
the April meeting on 17 April.
Ron Munson took a fall at Wilsonton shops, but did not require
hospitalisation. Ron Thompson has now left Toowoomba.
Far North Queensland
Members of FNQ branch gathered for a lunch meeting at
Brothers Club, Anderson Street, Cairns on 24 February.
Superintendent Brian Connors presented member John
Thompson with his 20 year Queensland Police Service Medal.
Several members and their wives and partners attended the
meeting, along with Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul
Taylor, and District Officer, Rhys Newton.
Gold Coast
The first social get together for the year was held at Froggies
at Tallebudgera Surf Club. Attendance was good with about
24 members and friends present. As usual, the host excelled
himself with his hospitality. Treasurer Neil presented Froggie
with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the branch. An
old mate, Peter Scanlan, attended the function. His health is
deteriorating. Terry Lewis is also in the advanced stages of
prostate cancer. It is proposed to have Terry and Peter attend
the next get together in April.
John Meskell has sadly found it necessary to admit his wife
Betty to a nursing home where she will receive full care. Terry
Flanagan is in very poor health. John Clarke is still in the John
Flynn Hospital and his condition remains unchanged.
The barbecue for March is on Thursday 29, hosted by Jan and
Denis Chalker.
Guest speaker for the March meeting is to be our own Keith
Woodbridge. Keith is a very active member of the Volunteer
Firefighters and State Emergency. He had involvement in last
year’s floods and his talk will be very interesting.
John and Margaret Francis were seen celebrating John’s
birthday at the RSL Club recently. It’s not known if John had
any luck getting Margaret to shout a round of drinks.
Guest speaker for April is to be international author—
Australia’s Wilber Smith—Peter Watt. Peter is also exmilitary and ex-Queensland Police. Wives and friends who
may have read some of his articles are most welcome to
attend.
Branch members who ordered blue shorts with the logo are
advised they have arrived. Thanks go to former Toowoomba
The Gold Coast branch Annual Luncheon will be held at Twin
Towns on Tuesday 10 July. Note the date in your diary.
66
QRPA
Gympie
Members in Gympie are coping well with the recent floods,
despite the town being cut in two by the flooding of the Mary
River. Members in the Cooroy area weathered the severe
storm that hit the town. Patrick Barry had a few trees down
on his Black Mountain property, but avoided serious damage.
Ivor Lane was away from Cooroy at the time of the storm, and
his car was completely inundated. He is waiting for insurance
assessment. So despite all the rain around the Region, we’re
still here, and all in relatively good health and spirits. Regards,
Norm Breen, Secretary.
Ipswich
Our 14 March meeting will play host to Matt Dale who is to
speak about the activities of the local Rotary Club. The 11 April
meeting will see well-respected Barrister and current officer in
charge of the Ipswich DPP address our members. On 9 May
we will travel to Rosewood to enjoy a country BBQ. At our 13
June meeting, we will hear from Peter Callcott of the National
Seniors Association. On 11 July, we will host the Annual
Ladies Luncheon. A guest speaker is still to be arranged for
this event. September will again see us muster up for the
Broncos Luncheon followed by Police Remembrance Day. On
10 October we will hold our AGM, and 14 November will see us
return to a normal meeting. Then 12 December is our big event
of the year when we host our Annual Christmas Luncheon. All
meetings are held at Brothers Leagues Club, Wildey Street,
Raceview, and commence at 11am.
Our members are heavily involved in preparing for an
Anniversary Luncheon celebrating 85 years of detective
service to the community of Ipswich. This will be held at the
Bundamba Race Course commencing at 11am on Thursday 2
August. Both serving and past members of the Ipswich CIB,
JAB, and support staff are invited to attend. Guest speakers
are the Mayor of Ipswich Paul Pisasale, Commissioner Bob
Atkinson, Retired Assistant Commissioner Terry McMahon,
and Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson. Cost for the day is
$60 per head, which includes a buffet luncheon and beer, wine,
and soft drinks until 5pm. Early response has been great and it
is expected the guests to be in the vicinity of 150 plus. Anyone
interested in attending should contact Mel at Ipswich District
Police HQ on 3817 1365. Formal invitations will be posted out
during May.
Logan/Beenleigh
The Logan/Beenleigh branch met on 16 February. It was the
second meeting for the year and was strongly supported by
members with another new member, Jeff Bremner, joining our
ranks. Welcome aboard, Jeff. Hope to see you at many more
meetings and gatherings.
After the formal part of our meeting, our guest speaker,
Sharon Whitchurch, addressed the meeting. Sharon spoke at
our October 2010 meeting, and members were so impressed
with her story and her quest that we nominated her for a Road
Safety Award. Sharon was involved in a serious traffic accident
in March 2006 which resulted in her suffering horrific injuries.
The driver of the other vehicle had suffered a hypoglycaemic
episode caused by his diabetes. During her recovery, Sharon
commenced her quest to inform the public of the dangers
of driving while suffering from diabetes and like illnesses.
Sharon gave us an update on her quest and her work in the
area to have the law amended to put more accountability on
drivers suffering from these illnesses. For those who may be
interested, her website can be viewed at http://www.hypodrive.
com.au/index.php
Our Branch has now been officially operating for two years,
having been formed on 11 February 2010. Thanks to all
involved as we grow in membership. Remember, with honour
we served. Regards, TJ Ahearn, Secretary.
Mackay/Whitsunday
Our first meeting for the year was held on 17 February at the
Mackay Buffalo Club, with a fantastic roll up of members and
guests. We have added to our list of members and associates
by accepting the applications of retirees Graeme and Heather
Bensley, who attended the meeting as guests. As we did
not have a guest speaker, President Les seized the moment
and requested Graeme to volunteer. Graeme spoke of their
decision to leave behind the rat race of the big smoke and
make the sea change to Mackay. They are now winding back
in thongs and shorts to look after the many weary travellers
visiting our beautiful Region.
On 23 February, a number of members took up the invitation
from Mackay Vietnam Veterans to partake in a BBQ lunch and
tour of the large workshop facility. Among the many products
the Vets make are toys for the varying local charities. Our
members reported they had an enjoyable afternoon and will
return in the near future.
It is with a sad note that we say goodbye to one of our
founding members, Bob Faulkner, who has relocated to
Burleigh Heads. Bob, may good health and happiness be with
you in your new venture. Regards, Michelle Sheehan, branch
Secretary.
Near North Coast Branch
Members of Near North Coast branch gathered at the Bribie
Island RSL Club for a meeting on 16 January. It was noted
the Annual Luncheon in November was a financial success,
although numbers were slightly down on last year. It was a
great luncheon, and the raffles donated were exceptional.
The sponsorship money received from the Queensland Police
Credit Union is of great benefit.
In welfare news, Gwynne Wesener is still in pain after heart
surgery last November. Bob Coops is not well enough to attend
meetings, but would love to have visits from old friends. He is
in Room 3, Albany Gardens, 126 Fahey Road, Albany Creek.
George Keiser’s wife, Maree, who had a triple bypass, took a
month to come home from hospital. The wound has not healed
and George is still taking Maree to hospital daily.
The branch will form a sub-committee to organise the next
Annual Luncheon, and may schedule an extra meeting between
October and January.
67
QRPA
Redlands Branch
One hundred and seven members, associates, and friends
gathered at the Redlands Sporting Club on Tuesday 28
February for the Annual Luncheon of Redlands Branch. As
noted in the State President’s Message, there was good
representation and support from serving officers, Police
Chaplain, Colin Munns, members from other QRPA branches
such as Darling Downs and Near North Coast, members from
the RPA of NSW (Brisbane and Northern Suburbs Branch),
and not forgetting several of our police widows.
Attendees were welcomed by branch President Leigh Gorrie
and addressed by Assistant Commissioner Andy Henderson
about the good police work happening in Metropolitan South
Region, and they were treated to plenty of good food, great
raffles, fun, and comradeship. Look for this event in 2013.
Rockhampton Branch
Members of Rockhampton Branch met on 7 March in the
Board Room of the YWCA. Sadly, they noted the passing of
two of their members, Kel Weeks and Atholl Jordan.
A barbecue will take place in Yeppoon on Sunday 11 March.
The Annual Dinner for Rockhampton Branch will be held on
Monday 19 November 2012.
Sunshine Coast Branch
The Sunshine Coast Branch recently published its 150th
edition of their monthly newsletter, with the first issue
coming out in May 1999. With a strong member base, we will
doubtless be reading many more issues of ‘Cop This’ from
the branch.
Members met for the first time in 2012 on Tuesday 10 January
at the usual venue of the Headland Golf Club. Welfare Officer
Greg Rainbow advised that Reg Pain, Tom Bishop, and Barry
Shaw are not well, Clarrie Blissner has been in and out of
hospital but is now home, and Ted Kenny is home being
cared for by family. (Later reports on Barry Shaw show
improvement—he’s now up to two beers per day).
The Annual Luncheon will be held on 22 May and the
Christmas Function on 27 November 2012. Recent departures
from the Region are Phil Rennick to Townsville and Angela
Caterson to Mount Isa. SSC members celebrating birthdays
this month include John Fox (6 March), Rod Taylor (24
March), John Walker (28 March), and Joyce Keats (30 March).
Townsville
Twenty-nine members attended the Townsville branch March
meeting. A special welcome was given to retired police officer
Phil Rennick. Phil was a member of QRPA Sunshine Coast
branch before returning to Townsville. He is now claimed as
one of their own. Phil transferred from Townsville to Brisbane
in 2003 and a year later completed his law degree. He retired
from the QPS in 2007 and practiced law on the Sunshine Coast
before making the move back to Townsville to commence a
law practice.
68
Members noted the passing of their branch member, former
Senior Constable Roderick (Rod) Donald McRae.
In welfare news, Charles Bopf was still in hospital but has
improved a little after suffering a stroke in February. Kevin
Smith is still in hospital after a vehicle accident some time
ago; he would appreciate visitors. Lyal Kassulke has been in
hospital for treatment but his kidneys are starting to fail and
he may need dialysis.
The meeting on 2 May will be the 30th Anniversary of the
branch. Two of the charter members, Jack Sanderson and
Roy Hielscher, will be making presentations at this meeting.
It is hoped other charter members, Terry O’Halloran and
Charles Bopf, can also attend. Assistant Commissioner Clem
O’Regan has been invited to attend this special occasion.
As usual, the June meeting will be held in Ingham and Barbara
Zupp will be supplying morning tea as she has in past years.
The July meeting is the branch AGM. After ten years in the
job, Brian Bensley will not be standing again for the position
of President of Townsville branch.
Van Diemens Land
Members held a meeting on Sunday 12 February at the home
of Ian and Jenny Johnston at Campbell Street Oatlands. The
meeting was followed by a BBQ.
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