July 2001 Volume 82 Number 7 "serving the protectors"
Chaplaincy Support Beyond Words
By Sybil Peacock Chaplain to Ceduna and Far West Police

People recently gathered outside Wirrulla police station for a memorial service. A year had passed since the car crash that took the life of Senior Constable Sean Howie’s wife, Kathryn.

That the memorial service was held locally meant that just about everybody local could be there. As well, family and friends had travelled from Adelaide and Whyalla. Chief Inspector Malcolm Schluter, Senior Sergeant Kym Thomas and Constable Mark Steward (now stationed at Wirrulla) had arranged the service to be a local event. A year ago, the funeral had been held elsewhere in Whyalla.

As the local police chaplain, I led the simple service. It concluded with the dedication of a beautiful memorial plaque set under the police station flagpole. A barbecue followed at the town park.

On reflection, the arrangement of this memorial event was typical of many held in this country district in the last couple of years. Within a year, there were the shark tragedies, the overturned boat, and the marathon runner tragedy. For each event, there has been a memorial service that provided a venue for the grieving community to gather.

So what happens at a community memorial service? How does it differ from a funeral? The police chaplain can conduct both; and both provide a way for the grieving community to focus its feelings of loss.

A funeral is much more formal, so there often isn’t an opportunity for many people from the community to speak. And that, so soon after a death, can be too hard and too emotional a task. Whereas, at a memorial service, saying a few informal words is easier, and people from the community feel that it is somehow more okay to do that. Many people from the community took up the invitation to speak recently at the Wirrulla police station.

And where are these services held? Usually outside at a place of significance - a cliff overlooking the beach; a shady spot in the camping ground where the marathon runners camped in shock for three days; and recently in the grounds of the police station, which had been home.

Afterwards, as food and drink is shared, there is time to ask that important question; to get answers to those still unanswered questions. Debriefing can be continued.

And there is an opportunity to meet significant people from the community who were there - ambulance officers, other police, the doctor, friends who provide food or comfort, or any other support so much needed in times of tragedy. For distant family members, this may be a chance to meet such people for the first time. Then to ask questions, hear answers and express gratitude.

Finally, a memorial service somehow provides an opportunity to deal with the tragedy in a way that frees us up to move on in life. Not to forget, for that never happens. But, in some strange way, enabling us to take the next small step in life; to find the courage to turn the page.

My own observation is that the participation of senior officers and colleagues at these events offers a level of support beyond words. I count it a privilege to have been involved.

SA Police Chaplains

Welfare Section 58	David Marr	8364 3567
	Senior Police Chaplain.
Academy 8	Brenton Daulby	8272 8324
Adelaide: Angas Street 158	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide: Hindley Street 62	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Adrian Stephens	8398 2510
		Office: 8398 2517
Ceduna 214	Sybil Peacock	8625 3505
Christies Beach 20	Peter Coote	8381 3039
		0412 818 995
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke	8842 3681
Communications 172	David Hand	8376 5612
Elizabeth 52	Lindsay Mayes	8281 8088
Far North 210	John Folkman	8672 5011
Firearms/Records	Dianna Bartlett	8337 8552
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke	8522 2288
Glenelg 22	Malcolm Thomas	8377 0772
Henley Beach 18	Tim Kowald	8449 6868
Holden Hill 44	Rod Dyson	8365 1170
Kadina 71	Vacant
Kingston 208
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth	(w) 8723 1353
		(h) 8725 2537
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill	8532 5536
Naracoorte 208	Bruce Cliff	8737 2457
		0417 811 702
Norwood 60	Lynton Wade	8362 2227
		0418 831 703
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald	8562 1011
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake	8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Steve Ardill	8632 3977
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Mark Thomas	8642 2487
		0401 671 850
Port Lincoln 214	Vacant
Riverland 212	Robin Zadow	8588 1540
Salisbury 53	Vacant
South East	Terry Natt	8571 1114
Sturt 12	Chris Beal	8278 9578
	Ian Dempsey	8296 7292
Tea Tree Gully 48	Bob George	8395 9363
Thebarton Barracks 32	Joe Grealy	8338 3225
Transit Division	Wayne Shepherd	8443 4895
Whyalla 218	Tony Redden	8649 3593

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