January 2002 Volume 82 Number 12 "serving the protectors"

Dear Andy

I wish to tender my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement as of August 1, 2001.

I have had the pleasure of working with many fine officers since starting at the academy in January 1964 (course 7). My career has been with the front-line members, who perform admirably under trying circumstances on all shifts. I have witnessed the lip service that has been paid to patrols over the years and unfortunately that is all it is. I have had many memorable years and have always enjoyed coming to work, whatever shift. However, the shiftwork and the changes in the job of recent times have helped my decision. It is now time to start a new life in retirement.

I thank the association for its support of members over the years and wish you and all the members the very best for the future.
Regards
Brian Farmer
Patrol Sergeant
Sturt LSA

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of SA due to my retirement. My last day of service was August 22, 2001.

I thank the association and other units for their support during the past extremely two long years.

I wish to pass on my thanks to all my past friends I have accumulated over the last 33 years.
Yours sincerely
Dennis Clifton

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL, my last day of service being October 3, 2001.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every posting in my 26 years of service. I will take with me many memories of a great career and fantastic friendships.

I will be continuing my association with many SAPOL members as I take up my new position as a senior investigator with Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) Adelaide office.
Yours sincerely
Mark (Digger) Dunstone
Detective Senior Constable, 2990/4
Serious Fraud Investigation Branch

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association pending my retirement on October 17, 2001.

I thank all of those who I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with during the last 37 years.

I wish each and every one of you good luck and best wishes for the future.
Yours sincerely
Mick Millar
Christies Beach

Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association. My last day of police service is Wednesday, October 24, 2001.

Policing and the expectation of police has changed significantly over the past 41 years. While there are always some criticisms which can be made of SAPOL, as in the promotional game, the members in the operational areas generally perform a difficult job in a commendable manner, too often with little or no recognition.

To those members I have had the pleasure to work with, thank you for your friendship and support.
RP Allen
Sergeant 365/0
Port Adelaide LSA

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement, my last day of service being Wednesday, October 31, 2001. It has been a long journey from April 4, 1961.

It has been a journey that I have enjoyed and the good times, by far, outweigh the bad times. I acknowledge all those persons I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. A special thanks to all team members who I have been associated with at Port Lincoln over the past 15 years. Don’t let them kill the police culture. I have experienced some wonderful choir practice and amber runs. I joined the police force to be a police officer and I feel that I have achieved this in that I am retiring from the position of uniform patrol sergeant. It is not easy at the coalface.

I commend the PASA for the wonderful work and conditions that it has striven for and obtained for its members. Thankfully, I have had no real reason to call on it for assistance but it is comforting to know that it is always there.

To all colleagues, good luck and best wishes for the future.
Mick Miller
Sergeant
Port Lincoln Patrols

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL, my last day of service being October 31, 2001.

I thank you and Peter Alexander for your tireless efforts to ensure that wages and conditions for members are fair and equitable for all. All the best to you both and your staff.

Since walking through those “pearly gates” at Fort Largs on January 6, 1972, I naturally have seen many changes for both the better and the not so good. I don’t intend to “bag” the job like I have seen others do because this would erode all the good memories I have of the job and of the many friends I have met and worked with along the way. It is an experience that one can’t describe except that if I had my time again, yes, I’d do it again.

It is now time for me to move on to what I believe are greener pastures but yet still have regrets. To all members I wish you the best in your futures and undoubtedly will keep in touch with some of you.
Peter Scheer
Senior Constable 2449/7
South Coast Traffic

It was fourteen and a half years ago
When I entered the fort by the sea
And even though it was so scary and new
It was at the time where I wanted to be.

My life took a turn as I learned of the law
And created some friendships as well
The best year of my life was one spent in this place
I have many great stories to tell.

Graduating from there was one fine moment
With my parents as proud as could be
I knew on that day my life would never be the same
As the life I had known for so long in the country.

My postings were lessons for me to learn
About accidents, consequences, people and life
The changes I made to each different place
Brought at times its share both of joy and strife.

The things I’ve experienced some will never know of
For the life of a copper’s like a stage
A performance is given but there’s never applause
And the curtain falls on another notebook page.

The people you meet you will forget
There are moments to treasure for all time
Friendships created will be close to my heart
And to never have them would itself be a crime.

Now it’s time for me to close the show
On a lifetime of pleasure and pain
But I just want to thank you all this one time
For these feelings are hard to restrain.

You all have a gift which has brought you this far
No matter how tough things may get
In amongst all the thorns and the jungle of weeds
Are the seeds which are your choice to set.

If you use them with wisdom and kindness to all
And understand we are all different kin
There will always be some who appreciate you ways
Even though you feel you just never win.

I bid you farewell, comrades and friends
And wish you well in your work and your play
I set forth once again to create a new life
As I hand in my badge on this day (Oct 31, 2001).
Bev Size
FCC 5325/1, Adelaide Enquiries

Dear Peter

I am writing to advise of my resignation from the Police Association, due to my resignation from SAPOL effective November 1, 2001.

I was immensely grateful to SAPOL for giving me 12 months’ leave to work on animal protection issues in Asia with the Animals Asia Foundation. However, the last year has only revealed the magnitude of the work ahead, and the responsibility that I feel to continue, no matter how high the hurdles to overcome. Having witnessed the terrible suffering of these animals and their desperate need for a voice, the only responsible decision was to continue to represent them as best I can. Working in Vietnam, and trying to convince the government to enforce its laws to protect animals is a continual frustration and challenge, especially since this was within my power here in Adelaide with SAPOL.

It was with regret that I submitted my resignation to SAPOL to continue as regional director of the Animals Asia Foundation. I know, however, that I am one of the very lucky ones, as it is a rarity to leave a career still enjoying it as I did to my last day. My deepest regret is to the lost friendships which, as we know, really can only exist within the confines of “the job”.

To Aussie, Steve, Gossie and Simon, you are all loved and so very dear to me, I think of you often, and miss you and your friendship a great deal. I loved every minute of working together, and wish there had been the chance to say goodbye properly. To cherished friends Karen, Lammy, Simmo, Rod, Peter, Hulsty, Webby, Deb and Rick, and my many other friends and colleagues at Mt Barker, please take good care, and thank you for wonderful times and memories that will remain with me always.
Lyn White
FCC 5052/4

Dear Andy

I am writing to advise you of my resignation from the Police Association effective November 7, 2001.

I have resigned from SAPOL effective this date and taken up a position with another department.

I thank the association for all its efforts in improving working conditions for SAPOL members.

For the last two years I have held the position of occupational health and safety officer – South Coast LSA, a job which I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope that in some way I have contributed to safer working systems throughout the South Coast LSA and thank most sincerely the management team for affording me the opportunity to develop my OHS&W skill base. This has allowed me to further my career in this area.

To everyone within SAPOL, especially the guys and gals within South Coast LSA, I wish you all good luck for your respective futures.
Yours sincerely
Carl Asker
OHS&W officer
South Coast LSA

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL effective November 13, 2001.
Dave Randall
Ex-Senior Constable 3638/4
Adelaide Criminal Justice Section

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association effective November 14, 2001.

I have resigned from SAPOL to explore the opportunities that might come my way. I hope that a private sector law firm considers my skills and abilities an asset and will employ me. I find it exciting to take the chance and see what happens.

No doubt I have been emboldened by my experiences within SAPOL, both positive and negative. I have worked with many people who have encouraged me and given me opportunities to excel. I thank these fine managers and peers who have helped to give me the confidence in myself to try something new.

I am nervous about my decision to leave. But I leave SAPOL much wiser with the courage to try something new. To all employees I would say have confidence in yourself and the huge array of skills that you develop as a police officer. Don’t tolerate bad behaviour and embrace any chance you may have to be the best that you can be. I wish you all well.
Bronwyn Evans
Drug and Alcohol Policy Section

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia due to my aged retirement on November 19, 2001.

When I joined up 43-and-three-quarter years ago, 2001 seemed like an eternity away, but here it is and I am on my way. I have many happy memories of the people I have met, the things I have done and the accolades received. The hiccups along the way were a blip on the screen of life and ones which I pushed into the background, where they should remain. I thank the association for its assistance in trying times and for conditions in general.

My country years, city patrols, Prosecution, Recruiting, Traffic and Public Affairs have brought great joys, successes and some lows, but Helen and my family have supported me all along the way. We now look forward to time for ourselves and scuttling off into the sunset in our new Avan.

There are many good people in the job who make things work, in spite of all the obstacles, and I can only encourage all senior SAPOL supervisors to eventually learn to verbally thank and commend their staff when they have done a good job, rather than only reacting when negatives occur.

I regret I will not be able to personally say goodbye to all those who have been important in my life but, via the journal, I say farewell to the many characters and great people in this job. To my various staff over the years who gave beyond the pail, and in my latter years, the talented and enthusiastic Expos and Tattoo team who created a new vision of publicity and accolades for SAPOL, what more can I say but thanks for the memories. The kettle is always on.
Kind regards
John A Fitzgerald
Chief Inspector
Sensational Adelaide International
Police Tattoo Team

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association on my retirement, my last day of service will be December 11, 2001. I thank the association for the effort it put in on behalf of all members.
Yours sincerely
John Lenton
Senior Constable 2785/2

Letters of withdrawal of Police Association membership should be addressed to PASA secretary, Andy Dunn, at:

• Police Association of SA,
  PO Box 6032, Halifax St,
  Adelaide, SA 5000
• secretary@pasa.asn.au
• Police Association 168 (internal dispatch)

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