Feedback on Kelly gang

Dear Andy

Thank you for publishing my letter, Kelly gang romanticized (Police Journal, February, 2005). I have had a bit of feedback from various people and, in the main, they agree with me. Those who don’t are, funnily enough, not coppers.

I was recently in Mansfield, where I did as I said everyone should do, that is, I stopped and looked at the monument to the true heroes of Stringy Bark Creek – the police.
Cheers
Howard James

Women in policing for 90 years

Dear Mr Dunn

I am writing to seek your assistance in advising the female members of the South Australia Police of celebrations being held on July 22, 2005, to mark 90 years of women in policing in NSW.

These celebrations are open to women in all police jurisdictions in Australia.

The NSW Police was the first police force in the British Commonwealth, and one of the first in the world, to employ women as sworn police officers.

In 2005, women are represented in all areas of policing and across all ranks. Today, women make up approximately 24 per cent of police strength.

The aims of the anniversary events are to celebrate the strength, diversity and opportunity for women in the NSW Police, to recognize the many achievements so far and to encourage continued improvement.

The 90 years of Women in Policing steering committee encourages all female members, former and current, both sworn and unsworn, to get involved in the range of events.

On Friday July 22, there will be a march in Sydney from Circular Quay to Town Hall. All current and former members, both sworn and unsworn, are invited to participate.

At the 80-year celebrations in 1995, hundreds of women showed the strength and numbers of women in policing – we’d like to make 2005 even bigger and better.

Following the march, will be a reception at Government House, hosted by Governor Marie Bashir. Numbers are limited, so invitation to this event will be by ballot and restricted to current and former NSW Police women employees.

The grand finale is the gala dinner to be held at Doltone House, Pyrmont. There will be a range of entertainment, including a fashion show, awards ceremony and speeches by Commissioner Moroney and Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon. The evening will be hosted by Julie McCrossin of Good News Week and ABC radio.

More information is available at the NSW Police website:
www.police.nsw.gov.au
Enquiries can be directed to:
#WOMNPOL@police.nsw.gov.au
Telephone enquiries can be directed to Snr Sgt Tracy Chapman (8835 7758) or Snr Const Victoria Williams (8835 7847).
Regards
Acting Sgt Victoria Williams
Operational Information Agency
NSW Police

On patrol in PNG

Dear Andy

I am one of 10 members currently on leave from SAPOL and employed by FEDPOL with the International Deployment Group (IDG) for a period of 60 weeks.

At present, I am one of four SAPOL members who are part of a contingent of about 70 sworn FEDPOL police officers serving in Port Moresby, PNG, as part of the Enhanced Co-operation Program (ECP), as per the Madang agreement signed between Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2004.

The other six SAPOL members attached to the IDG are presently serving in the Solomon Islands.

Following five weeks’ training in Canberra in November and December last year, the contingent left for the Solomon Islands and PNG on December 19, 2004.

I am posted to Badili police station in Port Moresby, working alongside my Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) counterparts in a capacity-building role.

Also at Badili are Snr Sgt Mick Lyons from Crime Training, and Snr Const Sean Hayter from Salisbury patrols. The fourth SAPOL member, Snr Const Steve Bonnici from Sturt LSA, is serving at the Waigani police station.

We have been in the country for almost seven months now and, while our use and understanding of the local language, Tok Pisin, has greatly improved, there is still a way to go before we can call ourselves proficient.

The theme of this deployment is “wok wantaim”, or working together, which, in my role as a patrol officer, involves mobile patrol duties in settlements and villages that are part of the Badili sector.

This is challenging and interesting work, which has given me greater insight into PNG culture, as well as the RPNGC culture.

The EPC commitment is initially for five years and, while my involvement is only for 60 weeks, I feel that already we have been able to start building bridges between the Australian Assisting Police (AAP) and our RPNGC counterparts. This, I believe, will facilitate meaningful change and sustainable capacity-building in the future.
Senior Constable Mick Michael
Hindley Street Beats

Escape to Norfolk

Dear Andy

My thanks again to you, Peter Alexander and the Police Association with my invalidity/retirement exit from SAPOL.

After 35 years on the job, and with multiple sclerosis weighing heavy in the last couple of years, it was past time that my beautiful, tenacious wife, Dee, and I experience a sea/island change.

In October 2004, we took up a house-sitting position, literally among pines and palms on a Norfolk Island cliff top overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, you can land on your feet, so to speak.

Even though there is no improvement as yet to my health, the great news is that there has been no deterioration. I find the yoga still of great help, even though I can no longer stand on my head.

Straight away, Dee was wrapped to get a reception/office job with Hibiscus Motels. She is loving it.

Norfolk Island is crammed full of the most interesting, historical, vibrant and, if desired, relaxing things to do and see. The golf course is like no other: it sits right up against the Pacific.

Norfolk is actually a farming community in the middle of the Pacific, but with strong penal-settlement history and many descendants of Fletcher Christian of the Bounty mutiny.

This history, along with the location, makes for a fascinating holiday destination. In retirement, I have found that, when God made “time” on Norfolk Island, he made plenty of it. So, for anyone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of life, Norfolk Island is the place.

As Norfolk is an Australian territory, you do not need a passport (proof of identity is sufficient). However, if you have a passport you can use it.

Dee has spoken to the management of Hibiscus Motels and Bounty Excursions. They have agreed to give a special holiday deal to any SAPOL member, including retired officers and public servants, not to mention emergency services members.

To take Dee up on the offer, contact office administrator, Denise Weir, and mention that Dee sent you. Phone 0011 6723 22325; fax 0011 6723 22908; e-mail hibiscus@ni.net.nf; website www.hibiscus.nf
Lew Pettet
Former Senior Sergeant

Diagnosed with prostate cancer

Andy

Congratulations to the Police Journal for including the article Avoiding prostate check the bigger risk from Dr Pearce on the subject of prostate cancer (April 2005).

The article was extremely informative and should give some men an idea of what is involved in having prostate checks and, hopefully, encourage those who have, for one reason or another, not had a check by their doctor, to do so.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last January, at the age of 57. I had had no symptoms whatsoever, so you can imagine the thoughts going through one’s head after being told one has the “big C”, even though I was aware that, in a lot of cases, men die with prostate cancer and not because of it.

I found out as a result of having a normal PSA blood test. As a result of a very high PSA reading, I underwent digital rectal examination by my GP and two specialists, an ultrasound scan of the prostate and measurement of the prostate for enlargement. In all cases, nothing unusual was found by any of the medicos.

After two biopsies, it was eventually confirmed that I had cancer – diagnosed as a T.1 – very small and confined to the prostate. After lengthy discussions with the surgeon on the various treatments available, I opted for radical prostatectomy.

Surgery took place about three weeks after diagnosis. Pathology on the prostate showed that, in that time, the cancer had significantly grown and, in a couple of microscopic places, had breached the prostate. Had I waited much longer, the prognosis would, I fear, have been much worse.

As Dr Pearce points out, talking to your doctor about treatment options is critical to enable you to make and informed decision.

For instance, Dr Pearce wrote of a new form of radio therapy – I assume he was referring to Brachytherapy with seeds. From the information I obtained, this treatment is quite a breakthrough but, unfortunately, is not available to some men through medial benefits scheme if their PSA count is above a certain level and their Gleason score is above a certain level. Unfortunately that included me. So to have that treatment would have meant about $8,000 to $10,000 out of my own pocket.

Unlike Dr Pearce (and I bow to his medical expertise), I, as a patient, would encourage men who are “at that age” to request a PSA blood test (in addition to a digital examination if they have one) because, in my case, through physical examination, three medicos found nothing wrong with my prostate.

Had I not had the blood test, I would not have sought further treatment to find out the cause of the increased PSA. I could still be blindly going along, day by day, with no symptoms, until the cancer had spread well beyond the prostate and become untreatable.
Regards
Terry Harbour

Journal in class of its own

Andy

I just had to write to congratulate you, Brett Williams, and the team on the Police Journal. I read all Australian police union journals and your publication is in a class of its own.
You always feature excellent human interest stories about your members and, in my view, this must encourage your members to become more involved in their journal, and thus more aware of their union and its activities. Well done.
Angie Bradford
Assistant General Secretary
Police Association of Tasmania

Fire coverage gripping

Andy

Congratulations on your new-look Police Journal. Coverage of the fire on the Eyre Peninsula was gripping. Well done, Brett.
The format looks good. I think the use of full colour and mix of ads and editorial has improved the attraction of the magazine, which is an important medium for the expression of members’ views.
Regards
KJ (Ken) See
General Manager
WA Police Union of Workers

Moved by fire story

Dear Andy

I am a member of the Lyndoch CFS and the son of a retired police officer.

Having assisted a farmer friend with the rebuilding of fences etc, after the EP fires with another of my CFS mates from Lyndoch, our brigade has followed with interest the starting, destruction and aftermath of the fires through photos and articles.

I was reading my father’s Police Journal and was quite moved by the article Cops’ Black Tuesday Pain (April 2005).

Could you please send me a copy by return e-mail so that I may put it on display in our station for the members’ interest?

Congratulations on an excellent publication.
Regards
Brenton Edwards
L2 Lyndoch CFS Brigade