September 1998 Volume 79  Number 9 "serving the protectors"
The Birth of The Century
By David Marr

Early in Marcellus Gallio's career, he applied for all types of postings in the hope he might snare a position in his own right. There was a great promotional bottleneck in those days, so he applied for all gazetted decurion positions.

From time to time he served in the frontiers surviving a number of major skirmishes and campaigns. He was now attempting to survive the internal battle against stagnation and discouragement. He became frustrated with the appeal system; the time taken for decisions to be made; and the emotional cost to himself and his family. Three times he won decurion postings only to see the position lost after many months through protracted appeals.

There was a time he almost made the mistake of backing the wrong leader too, which would have spelt disaster to his career objective of taking commission. He almost elected to serve under Pompey, but fortunately decided to accompany his young friend Rotunda to serve under a young Tribune named Augustus.

Augustus was a high-profile young officer who had great ideas, good political awareness and was, according to Rotunda, "bound for high places". He was correct too, for within two years Augustus was appointed - "Caesar". Gallio regarded Augustus highly.

The new Caesar brought a great deal of insight and experience. He had pioneered major restructuring and reform programmes in the Eastern Divisions and now the Senate was looking to him to implement and lead the introduction of change and new programmes for the incoming century. He held strong views about the effective performance of his troops and sought to encourage their commitment to his programme. The "Pax Romana" was to take a new strategic approach in serving and protecting the community.

Gallio remembers Augustus's "Declaration Address" to the troops, making it clear that they would be the first to know what was planned and happening, rather than learning these things through the daily press, hearsay, rumour or even after the event had occurred.

These were great times in which to live and work. Change, restructuring, indeed revolution was in the air. The only group not being restructured was the Senate. The economic rationalists knew what they wanted and the politicians knew what was happening. The only people left wondering were those affected or having to implement the changes.

The Senate was debating tax reform and slashing the budget was high on the agenda. Caesar was concerned there may not be enough in the coffers to run the force the full year and was relieved the Senate approved the introduction of a PAYE system as well as the existing goods and services tax. Caesar Augustus lost no time in issuing a decree that everyone should be registered for taxation purposes. The census was scheduled and all people ordered to attend the town or city of their birth for enrolment.

At this time, Legionary Marcellus Gallio received a hand-delivered message confirming his promotion to the city of Bethlehem as patrol decurion of team two.

To be continued.

SA Police Chaplains

Welfare Section 58	David Marr
	Senior Police Chaplain.
	Tel: 8364 3567
Academy 8	Mark Thomas. Tel: 8296 9616
Adelaide: Angas Street 158	Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220
Adelaide: Hindley Street 62	Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Adrian Stephens.
	Tel: 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517
Berri 212	Vacant
Ceduna 214	Bob Borgas. Tel: 086 253 503
Christies Beach 20	Vacant
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke. Tel: 088 423 681
Communications 172	Mark Cooper. Tel: 8379 3764
Elizabeth 52	Stephen Brooks. Tel: 041 884 0739
Far North 210	Tony Redden. Tel: 08 8672 5011
Focus 21	Richard Lawton. Tel: 08 8363 2536
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke. Tel: 085 222 288
Glenelg 22	Malcolm Thomas. Tel: 8377 0772
Henley Beach 18	Brenton Daulby. Tel: 8443 8286
Holden Hill 44	Tony Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951
	Rod Dyson. Tel: 8365 1170
Kadina 71	Mark Dickens. Tel: 8823 2513
Kingston 208	Richard Dutton. Tel: 08 8767 2590
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth.
	Tel: 087 231 353 (W)
	Tel: 087 252 537 (H)
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill. Tel: 085 325 536
Naracoorte 208	Keith Brice. Tel: 087 622 303
Norwood 60	Bob George. Tel: 8362 2227
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald. Tel: 085 621 011
Para Hills 46	Stephanie Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951
Plympton 14	Ian Dempsey. Tel: 8210 8108
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake. Tel: 8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Vacant
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Shirley James. Tel: 0886 410 146
Salisbury 53	Stephanie Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951
Sturt 12	Brenton Williamson. Tel: 8270 4316
Tea Tree Gully 48	Paul Hammat. Tel: 8396 4141
Thebarton Barracks 32	Joe Grealy. Tel: 8338 3225
Transit Division	Wayne Shepherd. Tel: 8443 4895
Unley 28	Max Bowers. Tel: 8272 8324
Whyalla 218	Vacant