Port Macquarie keeps in step - NSW Police Force
Port Macquarie keeps in step - NSW Police Force
Port Macquarie keeps in step - NSW Police Force
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PORT MACQUARIE<br />
KEEPS IN STEP<br />
WITH OUR 150TH YEAR<br />
Supt Paul Fehon, Commander, Mann<strong>in</strong>g Great Lakes<br />
Images by Anne Johnston<br />
In recognition of the 150th Anniversary of Polic<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>NSW</strong>, the residents of <strong>Port</strong> <strong>Macquarie</strong><br />
recently turned out to witness a march<strong>in</strong>g parade of over 160 serv<strong>in</strong>g and retired police<br />
officers from Mid North Coast and Mann<strong>in</strong>g Great Lakes LACs, jo<strong>in</strong>ed by the Mounted Unit,<br />
<strong>Police</strong> Band and Highway Patrol.<br />
In late 2011 the commands of<br />
Mid North Coast and<br />
Mann<strong>in</strong>g/Great Lakes LACs had a<br />
bold idea about how to celebrate<br />
the imm<strong>in</strong>ent 150th Anniversary of<br />
Polic<strong>in</strong>g. They decided to jo<strong>in</strong> forces<br />
for a comb<strong>in</strong>ed anniversary event<br />
that represented the greater mid<br />
north coast.<br />
Mann<strong>in</strong>g/Great Lakes Commander,<br />
Supt Paul Fehon said it made sense<br />
for both commands to mark the<br />
occasion together.<br />
“We started plann<strong>in</strong>g it last<br />
November because we saw it as a<br />
good opportunity for both areas<br />
to celebrate the greater mid north<br />
coast district,” Supt Fehon said,<br />
add<strong>in</strong>g that the result<strong>in</strong>g 17 May<br />
event had proven extremely popular.<br />
“We had more police volunteer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to be part of the march than we<br />
were able to <strong>in</strong>clude. So many<br />
people wanted to be a part of the<br />
150th, so that they, and their<br />
families, would have the photos and<br />
the memories to look back on over<br />
the years – to know they had been a<br />
part of polic<strong>in</strong>g history.”<br />
The march<strong>in</strong>g group consisted of<br />
70 officers from both the commands<br />
and <strong>in</strong>cluded 30 members of the<br />
<strong>NSW</strong> <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Force</strong> Band and 30<br />
retired officers. The retired<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>gent was led by 96-year-old<br />
Ret Ch Supt Greg Brown and<br />
<strong>in</strong>cluded Ret A/Commissioner<br />
Neil Taylor and Ret Snr Assistant<br />
Commissioner Peter Walsh.<br />
At the conclusion of the<br />
celebrations a flypast by Polair 4 and<br />
the arrival of <strong>Police</strong> Launch Fearless<br />
demonstrated the modern resources<br />
of the current <strong>NSW</strong>PF.<br />
26 <strong>Police</strong>Monthly JUNE 2012
“The strong cont<strong>in</strong>gent of retired police that were at the march allowed us to<br />
reflect on the progression that has occurred, and the platform that they have<br />
created for us which we are now operat<strong>in</strong>g from. They are people who have done<br />
it relatively tough without the resources we have now – and it was pla<strong>in</strong> to see the<br />
pride that they still have <strong>in</strong> the police force.”<br />
Supt Paul Fehon, Commander, Mann<strong>in</strong>g/Great Lakes<br />
The Eyewatch Project Team also<br />
demonstrated the social networks<br />
and other technologies used by the<br />
<strong>NSW</strong>PF <strong>in</strong> 2012.<br />
At the conclusion a civic reception<br />
was held at the Glasshouse where a<br />
number of static displays, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the uniform of retired Commissioner<br />
John Avery AO APM, a former lockup<br />
keeper at <strong>Port</strong> <strong>Macquarie</strong>, formed<br />
part of a four day promotion and<br />
celebration.<br />
Mid North Coast Commander Supt<br />
Peter Thurtell said he felt privileged<br />
to be a part of polic<strong>in</strong>g history.<br />
“For me personally it is<br />
co<strong>in</strong>cidental that a major anniversary<br />
has occurred while I am a serv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
officer. A lot of police who are just<br />
start<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>in</strong> The <strong>Force</strong> today won’t<br />
have that opportunity,”<br />
Supt Thurtell said.<br />
“The mid-north coast has been<br />
a big part of polic<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>NSW</strong> over<br />
the past 150 years and it cont<strong>in</strong>ues<br />
to be.”<br />
Both Supt Thurtell and Supt Fehon<br />
said they were impressed by the<br />
response of the community, and of<br />
the pride shown by their officers –<br />
particularly dur<strong>in</strong>g the march.<br />
“There was a good crowd and<br />
lots of positive comments about<br />
how impressive the police looked<br />
and how impressive the march was,”<br />
Supt Thurtell said.<br />
“<strong>Police</strong> officers wear their uniform<br />
with pride but it’s not very often that<br />
members of the public get to<br />
experience the pride that police<br />
have <strong>in</strong> their uniform and their<br />
profession. This event as a good way<br />
of showcas<strong>in</strong>g the pride we have <strong>in</strong><br />
our own organisation.”<br />
TOP An impressive cont<strong>in</strong>gent turned<br />
out to celebrate 150 years of polic<strong>in</strong>g<br />
across the greater mid north coast<br />
ABOVE LEFT From left are Insp<br />
Christ<strong>in</strong>e George; Supt Paul Fehon,<br />
Commander Mann<strong>in</strong>g Great Lakes;<br />
<strong>Police</strong> Chapla<strong>in</strong> Fr Paul Gooley; Deputy<br />
Commissioner Nick Kaldas; <strong>Police</strong><br />
Chapla<strong>in</strong> Rev Roger Foletta; Member for<br />
<strong>Port</strong> <strong>Macquarie</strong> Leslie Williams; <strong>Port</strong><br />
<strong>Macquarie</strong> Hast<strong>in</strong>gs Adm<strong>in</strong>istrator Neil<br />
<strong>Port</strong>er; Assistant Commissioner Carlene<br />
York, Commander Northern Region; Supt<br />
Peter Thurtell; Sgt Paul Dilley,<br />
Protocol Officer<br />
ABOVE RIGHT Local residents l<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
the streets dur<strong>in</strong>g the parade<br />
JUNE 2012 <strong>Police</strong>Monthly 27