Retired and Life Members' Dinner - The Police Association Victoria

24 Retired and Life Members’ Dinner
IRREPLACEABLE
EXPERIENCE SAYS
FAREWELL
More than 3,000 years of
service to the community
of Victoria were
celebrated at this year’s
Police Association’s Retired
& Life Members’ Dinner
held in Melbourne last
month.
Each of the 102 retiring
members who attended the
dinner served an average of
34.16 years in the job. The longest
serving member was Inspector
Geoff McKinna 14155 who devoted
47 years, 7 months and 7 days to
the Force and the community. He
was one of 13 members who served
more than 40 years. Twenty-eight
members served between 35 and
40 years with 39 serving between
30 and 35 years and 22 serving
between 25 and 30 years.
The long-term dedication and
commitment to duty these men and
women have displayed is something
we may not see in the years to come.
Together they served 3,484.5 years.
The annual dinner is a chance
for the retirees to catch up with old
friends and colleagues and join the
Retired Police Association.
These was also a poignant
moment when everyone took
time to pause and remember the
three Life Members of The Police
Association who passed away in
the last 12 months – Don Plant, Les
Reeves and Lewis ‘Max’ McHugh.
In saying Grace, Life Member and
former Senior Police Chaplain, Jim
Pilmer wished the retirees ‘good
health and enjoyment of life’.
Welcoming the retirees Secretary
Designate Greg Davies told them
they were lost to the job too soon.
“We need people like the people
in this room like we have never
needed people before.
“You have all earned a happy
retirement. Your Association
thanks you for your years of service
and your loyal membership and
November 2008 The Police Association Journal
www.tpav.org.au

25
Secretary Designate Greg Davies
Rev Jim Pilmer says Grace.
assistance of colleagues in the
workplace. We owe you a great debt.”
President Brian Rix said that the
night was also for the Life Members
of the Association.
“The Association doesn’t give out
Life Membership lightly. The Life
Members have gone above and
beyond the call of duty to make the
lot of police officers over the years
a better one. That’s what gives
them Life Membership of this great
organisation.”
Brian then introduced our latest
Life Members Bill Kneebone and
Phil Cleggett.
Bill, a retired member, had been
an Executive Member for eight
years and was instrumental in
introducing the Emergency Services
Super scheme.
Phil, a serving sergeant, was an
Life Member Bill Kneebone.
Association Delegate from 1992
until 2007 and a vocal supporter
of The Police Association. His no
nonsense and tenacious approach
to improving the conditions of his
colleagues makes him well qualified
to accept his Life Membership of
The Police Association.
It was up to Gary Landy, who
retired as a Superintendent after
41 years in the job, to speak on
behalf of the retirees. He described
The Police Association as “an all
encompassing insurance policy
– rarely required when all was
going well but absolutely vital when
everything turned to crap.
“The services provided by the
Association are the solid back
up that allows the working police
officer to do their jobs most
effectively.”
Life Member Phil Cleggett.
Gary recalled that in 1967 when he
joined the job he received $24.00
a fortnight for a 40-hour week. In
1976, when he had a wife and three
children his circumstances had
changed significantly but his wages
had not.
“The Association’s persistence
regarding wage negotiations since
that time has resulted in members
today being paid, in my view, a fair
wage for their labour.”
Gary Landy also praised
the Association for the Legal
Representation Cost Fund and the
welfare and counselling services
provided to all members and their
families. His were sentiments felt by
all the retirees and their partners.
The Police Association wishes all
retirees a long, healthy and happy
retirement.
www.tpav.org.au The Police Association Journal November 2008