EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Paul McCue Phone (08) 8995 9520 www.ntpa.com.au ADVERTISER ALERT Boo Media is appointed by the Northern Territory Police Association as the authorised publisher of Northern Territory Police News. For enquiries regarding advertising in this magazine, please contact the publishers:
Contents MARCH 2018
PUBLISHER: Boo Media PTY Limited PO Box 19, Narrabeen, NSW 2101 Phone: (02) 8004 8612 Fax: (02) 8004 8611 info@boodigital.com.au ACN: 153 128 860 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS must be supplied on computer disk with hard copy (or by email to reception@ntpa.com.au) addressed to The Editor, Northern Territory Police News, GPO Box 2350, Darwin Northern Territory 0801. Northern Territory Police News is published by the Northern Territory Police Association Inc., Level 2, Suite 209 ‘Spirit on The Avenue’ 12 Salonika Street Parap NT 0820. Contents are subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Organisations which represent sworn police officers’ industrial interests, however, may reproduce any part of the content of Northern Territory Police News without written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor.
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The publisher accepts no responsibility for statements made by advertisers. DISCLAIMER Boo Media (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the Northern Territory Police Association, and the publication is offered for information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate. However, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Northern Territory Police Association make no representation, nor give any warranty or guarantee concerning the information provided. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publisher, its directors and employees.
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A battle for good health: Hayden Hunt tells his story
COPYRIGHT All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. ADVERTISING Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.
14
Col Goodsell's opinion on youth crime
Newman Memorial Weekend: Legacy Golf Day crew
07
President’s message
08
Field Officer's Report
10
Legal Report – ICAC
11
New member of Industrial team
14
Opinion: Young criminals must learn respect
17
Messages from our politicians
19
A battle for good health – a member’s story
23
Communications Officer's Report
26
Accelerated Recruit Program
30
Book Review – honouring those who gave their lives
31
Auxiliary Squad 53 graduation
32
Constable Recruit Squad 131 graduation
36
Newman Memorial Weekend
40
PFA – plans for Police Week
41
Health: What works best for long-term weight loss?
42
Resignations and Retirements
The NT Police Association is proudly supported by:
Cover photo: On the road (photo Jen)
MARCH 2018 05
president's Message
REGIONAL DELEGATES
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Term - 20 November 2017 to 31 October 2019 ACPO
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Chairperson Vacant Vice Chairperson Vacant Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Ellen Moore Ordinary Mem. 2 Vacant
Chairperson Craig Barrett Vice Chairperson Warren Jackson Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Janelle Tonkin Ord. Member 2 Vacant
AUXILIARY
DARWIN
Chairperson James Green Vice Chairp. Vacant Secretary Vacant Ord. Member 1 Melissa Bridgeman Ord. Member 2 Suzanne Seears
Chairperson Michael Valladares Vice Chairperson Nicholas Carter Secretary Jessica Lee Ord. Member 1 Josh Cunningham Ord. Member 2 Jason Conroy
BARKLY
NORTH EASTERN
Chairperson Darryl Beckmann Vice Chairperson Elizabeth Garwood Secretary Vacant Ord. Member 1 Adrian Hertman Ordinary Member 2 Peter Cousins
Chairperson Owen Blackwell Vice Chairperson Kim Chambers Secretary Brentley Holmes Ord. Member 1 Leighton Arnott Ord. Member 2 Stephen Nalder
BERRIMAH
PALMERSTON
Chairperson Kyle Ferricks Vice Chairperson Tim Hatton Secretary Matt Allen Ordinary Member 1 Alicia Harvey Ord. Member 2 Stephen McWilliams
Chairperson Colin Quedley Vice Chairperson Steve Downie Secretary Adam Goldsmith Ordinary Member 1 Joanna Stephen Ordinary Member 2 Ben Coleman
CASUARINA
SPECIALIST SERVICES
Chairperson Steve Rankine Vice Chairperson Malcom Marshall Secretary Dean Elliott Ordinary Member 1 Bryan Duffy Ordinary Member 2 Anthony Jones
Chairperson Neil Mellon Vice Chairperson Lisa Bayliss Secretary Stuart Short Ord. Member 1 Mark Clemmens Ordinary Member 2 Vacant
CENTRAL
SOUTHERN
Chairperson Matthew Ridolfi Vice Chairperson Nick Byrne Secretary Jason Dingle Ordinary Member 1 Blake Goodworth Ordinary Member 2 John Tickner
Chairperson Brodie Anderson Vice Chairperson Vacant Secretary Greg Burns Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Adam Swift
president's Message PAUL McCUE PRESIDENT
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
COL GOODSELL
CHRIS WILSON
NTPA Office
TISD
Alice Springs Station
VICE PRESIDENT
As we move through the first quarter of 2018, I would like to acknowledge everyone who participated in the January Consent Agreement ballot, with members overwhelmingly voting in favour of a new deal. CRISPIN GARGAN
IAN NANKIVELL
BRETT COTTIER
TREASURER
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Nightcliff Station
Events & Emergency Management
Crime Division
MARK TURNER
DAVE CUBIS
EXECUTIVE MEMBER Water Police
KYLIE PROCTOR
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
DFU Casuarina Police Station
PFES College
Delegates as at 22 November 2017
LEE MORGAN
EXECUTIVE MEMBER Watch Commander
SIMONE PETERKEN EXECUTIVE MEMBER Berrimah
JAKSON EVANS
EXECUTIVE MEMBER Katherine Station
EXECUTIVE SUB COMMITTEE & PANELS 2017/2018 FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEDAL ELIGIBILITY COMMITTEE
Treasurer Crispin Gargan (Chair), Paul McCue, Col Goodsell, Chris Wilson, Brett Cottier, Lee Morgan
Crispin Gargan, Kylie Proctor
Louise Jorgensen, Michael Hebb, Tony Henrys
Col Goodsell (Chair), Ian Nankivell Kylie Proctor, Lee Morgan, Mark Turner, Matt Marshall
SELECTIONS/TRANSFER PANEL OBSERVERS COMMITTEE
INABILITY/DISCIPLINARY APPEALS BOARD
MATT MARSHALL
TERRY SIMPSON
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
PFES College
Alice Springs Field Intelligence Section
PROMOTIONS APPEALS BOARD
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
NTPA STAFF MEMBERS
Rotation all Darwin based Executive Members
Louise Jorgensen, Michael Hebb, Tony Henrys
TRAINING AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE
Brett Cottier, Crispin Gargan, Paul McCue
Paul McCue (Chair), Chris Wilson Col Goodsell, Jakson Evans, Mark Soligo, Simone Peterken, Andrea Wyllie
UNIFORM & EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE
LEGAL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
WELFARE COMMITTEE
Chris Wilson (Chair), Brett Cottier, Jakson Evans, Mark Turner, Simone Peterken, Terry Simpson
Paul McCue (Chair), Dave Cubis, Ian Nankivell, Kylie Proctor, Terry Simpson
TESSA PRINGLE
MARK SOLIGO
ZOEY KELLAWAY
Executive & Compliance Officer
Field Officer
Administration Officer
Crispin Gargan, Matt Marshall
Paul McCue, President
We move now to finalise the certification process and ensure minimal delays are experienced for receiving backdated entitlements, effective 30 June 2017. This will apply to all members who are employed at the time of certification. I also thank you for your patience in what were ultimately longer than expected negotiations, eventually resolved through the conciliation process under the Police Arbitral Tribunal. On receipt of your backdated entitlements, and reflecting on the significant long-term outcomes which were endorsed, including retaining allowances on leave and improvements to workers compensation, we now look to identifying further elements of the Agreement to improve in the next round of negotiations. The identification of many workplace reforms underway (or about to get underway) within policing, will be critical over the next 12 to 18 months as we review the impact it will have on you, in your day-to-day roles. A key recommendation from conciliation is the establishment of a joint working group to review and recommend changes to the way remote policing is managed and resourced. The joint working group terms of reference, are to ensure current and past experienced remote officers can contribute to strategies for improving remote policing, and rectifying the many issues affecting bush policing. This is evidenced in the ongoing lack of applications for remote policing vacancies. Importantly, recommendations from the remote working party can be implemented as endorsed, and will not need to wait until the end of the new agreement, due to expire on 29 June 2019. The NTPA will also form part of this important process.
POLICE NUMBERS
as at 9 June 2017
06 NT POLICE NEWS
Finalising the new Consent Agreement
KYRRIE BLENKINSOP
ANDREA WYLLIE
Communication's Officer
Industrial Officer
In addition to the important follow-up work needed for the new agreement,
there will be further focus on government and the Commissioner delivering enough police to meet rostering needs. In January 2017, Chief Minister (and Police Minister), Michael Gunner, together with Commissioner Kershaw, committed to ending debate on how police numbers were counted, committing to the full time equivalent (FTE) number published each year in the annual report. A commitment was made by Territory Labor to recruit the additional 120 FTE by 2020, and recruiting has been increased to attempt to accommodate this, including the first full time squad (ARP 133) for Alice Springs. The NTPA will be monitoring this closely, with last year’s annual report revealing numbers had in fact gone backwards by nearly 9 FTE.
START THANKING THE POLICE
It would be nice to see as much commentary from the same people thanking the police for the incredibly difficult job they do in towns where ongoing and systematic failed government policy on the alcohol industry has resulted in police picking up the pieces on the frontline, time and time again. Stop blaming police, start thanking them.
STAFFING
Finally, the NTPA has welcomed two new staff to the team, with Communications Officer, Kyrrie Blenkinsop beginning in midDecember 2017, and our new Industrial Officer, Andrea Wyllie, commencing in early January 2018. Kyrrie comes to the NTPA with extensive experience in the media, both here and overseas, and will continue to work on all platforms of communications, including our social media. Kyrrie can be contacted at Kyrrie.Blenkinsop@ntpa.com.au Andrea comes to the NTPA following experience in a similar role at the Western Australian Police Union. Andrea will be your first point of contact for industrial, legal and discipline enquiries, and will work closely with our legal services provider, TGB. Andrea can be contacted at Andrea.Wyllie@ntpa.com.au
I was once again appalled to see yet another recent article and news story attempting to pass blame for alcohol related harm within the Alice Springs community over a perceived lack of police standing at bottle shops. It is somewhat frustrating that the same people, passing this misguided view, have seemingly lived within the confines of Alice Springs for years with little commentary on where the alcohol is coming from, including why there are so many takeaway outlets in Alice Springs. They sit silent on the very industry which has profiteered for decades on the harm and abuse of alcohol related violence, and see police as the only solution. It is time to stop passing the blame to police, and start asking the tough questions of President Paul McCue signing the new Consent the alcohol industry. They sell Agreement the alcohol, not the police.
MARCH 2018 07
Field officer's report
Well we certainly hit the ground running in 2018. Before the new year had even kicked off the President, our new Communications Officer, Kyrrie Blenkinsop (on her first NTPA road trip), and I were on the road travelling to Alice Springs, and Tennant Creek, to start the first round of presentations to members on the revised Consent Agreement offer, prior to it going to membership vote in mid-January.
Mark Soligo, Field Officer
On the road with the CA
These first round of presentations were backed up with a series of further presentations in Katherine, the three Darwin Stations and Peter McAulay Centre. All up, fifteen revised CA2017 presentations were presented to more than 160 members, in a quick two-week period across the Northern Territory. Unfortunately, due to the tight deadlines following the outcomes agreed to, during the Conciliation process, and the Christmas - New Year public holidays, we were unable to travel to bush stations, before the vote opened on 15th January. We were also conscious that any further delay in the voting period would have caused additional delays in the pay rise
being processed, so it was decided not to extend the time frames of the vote and hope that bush members could find all the information and access the online video and audio presentations we made available for them. This CA was a series of firsts. The first two-year agreement, the first time we have used electronic voting, which proved to be very successful. The first time we have used the Conciliation process through the Police Arbitral Tribunal and the first time I have been directly involved in the negotiation process, which was certainly an interesting and long 18-month journey. I would like to thank all our Regional
NTPA President, Paul McCue, presenting to Alice Springs members
8
NT POLICE NEWS
Delegates for the assistance they have offered us over this very long and drawn out Consent Agreement planning, negotiation, voting and conciliation process. Without your help, my job would have been ever harder. Of course, we get to do it all again in 12 months’ time for the start of negotiations for the 2019 agreement.
THE INDUSTRIAL SCENE
In 2018 we welcomed Andrea Wyllie as our new Industrial Officer. Andrea is a very experienced Industrial Officer, with many years’ experience working for Police members in Western Australia. The intention moving forward is that with Andrea now on board in her role, she will take on the bulk of the industrial and disciplinary related matters (she’s certainly been busy on that front); whilst I will retain Police housing, member welfare, NTPA membership, Regional Delegates and the more police operationally-based matters. Of course, I will continue to be available to assist members with any industrial or other matter as needed. This new structure is intended to free me up from the office so that I can be more field-based, giving me the opportunity to visit stations, particularly bush stations, on a more regular basis throughout the year (something I am looking forward to). It’s also planned for me to spend several days a month in Alice Springs and we have recently secured some office space in the Alice Plaza to facilitate this. As a result of the CA negotiations and final outcome there will be a
Consent Agreement presentation at Berrimah number of on-going projects this year. Most importantly the long overdue review into regional and remote policing. We all know how hard our bush members are working, and the ever-growing list of vacancies at remote and regional stations is just exacerbating the issues. I believe that this review is a fantastic opportunity to really look at the issues out bush, why we have so many vacancies and what we can do to make bush more attractive. It’s not all about the money, there are a whole range of reasons why members don’t want to work or stay bush. I urge members who have both recent and past NT Police bush experiences, both good and bad, to contribute to this very important project when the opportunity arises. This is the chance to really make a positive difference to bush policing in the Territory.
There will also be the implementation of the JESCC review recommendations which will include the transitioning of the AO3 Emergency Call Taker roles back to sworn Police Auxiliary roles and includes the transitional pay arrangements for Police Auxiliaries working in the JESCC. We welcome the former AO3 ECT’s to the ranks, as new Police Auxiliary members (and hopefully members of the NTPA). We will be working closely with Police Management to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible, for all affected members working in the JESCC. A number of other important reviews and projects that will be underway in 2018 include a review of the Promotional process, including the RKE, some work on the disciplinary process and of course the much-discussed Centralised Rostering project. Members can be assured that your Association will be there at the table advocating to ensure that all the necessary protections are there for members. It’s certainly going to be a busy year ahead. And finally, a remainder that if you hear or know of things that are happening in the workplace that you think the Association should know about (such as members injured or assaulted on duty, working one up at bush stations etc), give us a call or drop us an email to let us know. We rely on you, the members, to tell us about things that are affecting you in the workplace. Call the office on 8995 9520 or email MemberServices@ntpa.com.au
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Plato
Visiting Katherine station with Steve Asher from Fleet Network
MARCH 2018
9
Industrial/legal
HOW DOES THE ICAC OPERATE?
THE ICAC – Luke Officer, Senior Associate Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB)
how will it affect NT Police?
The Northern Territory is expected to have an AntiCorruption Commission in place by the middle of the year, following the passing of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act in November. The introduction of an ICAC raises questions for NTPA members.
The first thing you may question is what the implications are for you as a member of the force, and how it is different to the already well-established processes of disciplinary and criminal investigations within NT Police? The second question you will undoubtedly ask is: What are my rights if ICAC knock on my door? The first question can be answered with brevity. It is an entirely independent body provided with extensive powers to investigate your conduct as a public officer. The powers available to the ICAC, and obligations placed on you to comply with them, are what distinguish it from the current practices and powers of NT Police. The second question is a more complex, the answer lies in an intricate web of common law and statutory rights.
WHAT IS THE ICAC’S PURPOSE?
The ICAC’s role is to investigate “improper conduct within public office”. Police Officers are defined as “public officers” in the legislation. Improper conduct is then defined as any of the following: Corrupt conduct is conduct in public office that constitutes a criminal offence for which a penalty of imprisonment of 2 or more years applies, or conduct that could warrant termination of employment, or conduct that could impair public confidence. Misconduct is conduct in public office that constitutes an offence for which a penalty of a fine or imprisonment of less than 2 years applies, or conduct that could constitute grounds for taking disciplinary action. Unsatisfactory conduct is conduct in public office that involves illegality or impropriety, negligence, incompetence that results in mismanagement or inappropriate use of public resources, dereliction of duty, or significant detriment to the public interest. It is important to note that for the conduct to be categorised as any of the above it must be conduct related
10 NT POLICE NEWS
to the performance of official functions, involving the use of public resources or involving the use of authority. It is not just positive action that is caught either, as omissions or failure to do something can also constitute improper conduct. It is impossible to consider all the possible permutations of improper conduct. That is because the interpretations for impugned conduct are wide. For example, on one interpretation, it is open to the ICAC to investigate a police officer who speeds whilst on duty without cause. Ordinarily, such a matter may be dealt with by way of an expiation notice. In reality, it is unlikely that the ICAC would become involved in such an investigation under the new regime. The ICAC is designed to rid the public administration of systemic, serious, and willful forms of improper conduct. It is not expected that low-level matters will congest the ICAC.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Any witness summonsed to an examination before ICAC is under strict confidentiality conditions. Ordinarily you are only given permission to discuss it with your lawyer or your medical consultant. You cannot discuss with any other person (including your partner) that you have been summonsed to the ICAC unless express permission is granted by the Commissioner on request. Breaching the confidentiality provisions can be an offence. Confidentiality of proceedings can be waived by the Commissioner. However, most matters are conducted in private.
OBLIGATIONS
It is expected that once the draft legislation is passed, guidelines will be issued with respect to those public bodies and officers who will be subjected to mandatory reporting. In other words, it is possible and indeed likely that police will be obliged to report improper conduct. Failure to do would likely be an offence against the ICAC Act.
The operation of ICAC requires there to be a complaint of some variety actually made. The ICAC will then determine whether to investigate the matter itself, or refer it to a ‘referral entity’. For example, a complaint may be received and the ICAC can refer that to the Commissioner of Police to investigate, or to Police if it is criminal in nature, or directly to the Director of Public Prosecutions with or without recommendations. There is also the scope for the ICAC to jointly investigate with any of the above entities.
POWERS
The ICAC’s powers are vast. As part of any investigation, the ICAC can compel a person to attend and give evidence. The ICAC has powers to enter the premises of public bodies or a public officer and, with a warrant, any private residence of a public officer. It can search premises and seize any items of relevance, and perform searches on a person. The ICAC, when entering or searching premises, can issue a direction to the public body or public officer to provide specific information or produce certain items in their possession.
YOUR RIGHTS
Above all, you have the right to legal representation during any examination by the ICAC. Lawyers can lead evidence from you during an examination or provide submissions on your behalf.
If you are summonsed to the ICAC there are certain privileges afforded to you. The first is you do not have to disclose any contents of your discussion with your lawyer – that is protected by lawyer/client privilege. You can also claim the privilege against self-incrimination, but only if the information you provide is an admission about different matters not before the ICAC. You otherwise need to comply with the summons and answer questions truthfully. It is important to note, however, that your evidence cannot be used in any subsequent proceeding to prosecute you for a criminal offence, unless the Supreme Court orders it can be released for that purpose. There are also certain protections afforded to you if your evidence is considered to be of a “whistle blowing” nature. Generally, if you are suspected of improper conduct, or you are a witness, you will be provided particulars of the nature of the investigation. There may be occasions that the matter is of such a sensitive nature that this does not occur and you literally find out at the hearing.
SUMMARY
Not every instance where you are summonsed to ICAC is because you are suspected of improper conduct. You may be a witness. In any case, with strict confidentiality, the ICAC is not to be approached lightly. It is crucial you seek legal advice so you can be guided through the entire process.
FROM THE INDUSTRIAL OFFICER
Andrea Wyllie, Industrial Officer
What an exciting start to the new year this has been, an interstate move for myself and my family, a fantastic new role doing the job I love (in an amazing part of the country), and to top it off a record breaking monsoon to welcome me back! I’m not sure things could get any better.
By way of introduction, let me tell you a little bit about myself; I relocated from Western Australia about six
weeks ago where I was working in the same position with the Western Australian Police Union (WAPU), and I am very passionate about my role as an Industrial Officer. In 2014, when I was also working for WAPU, my husband began work at INPEX, and as a family we decided to relocate to the Northern Territory, for the adventure of a lifetime. We rented properties in Humpty Doo and Berry Springs and got a real taste for the “Territory Life”. Sadly, my husband’s contract ended after 12 months and we had to pack up and move back to WA. So, when the opportunity presented itself, for us to get back up here, I grabbed it with both hands. Prior to my departure from WAPU, WA had just finished negotiations for the 2017 Industrial Agreement. Even though the majority of members voted yes, the offer on the table was dismal, due to the draconian nature of the State Wages Policy which was set at a flat $1000 per year regardless of rank. WAPU challenged the policy with vigour, which saw members resort to standing down and effectively “going on strike”
(as much as any Police Officer can, without putting lives in danger), still the Western Australian Government would not budge. It was an interesting time for me to step into my new role with the NTPA, after negotiations had finished and a second offer was put on the table for NT Police Officers, which far outshone the offer WA had just accepted. It is my understanding this was long drawn-out process and took a lot of hard work from the negotiating team, which is commendable. The result is a very sound and fair deal for NTPA members. I have seen firsthand the working relationship between the NT Police representatives and the NTPA, and look forward to working in what appears to be an effective consultative environment. I've had the pleasure of getting out and about this past six weeks and meeting some hard-working Territory cops in Katherine, Alice Springs and many of the stations in the Darwin Metropolitan Command and look forward to meeting many more of you in the months to come.
MARCH 2018 11
From Parliament
Hon. Michael Gunner MLA
Lia Finocchiaro MLA
Reece P Kershaw APM
Chief Minister, Minister for Police
Deputy Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister for Police
Commissioner of Police
The uniform of the Northern Territory police represents more than authority, or justice, or the power to drag criminals off the streets.
Dressed in that uniform you are our leaders and role models; not only our protection, but our comfort. And I stress that while you are regularly in harm’s way for our good, we will never tolerate harm upon you. The uniform and those with the courage to fill it have earned, and will receive, respect. On behalf of all Territorians, I thank you for your service and remind you that I, the Government and the communities you serve will always have your backs. There is no better recent example of your collective service than the Christmas school holiday period. While most of us were winding down, you were winding up for some of the most important, and challenging, police work of the year. Your efforts across the Territory, including Operation Shulton in Alice Springs and Roble in Darwin, are recognised, admired and appreciated. We now turn our focus to the year ahead. For me, it is about equipping you with the tools and time to do your jobs better - building on reforms like the Banned Drinkers Register, body-worn video and electronic monitoring. This means more police on the rosters – 120 over the term of Government - including 32 in the coming weeks as part of an accelerated recruit program. We are building new stations in Palmerston and Nightcliff; upgrading Katherine; and our $45 million replacement of the aging PROMIS system will transform the way you work. We are also easing the burden on police caused by and anti-social behaviour and itinerancy through the new Larrakia Nation Day Patrol and a five-year funding deal for the Connect to Country Program (formerly Return to Country). I’m pleased we can now look ahead to a productive 2018 with the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement overwhelmingly accepted by members. I thank the NTPA executive and members for their work reaching this outcome. And I thank all serving members for their service to the Territory in making our communities stronger.
16 NT POLICE NEWS
The Opposition welcomed the news that the Territory’s Police have a pay deal finalised.
We were glad to hear that there was finally an industrial offer that you were happy to vote yes to, despite the prolonged negotiations process. But we appreciate being a Police Officer is not about money. We recognise that remuneration is important, but so are the conditions that you work under, including ensuring you have access to leave, training and the best facilities and equipment available. Resourcing factors such as this, including your pay and conditions, work to ensure that the Territory is attracting the best people for the job, and that they’re happy to enjoy long and fulfilling careers as Territory Police Officers. You have told us that resourcing is the backbone of many of your concerns on the ground. This is of course only heightened by the vast areas of the Territory you police and the distances between stations, communities and back up. As an Opposition, we would like to see that the Territory’s Police Force and major, regional and remote stations are provided with everything they need to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. This includes ensuring that as law makers, we continue to work to see that there is appropriate legislation available for you to use on the frontline and that it reflects community concerns and standards. Like you and the Police Association, we’re concerned about the worrying trend of increased assaults on Police. It is simply not good enough that there is still a portion of the community who think it’s appropriate to assault a Police Officer, or anyone including your fellow frontline workers, while they’re at work, or otherwise. As a community we need to make sure we call out this behaviour and deal with it appropriately. It is not OK for you or your colleagues to be assaulted at work. This year, we expect that some of the recommendations of the Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review will be implemented. The Review, by Trevor Riley, is a significant body of work which we recognise will have implications for Police Officers too. We will listen to you, as well as other members of the community, as we ensure that the recommendations that are implemented by the Government are sensible and help make the Territory a safer place. I look forward to working with the Police Association throughout 2018. Thank you for keeping Territorians safe.
2017 has seen us continue to implement a values led, diverse and inclusive workplace. While we reflect on the events and achievements of the past year, it’s important to look forward and prepare for the challenges of 2018.
During the lead up to Christmas and New Year period, I visited a number of police stations around the Territory. It was great to see so many of you going about your duties in such a committed and enthusiastic manner. Those that I spoke to shared some of the challenges they had experienced in 2017, and what stood out to me was the professionalism and the positive energy. Walking the beat on New Year’s Eve was a reminder of the sacrifices each of you make, every day, 24/7 and often in difficult conditions. I observed the dedication to, and challenges faced, by all of you dealing with intoxicated people, concerns for welfare, mental health, social order issues and related crimes. This commitment also extended from our JESCC members, receiving high volumes of calls and dispatching jobs, through to those of you that work in our Watch Houses, providing the highest level of care to people in our custody. I would also like to pass on my congratulations with the result in the recent ballot for the Northern Territory Police Force Consent Agreement. Thank you to everybody that was involved in the negotiation process, which concluded in a positive outcome for all. It is now time to embrace the opportunities available to us in 2018; it will be an opportunity to be innovative, not only at an organisational level, but also at an individual level. As a Police Force, it will be the year to drive positive cultural change, champion diversity and inclusion, promote health and wellbeing as well as continuing our focus on recruitment. I will continue to focus on supporting all of you, including those stationed in remote communities, committing to workforce optimisation and enhanced technology solutions. This work will create efficiencies for the frontline and provide enhanced internal communication. The implementation of the SerPro Program (PROMIS replacement) will also commence this year. The Healthy Lifestyles Program is another new initiative that I encourage all of you to participate in. Some members in the Katherine region recently participated in the program, and it was very pleasing to see so many members take up the opportunity to identify areas for positive change to safeguard their health going into the future. The NT Police Force are currently achieving another historical milestone with 32 experienced police officers
completing Accelerated Recruitment Program (ARP) undertaking training in Alice Springs. Upon the graduation, they will be deployed to Alice Springs and the Southern Command. This is part of our four year police recruitment plan, which is well underway, with the training college operating at capacity levels. This year we will continue to lead the fight against alcohol related offending in an effort to reduce social harm. I look forward to actively assisting in the implementation of the Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review led by former Chief Justice Trevor Reilly. As a member of the whole of government Alcohol Review Implementation Steering Committee, I will continue to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations. It is time the conversation changed around policing licenced takeaway outlets. The focus should be on ensuring appropriate oversight of licenced take away outlets, so that effective and appropriate regulations are abided by the outlets with a primary focus on limiting alcohol supply to vulnerable communities. It has been proven that reducing the sale of takeaway alcohol leads to a reduction in social harm. Prevention of Domestic Violence and Youth Offending will be another key focus of ours in 2018, and will require us to focus on building capability through partnerships with other agencies, including utilising the Territory Intelligence Coordination Centre. In June 2018, the NT Police will host the second Indigenous Family Violence Policing Conference in Yirrkala in Arnhem Land. We have partnered with the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto to share initiatives and strategies towards influencing real change to, and the reduction of, incidences of Domestic Violence within Indigenous communities. I would like to acknowledge the personal commitment of all of you to your duties, and that together we will continue to deliver positive outcomes for the community. I look forward to working with you all into 2018.
MARCH 2018 17
Member's story
Policing 'family' rally around Territory Officer battling cancer Police Officer Health – By Hayden Hunt
Victoria Police SOG in 2007 – old school room clearance training
I wrote this article with the purpose of sharing a story about my battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. Some of the signs, symptoms and situations that occurred could have been identified and diagnosed earlier and possibly saved a lot of heartache and complications. This is a ‘glass half full’ story without the victimology, and hopefully not the drama.
I requested an opportunity to share this experience, in the hope Northern Territory Police members and their families could possibly gain some insight and information to monitor their health a little better than I did, up to this point. I also wrote this to acknowledge the overwhelming support which the Northern Territory Police and its members – my colleagues, have shown me when faced with my diagnosis and treatment. MY BACKGROUND HISTORY
I joined the Northern Territory Police in September 2015 as an ARP (Accelerated Recruitment Program) officer. My initial career with Victoria Police spanned 15 years and involved working in general duties uniform, investigations and almost a decade as a Tactical Operator within the Victoria Police Special Operations Group (SOG), specialising as a police marksman. In 40 years, there have only been around 250 members in the SOG. In Victoria the SOG fulfills a similar role to the Northern Territory Response Group (TRG), responding to high-risk arrest of armed offenders, kidnapping resolution and counter terrorism. With 30 members for all of Victoria and an operational tempo of 400 tasks a year, we were on-call for long periods of time. Many tactical operators only last four years, and after eight and a half, I was keen for a career change. I am the first SOG member to ever make the move to the Northern Territory Police. The Territory called to us, following my wife’s pursuit of remote nursing contracts in small communities in the NT. I spent time in 2014 travelling to the NT, speaking to Northern Territory Police along the way to learn more about the organisation. We were both excited to take ourselves and our dogs on an adventure to experience a unique part of Australia and were eager and enthusiastic to begin our new life. So, we took the plunge and relocated to Alice Springs, much to the disbelief of our friends and colleagues in Melbourne.
LEARNING THE NEW (OLD) JOB
I began my new role in Alice Springs, in December 2015, and from the beginning, it was a completely different ride. Getting my head around Northern Territory Police general duties uniform and the different legislation was a challenge. Guarding bottle shops was a test to my patience and ego, but I had researched and was fully aware of this aspect of my new role. I had previously completed the National Counter Terrorism Committee (NCTC) course with a number of Northern Territory Police TRG members. One of the Alice Springs 18 NT POLICE NEWS
IRT Training Course with TRG in April 2016 Darwin
Sergeants, whom was an ex-TRG member, remembered me from our marksman/sniper training in Sydney from years earlier. Recognising my specialist skill set and experience, he involved me in the previously named Cordon and Containment Team now re-named the Immediate Response Team (IRT), which is a small team from Alice Springs that respond to critical incidents until TRG can arrive from Darwin to relieve. I was privileged enough to be sent to Darwin to conduct a ‘train the trainer course’ with the TRG and return to Alice Springs and assist on a training course to qualify the new IRT members. I was enjoying my new role as a Territory Cop and the strange and unique experiences that came my way.
HEALTH DECLINE – PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND DOCTORS
I have always had a strong constitution and a high level of fitness. I rarely got sick, despite my wife bringing home the occasional illness from her work in the emergency department. My wife would get frustrated as she would always get ill, and I would just keep bounding along unscathed. MARCH 2018 19
POLICE OFFICER HEALTH In March 2017, I began to notice something was really wrong with my health. I was tired all the time and struggling with my running endurance, and physical training. I had been to a doctor in August 2016, due to nasal congestion and an ongoing cough. Following some blood tests, I was diagnosed with allergies to desert plants. I had never experienced allergies in my life! This was further supported by an optometrist who, during an eye examination, found that the back of my eyes was inflamed – an allergic response. Clearly, Central Australia was not agreeing with me! Due to my wife and her persistent pressure I saw another doctor for the ongoing wheezy cough and fatigue. My wife insisted that she attend with me, to ensure I didn’t miss any of my symptoms – and to ensure I got a chest x-ray. The examination felt very rushed and the doctor refused to do a chest x-ray, stating that it wasn’t necessary at this stage. He diagnosed me with asthma and prescribed some puffers.
My wife was furious that the doctor didn’t listen to our concerns and requests considering the duration of the symptoms and respect for her medical experience. She was also angry that I didn’t insist on further tests to rule out any underlying illness. I steadfastly held the view that I bound through all illness and I’m ‘bomb proof’ so I would eventually get over this. My wife believed that a trip to the Emergency Department was the next step, however, I put it off, confident that ‘she’ll be right’ - I’m just getting older. Stubborn fool. By June 2017, my lung function had reduced so much that I was becoming short of breath with minimal exertion and could no longer run or do any cardio exercise without a coughing fit. This was really concerning. I was used to running long distances and pushing hard. I was getting bizarre back pain (which I believed to be due to the weight of my policing belt) and occasional night sweats. I was pale and had lost some weight. I hope some of my work colleagues read this, as it may answer why I was struggling at work with simple tasks. I was exhausted!
IRT training in 2017
THE CORRECT DOCTOR
My luck changed when I attended a new doctor to get an annual skin cancer check. I had lost my father to Melanoma in 2013, so I got skin checks yearly. This particular doctor specialised in skin checks and had a specific focus on health checks for over 40’s, who she believed to be the at risk age group for identifying and preventing chronic disease. After my skin assessment the doctor stated that she was more concerned about my appearance, putting it bluntly she said ‘’you look like sh*t mate”. Knowing my previous background required sound cardiovascular fitness she could not rationalise my poor health. She noticed my shortness of breath just standing up in her office. We had a good laugh and then began to discuss my health issues. Lots of questions were asked and a full health assessment including bloods and lung function were conducted. I also mentioned a small lump which I noticed a month or so ago on the right side of my neck. I hadn’t told my wife about the lump, so it was just another thing to add to her list of frustrations towards my attitude to my health. My blood results showed some minor concerns and changes. However, for my age and with the associated symptoms, my doctor was concerned that they weren’t quite normal and wanted to rule out any serious diagnoses such as Leukemia and Lymphoma. She referred me to the hospital for more testing, including a chest x-ray, CT and biopsy. I presented to the Emergency Department for further testing. My initial doctor reviewing the specialist’s referral, didn’t agree with her medical opinion and actually said ‘let me tell you, you do not have Lymphoma’ – without doing any further tests. He also didn’t see the need for a chest x-ray. I do not say this to criticise the doctor I saw at Alice Springs Hospital, but when it’s your health you must push sometimes. My wife had finally had enough. “We will not leave this hospital until you complete these tests,” she said.
The CT scan and chest x-ray showed possible Lymphoma cancer, which was above and below my diaphragm and had moved to small nodules in my lungs. A biopsy of the small neck mass was required for formal diagnosis. I advised the Alice Springs Police Station, and the Officer in Charge was in my hospital room as soon as humanly possible, coordinating the situation in relation to my work and need for sick leave. I was medically-evacuated to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, in Queensland, for the biopsy. Queensland was an obvious choice for us, due to family support and accommodation for us if we were to get some bad news. My biopsy results determined that I had Advanced Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and it had spread to lungs and bone marrow. I was in a lot of trouble. Amazingly this insidious disease had completely concealed itself inside my body. Usually, even at early stages, there are large lumps either in the neck, armpit or groin. I had one, the size of a pea, on my neck. One of the positives to come out of this diagnosis was the fact that, with treatment, there was a high success rate of beating this type of cancer. Of course, it would have been preferable to have had the diagnosis at an earlier stage.
My treating Hematologist believed this disease would have been present with the onset of my cough, which was approximately early 2016. He also said that people often don’t get a diagnosis until they see up to three doctors.
MISTAKES
I clearly made a lot of mistakes in this situation. I ignored my body. I ignored my wife. I allowed doctors to not investigate properly, and did not push my own health agenda in the face of growing evidence that something wasn’t right. Medical practitioners do the best they can, but there is nothing stopping you speaking up and making demands. It’s your health and possibly your life. Police Assistance and Northern Territory Benefits Once we had a diagnosis, everything happened very quickly. It was determined that I would need at least six months of chemotherapy, depending on my body’s response. It was a shock for me having never been sick in my life, to now needing surgeries, chemicals, medications, blood tests – so many needles! During this time my colleagues within NT Police and the Northern Territory Police Association provided myself and my wife with as much help and support that we needed.
Left: Undergoing chemotherapy; right: A new look post chemo
RESULTS
Victoria Police SOG 2007 – Qualified
20 NT POLICE NEWS
Well, as you probably guessed, my chest x-ray was abnormal. Subsequently, the doctor became quite sheepish in telling me that I would, in fact, need all the tests which my specialist had referred me for.
MARCH 2018 21
Communications
POLICE OFFICER HEALTH
from the Communications Officer
2009 snow survival course in alpine Victoria
A baptism of fire I currently look like a pale, bald, puffy faced ape (thanks to the steroids) hovering in the garden doing meditation, but I assure you that appearances are a very distant concern compared to survival. On the 24th of January, 2018, I was told I’m in full remission, with one last treatment-cycle for good luck. My doctor seems very impressed with this amazing achievement, but it’s hard to tell his level of excitement as he doesn’t give much away. I believe a positive outlook and engaging in meditation and yoga has also contributed to my treatment success. Our mind is a powerful tool and can certainly help us to heal, through focus, and for me, settling my active mind.
CONCLUSIONS
Who knows where this disease came from – it has been linked to an immune response caused by an infection or allergies and a strong link with stress. My colleagues at the Alice Springs Police Station and past colleagues from Victoria Police Special Operations Group raised funds which greatly assisted my wife to fly back to Alice to organise our belongings and get our car, and dogs to Queensland to be with us. The amazing outpouring of generosity made me incredibly grateful for all the Police members and unknown people who have assisted us, and continue to do so. The sick leave benefits afforded to the Northern Territory Police, must be one of the greatest of any organisation in Australia. I still receive a wage whilst going through this crisis, and receive support for return to work.
I feel a sense of immense gratitude that the Northern Territory Police Association has protected the benefit of unlimited sick leave.
The Association needs to keep this benefit for its members because, if someone like me can get struck down with a disease like this, we all need the peace of mind of this amazing cover.
MOVING FORWARD
Within two months of starting treatment, I achieved the amazing result of the cancer being eliminated from my lungs, bone marrow and most of my lymph glands. I still though, had a very small area of active cancer cells in part of my chest. Due to concerns this area being resistant, I was upgraded to a more intense chemotherapy regime. This meant a tougher road ahead, with a worsening of side effects and health problems. Sometimes, the smell of the antiseptics, or just looking at the cancer nurses makes me feel nauseous.
22 NT POLICE NEWS
As Police Officers, whether illness is physical or mental, we need the courage to ask for help.
Although many of the Alice Springs members know me as a ‘nice guy’, I assure you there was a time in my previous jurisdiction that ‘tough guy’ went with the territory of being a tactical operator, or you wouldn’t have lasted five minutes at the SOG. The idea of asking for help would never have been considered. It just seems this same old story plays out again, and again. People ignore their body and make the mistakes I made, and become too far advanced in illness to change an outcome. My father, a Melbourne Fire Brigade officer and an accomplished athlete followed this same path with melanoma cancer in 2013. He ignored all the symptoms which resulted in the illness being terminal. I make this request to please stay safe out there and monitor your health whether physical or mental. If something is not right, get it checked. See a doctor, see a psychologist. If you are not happy with what you are told, seek a second opinion - or even a third. These decisions may save your life. I believe I have won this battle and I will not see cancer back. The odds are in my favour, according to my doctor. I will now focus on rebuilding my health and fitness after being pumped full of chemicals – which have saved my life. I am absolutely driven to come out of this a better person. I will be focusing on what matters most in life, with a strong focus on stress management. I’m so grateful to have the next chapter in my life ahead of me and will never waste a single moment. I will cherish this gift of getting to stay alive for hopefully another 40 years! Thank you again for all your ongoing care and support!
I generally try to avoid clichés like the plague, but my first few weeks with the NT Police Association could be described, as nothing other than a baptism of fire. I arrived just a few weeks out from Christmas, smack-bang in the middle of Consent Agreement negotiations, a process I was grossly unfamiliar with.
Kyrrie Blenkinsop Communications Officer
Between the Christmas and New Years’ break I was cordially bundled on a plane down to Alice Springs to help launch the next round of CA roadshow presentations. Cue a crash-course in NTPA bargaining, and without sounding like a complete fan-girl, an immediate recognition and respect of how hard our President Paul and Field Officer Solly (and all the men and women behind the scenes) have worked to secure some excellent long-term outcomes for our members. One of my main aims in this role is to promote more positive stories about policing in the Territory. I want to help showcase the unique and rewarding aspects of, specifically, remote and regional policing – in the hope more people put their hand up to give it a go. So, if you’ve got a story you think the rest of us should know about – please get in touch kyrrie.blenkinsop@ntpa. com.au – we’d love to hear from you!
THE MEDIA & THE MACHINE
Whether
you
religiously
turn
on
Paul McCue speaking with Katie Woolf
Channel Nine’s 6.00pm news, avidly listen to 105.7 ABC Radio Darwin, can’t wait to open the front page of the NT News each morning, or divorce the traditional media in favour of online content, the media as a whole plays an incredibly important newsgathering role in our society. (Whether you personally see that content as ‘newsworthy’ is obviously a different matter altogether) To borrow another timeworn cliché, ‘if it bleeds, it leads’. Somewhere along the way, news evolved from a simple public service into a ratings and circulation juggernaut. Every outlet obsessed with the exclusive story, or the ‘money shot’ - that picture that perfectly captures the desperation of a family battling to cyclone-proof their home before a category five storm hits, or the grief of a mother who’s just been told her son was involved in a high-speed car crash. This fear-based reporting style often sees the media labelled vultures, preying on people at their most vulnerable. Herein lies the battle for Public Relations, to promote the positive among the doom and gloom.
Traditionally the Police Force has had a turbulent relationship with the media. It’s a constant struggle to curtail leaks, prevent specifics of sensitive operational matters becoming public, while depending on the media to help deliver important community safety announcements. In my current role, I often joke it’s liberating being on the ‘other side’ (after years of being stonewalled), where Police Officers actually want to talk to me! I recognise the value of a carefully crafted and coordinated response, but silence can sometimes lead to a culture of suspicion or whistle-blowing. That is, in no way, directed at the hard-working men and women of the NT Police, but rather the people who are in a position to convey messages on behalf of the Force. Having worked both sides of the PR machine: whether it be bluntly demanding information from an uncooperative government department, or popping up a covert roadblock between a key talking head and a journalist on a suspected fishing expedition, I thrive on being part of the news cycle. And I staunchly believe the key to successful Public Relations is relationships: keeping the communication channels open. It’s up to media departments to work proactively with newsrooms, particularly when navigating unfavourable or adverse publicity, or risk crickets and tumbleweeds when trying to flog a ‘good news story’.
The media is—really, the word, I think one of the greatest of all terms I've come up with—is fake. I guess other people have used it perhaps over the years, but I've never noticed it.
Donald Trump
MARCH 2018 23
Nt Police Ranks Get Welcome Boost continued
FRASER JACKSON NEW ZEALAND Q Why did you originally join the police force?
“I just always wanted to join the A Police, I’d wanted to do it for a number of years before I joined. I was in the Police over in New Zealand for 16 years. I had a threeyear break, we owned a Subway franchise in Cromwell, sold that and moved over here (to Alice Springs).” Q Why did you decide to apply for the NT Police?
A “I know quite a few Kiwis who have come over previously, so hearing their experiences, it was just the right time of my life to do it. And it’s good opportunities over here.” Q What do you think of Alice Springs so far?
A “Love it. Never been here before, and I’m loving it so far. The weather, the heat takes a bit of getting used to, but the amenities and the people in the town have been fantastic, so far.” Q How does the training compare with your previous jurisdiction?
A “It’s a different training environment, because prior-learning is acknowledged, so it’s a different style of training. I’ve got no set plans at this stage, just going to take it as it comes. But we’ve got no intentions of leaving Alice at this stage.”
28 NT POLICE NEWS
BINDI BLAIR WESTERN AUSTRALIA Q Which jurisdiction have you come from? A “Western Australia. I was an officer there for 14 years.”
ELLENA MANUKAU NEW ZEALAND Q Which jurisdiction have you come from?
Q Why did you decide to apply for the NT Police? “I have family in the Northern A Territory, and I like the NT.”
A “I was a serving member in the New Zealand Police for almost 12 years. It was the right time for both my partner and I to make a change in our circumstances. I was feeling complacent and was after a totally different challenge.
Q What do you think of Alice Springs so far?
Q Why did you decide to apply for the NT Police?
A “I’m enjoying it so far, it’s a nice town and the people are friendly.”
Q How does the training compare with your previous jurisdiction? A “So far, the training is good. It’s maybe too early to compare to WA training, but appears similar in style,”
A “I have been here a few times before to visit friends and family and liked it. Although money is great here, it’s not everything, and now with numerous different factors, children are grown, need new challenges at work, planning ahead for retirement etc, making the move is right for both my partner and I. Q What do you think of Alice Springs so far? A “I love it. I realise, there will be things that I don’t like but like anything, you accept things and work with what you have.”
Q How does the training compare with your previous jurisdiction? A “A lot of it is a refresher which is great. You can never get too much training. There are a few computer systems that takes a bit of getting use too, but the concept of policing is the same, or should be the same no matter where you go. If you live and breathe your core values, you can’t go wrong.”
HARLEY ERUERA NEW ZEALAND Q Why did you originally join the Police Force?
A “I have come from the New Zealand Police, based out of Auckland, where I served from February 2014, to January 2018. Being a Police Officer is something I always wanted to do, even as a little kid. Q Why did you decide to apply for the NT Police? A “I was attracted to the lifestyle and the varying challenges that come with policing in the Territory. Also with a young family I thought it would be an amazing opportunity for us to experience life outside of our comfort zone.” Q What do you think of Alice Springs so far? A “I love it! Everyone has been really friendly and willing to give advice or lend a hand if its needed. The scenery here is second to none!”
Q How does the training compare with your previous jurisdiction? “There are a lot of similarities, A procedural wise. I think the biggest thing operationally to get my head around is going to be the IT systems. From a policing perspective, from what I’ve seen, the social issues around alcohol and alcohol-related offending are more prevalent than back home. “
BRENDON YOUNG NEW ZEALAND Q Why did you originally join the Police Force?
A “I joined for the excitement and opportunities, to help the community and challenge myself. I was with New Zealand Police for 11 years, starting in 2007. In that time, I worked in four districts, Auckland City, Bay of Plenty (Taupo), Waikato Rural East (Thames), and The Royal New Zealand Police College. Mainly frontline General Duties, a stint on Tactical Crime Unit targeting highvolume offences/offenders, Highway Patrol and Road Policing, with my last position at RNZPC as a recruit instructor driver trainer.” Q Why did you decide to apply for the NT Police?
Q What do you think of Alice Springs so far?
A “Nice. Loving it. Everyone in town that I’ve had something to do with has been very friendly and helpful. And again, the climate!! Plus, there are no crocodiles in the wild here, although there was a red back spider in the kitchen last week.” Q How does the training compare with your previous jurisdiction? A “A bit hard to answer so early into it. Some of the processes seem to be lagging NZ. However, the staff and trainers have been awesome. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and approachable. Keep it up!”
A “The climate (it’s amazing), a new challenge, a different lifestyle, and I’m not afraid to say the remuneration. We’ve got good friends with families similar to us, who made the transition from NZPOL to Alice a few years ago and have recommended it to us back in 2016, and again last year. I have an amazing wife and three sons aged eight, seven and two who were all in for the change.”
MARCH 2018 29
Graduation
CONSTABLE RECRUIT SQUAD 131 AWARD WINNERS Physical Training Trophy Constable Remy Saunders recruited from the Northern Territory and posted to Tennant Creek Glen Huitson Medal Constable Atul Dogra recruited from the Northern Territory and posted to Alice Springs The Commissioner’s Trophy Constable Michael Bishop recruited from the Northern Territory posted to Wadeye The Rod Evans Memorial Trophy Constable Rebecca Payne recruited from the Northern Territory and posted to Darwin
Squad 131 Award winners
Recruit Squad 131
Constable Recruit Squad 131 join the job The Territory has welcomed 28 new Constables to Alice Springs, Wadeye, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Casuarina, Darwin and Palmerston, following the graduation of Recruit Squad 131 on December 1st, 2017
Thanks Jen! A special thanks to member Jen, who is a regular contributor to NTPA social media.
She's also kindly provided our lovely front cover picture, and her snaps can regularly be seen on the NTPA Facebook page.
Thanks Jenny! NTPA President Paul McCue presented Constable Atul Dogra with the Glen Huitson Medal, for the most consistent application in all areas of training throughout the Recruit Training Course. Speaking with NT Police News from his new post in Alice Springs, Atul said it was his childhood dream to become a Police Officer. “Many of my family members have served in the Army and I always wanted to follow in their footsteps and serve the community. Territory Police gave me that opportunity three years ago when I joined as an Auxiliary, and now this in the next step forward. “I have been working in the Community Youth and Engagement Team (CYET) which has given me a chance to look at the proactive side of policing. I am dealing with stakeholders and visiting various businesses around the Alice Springs CBD. I can see that people working in the CYET have developed a great rapport with the local youth which are, in turn, helping solve crime and providing a great source of intel for the department,” he said.
32 NT POLICE NEWS
On being awarded the Glen Huitson Medal, Atul said it was a “great feeling”. “Receiving an award on top of that (graduating as a Constable) has made my college time all the more fruitful. I am grateful to be chosen for such a prestigious award.” Constable Rebecca Payne was awarded the Rod Evans Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the highest academic achievement in all examinations conducted during the Recruit Training Course. Immediately following graduation, Rebecca said she was looking forward to getting out on the road and gaining experience in as many different areas as possible. Her husband Senior Sergeant Bruce Payne and brother in law Senior Constable Steven Payne are both long-serving members of the NT Police Force. Rebecca begins her policing career in Darwin, along with four of her fellow squad mates. Congratulations and welcome to the Territory Police family, Constable Squad 131!
MARCH 2018 33
lawyers
Newman Memorial
Newman Memorial Weekend by Executive member Kylie Proctor
As Police Officers, we all know that having a support network of family and friends is critical to our mental health and wellbeing. But what happens to those support networks when something catastrophic happens to one of us?
Capes family members at the memorial site
NT members with Phil Ruland's nieces Amy and Jess and nephews Christopher and Nicholas
Behind every strong Police Officer there is an even stronger family who stands by them, supports them and loves them with all their heart.
36 NT POLICE NEWS
Unfortunately, four police families were left asking that very question on Australia Day, 2001. On that day, Western Australian Police (WAPOL) Officers Constable Gavin Capes, First Class Constable Dave Dewar, Senior Constable Donald Everett and Senior Constable Philip Ruland travelled to the remote community of Kiwirrkurra to respond to a significant disturbance, and all paid the ultimate sacrifice when Polair 64 crashed whilst returning to Newman Airport. WAPOL lost four Officers that day but those men were more than just Police Officers. They were sons, colleagues, friends and some were brothers and brothers-in-law, husbands, partners, fathers, uncles and nephews. Their family members were left devastated, no doubt asking themselves “who will stand with us now�? But the thing with being a part of the big, blue police family is that, where one falls, others will stand in their place. It is for this reason that, on an annual basis, police officers, family members, friends, community people and strangers answer the call to gather at the crash site to stand with those families to offer some comfort for the sacrifice that they continue to experience, whilst also commemorating the most significant loss of police life in modern day policing history in Australasia. This year the Newman Memorial Weekend was held from 20 to 22 October 2017. The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) and Northern Territory Police Force were represented by NTPA Executive members Kylie Proctor and Mark Turner along with Sergeants Ian (Junior) Kennon and Ben Rossiter and Constable Maurie Harland. Such is the commitment of the NT members to support their WA colleagues and their families during this event, given it is the second largest Police MARCH 2018 37
2017 Newman Memorial Weekend continued Legacy fundraising event in Australia, that the members paid for their own accommodation and a hire vehicle to undertake the 5,000km round trip. At the Memorial Service Kylie and Mark laid a wreath on behalf of the NTPA Executive and members and Junior and Ben laid a wreath on behalf of the Bill Condon Club and members. Kylie again partnered up with Grant Ruland, Phil’s brother, in the annual Legacy Golf Day. Whilst the golf was average, the camaraderie amongst all the golfers gathered was second to none. The weekend also included a range of other sporting events including netball, touch football, lawn bowls and cricket which all strive to raise funds for Police Legacy. The cricket teams included former Australian player Brad Hogg who turns up every year to the support the event.
The thing with being a part of the big, blue police family is that, where one falls, others will stand in their place.
Top left: Junior and Maurie teaching WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson how to cook a BBQ; bottom left: Murphy's Lore playing at the Legacy Breakfast with possibly their biggest groupie; top right: Sightseeing from the Radio Hill look out; bottom right: Junior, Tiny, Ben and Maurie at the Legacy Golf Day
Photos courtesy of: Kevin Mitchell Chasing Stars Photography WA Police Legacy Brett Pengilly Kylie Proctor Top left: Ben and Junior laying a wreath on behalf of Bill Condon Club members; bottom left: Kylie and the Ruland's on the Fortescue Golf Club memorial bench; right: Jess Ruland, Tiny and Shaun Sullivan at the Bloody Slow Cup
38 NT POLICE NEWS
Once again, the Newman community spirit shone through on the Saturday night as thousands of people united to support the ‘Bloody Slow Cup’ which is played to commemorate the service of the fallen officers, their commitment to safeguarding the peace of the community and ensuring that, though they are gone, they will not be forgotten. Unfortunately, yet again the Kiwis were too good for the Aussies. Highlights of the weekend were catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, a sightseeing tour around Newman Community, getting to hear the Perth band Murphy’s Lore play on several occasions (Australian Idol fans will recognise Courtney and Chris Murphy) and Junior and Maurie teaching WAPOL Commissioner Chris Dawson how to cook a BBQ. The NT contingent would like to thank Senior Sergeant Mark Fleskens (Officer in Charge, Newman Police Station) and his crew for their hospitality and friendship and Connie from Newman SES for making their new headquarters available for accommodation and a swimming pool venue. Most importantly the NT contingent would like to thank the Capes, Dewar, Everett and Ruland families for allowing us to share this event with them and, in particular, the Ruland family for adopting us as their own.
MARCH 2018 39
PFA
health
Police week 2018
Forget ‘Conventional Wisdom’: Low-Carb Diets Are Best For Long-Term Weight Loss
2018 will see the PFA hold its inaugural Police Week. Mirrored on National Police Week in the U.S. which attracts some 40,000 attendees, Australia’s Police Week will run from 15 – 29 September.
Bookended by the Wall to Wall: Ride for Remembrance and National Police Remembrance Day, Police Week aims to draw the policing community together to participate and honor those officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, as well as celebrate the excellent work of Australia’s Police Force. While a focus will be on the National Police Memorial in Canberra, from 15 – 29 September, jurisdictions across the country will also be holding events under the auspice of Police Week, including the Northern Territory. Events that will be held during Police Week 2018 include; the Wall to Wall: Ride for Remembrance, a 100km Century Bike Ride, a National Police Summit, the inaugural National Bravery Awards, the 2018 PFA Federal Council Meeting and the International Council of Police Representative Associations (ICPRA) Biennial Conference. Please refer to the list of events below: EVENT
DATE
Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance
15 September
Remembering Mates Century Bike Ride
16 September
Informa/PFA National Police Summit
17 & 18 September
Bravery Awards
19 September
Council Dinner
19 September
PFA Federal Council
20 & 21 September
ICPRA
24 & 25 September
National Police Remembrance Day Service
40 NT POLICE NEWS
28 September
This year, the Wall to Wall will also be holding satellite rides for those in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, who would like to be involved but find that the long ride to Canberra difficult for a range of reasons. It is planned that the Memorial Service from Canberra will be televised, so those in the NT can still feel part of the national ride. It is hoped that the satellite ride concept will be expanded in future years to include other distant locations across the country. This year will also see the first Remembering Mates Century Bike Ride, where cyclists will participate in a 100km course in their home jurisdiction, which aims to conclude at their state or territory memorial - at the same time as the national event in Canberra. Once again, it is anticipated that the ceremony on the banks of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin will be televised back. As with the Wall to Wall, all profits from the bike ride will be donated to police legacy organisations. Registrations for both will open soon via the website www.policeweek.org.au 2018 will also see the awarding of the inaugural National Police Bravery Awards, developed for police, by police. The Award will transcend all state and jurisdictional divides; making the recipients truly national heroes. Nominations for the Award will be sought, from police officers, for police officers across Australia and a nomination form will be available on the Police Week website. Police Week 2018 provides a unique opportunity to meet others who work in law enforcement and will draw together supporters of policing from across the country in a range of formal and informal activities. It is envisaged that Police Week will become a major event on the Australian policing calendar.
For all further information go to : www.policeweek.org.au or contact the PFA Office Level 1, 21 Murray Crescent, Griffith, ACT Ph (02) 6239 8900
For decades our National Dietary Guidelines have advised us to follow a lowfat, high-carbohydrate diet in order to improve our waistlines and our health.
Unfortunately, that advice is wrong. All the recent research – 18 studies that I’ve come across – suggest lowcarbohydrate diets are far more beneficial to our health and weight than low-fat diets. So it seems we’ve had it the wrong way around. Now another new American study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine basically puts the nail in the coffin for low-fat diets. For the study, 148 participants were advised to eat either a low-carb diet (under 40 grams of carbs per day) or a low-fat diet, for one year. In line with the previous research, those on a low-carb diet lost on average of 3.5kg more than the low-fat group, over one year. That worked out to be three times more weight loss. The lowcarb group also lost significantly more body fat (about 1.5% more), so the weight loss was not due to muscle changes. Looking at health markers, the low-carb group also improved their cholesterol and triglyceride levels much more than the low-fat group. They received a significantly lower risk assessment for heart disease as a result of all the improvements. The part that really stands out for me, however, is that the study was funded by the National Institute of Health, and therefore American tax dollars. The authors had no financial ties with any
food industry company that would benefit from these findings. In other words, unbiased results. Get your sugars down! Aim for 6tspn of sugar a day. • Fruit flavoured yoghurt (200g): up to 9 teaspoons. • Just Right cereal a small bowl(50g): up to 4 teaspoons. • Sumo salad with dressing: up to 5 teaspoons. • Two sushi rolls: up to 4 teaspoons.
Have you considered following a low-carbohydrate diet? At Darwin Dietitians we can advise you on the most effective way to get started, as for many it can be a difficult transformation. You can make an appointment at www.darwindietitians.com.au or call us on 08 89273700.
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