ISSN: 2203-8507
April 2018
Edition 31
True Blue
Magazine
Denis Percy OAM
20 October 1944 - 6 March 2018
OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED NATIONS & OVERSEAS POLICING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
True Blue
Magazine
The United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia, (UNOPAA) is an Australian incorporated, non profit organisation whose members are both serving or retired Police Officers from Police Forces throughout Australia who have served or are serving with United Nations or AFP International Deployment Group (IDG) Peacekeeping Forces throughout the world! TRUE BLUE is posted to its members throughout Australia and worldwide to where AFP IDG are serving. Our magazine contains welfare, legislative and social information relevant to the well being and camaraderie of UNOPAA members who have, or are serving in Australia’s National Interest. Aims of the UNOPAA: 1. To maintain and foster the memory of UNOPAA members killed whilst serving with United Nations Forces or IDG. 2. To provide welfare, legal and financial support where and when appropriate to members. 3. To promote social occasions such as Reunions, etc., including United Nations and Anzac Day Marches. 4. To pursue and lobby industrial, legal and political avenues, when necessary in order to improve the welfare and industrial benefits to our members. We acknowledge the assistance of Countrywide Austral Pty Ltd, who, in conjunction with the UNOPAA, have made the publication and distribution of ‘TRUE BLUE’ magazine possible! Your financial contribution to the publication of our magazine is greatly appreciated.
Views and opinions expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia, the editor, the publisher or printer. “True Blue” is published by Countrywide Austral Pty Ltd, Melbourne from funds supplied by advertisers in this magazine. Please support our advertisers and their products.
Rod Walker True Blue Editor Email: enidandrod@tpg.com.au Mobile: 0411 953 966
UNOPAA Contacts National President Mr Mick Travers APM Tel: 02 6131 4749 Mobile: 0418 297 086 Email: Michael.Travers@afp.gov.au National Vice President Mr Garry Casey 40 Yarrabee Road, Greenhill SA 5140 Tel: 08 8390 3568 Mobile: 0488 188 449 Email: garry.casey@police.sa.gov.au National Vice President Mr Dale Cooper RFD PO Box 7099 Karabar NSW 2620 Mobile: 0418 266 033 Email: Dale.Cooper@afp.gov.au National Secretary/Treasurer Mr Peter McDonald APM 83 Prospect Drive East Keilor Vic 3033 Tel: 03 9337 4736 Mobile: 0418 131 352 Email: vp14970@gmail.com Australian Capital Territory State President: Dale Cooper RFD PO Box 7099 Karabar NSW 2620 Mobile: 0418 266 033 Email: Dale.Cooper@afp.gov.au
Victoria/Tasmania State President: Shaun Young Knox Police Complex, 414 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South VIC 3152 Tel. (03) 9881 7061 Mobile: 0438 508 229 Email: shaun.young@police.vic.gov.au Queensland State President: John Walker Unit 7, 51 Grand Parade, Parrearra QLD 4575 Tel: 07 5437 6587 Mobile 0474 157 982 Email: whiskeywalker1941@flexinet.com.au South Australia State President: Garry Casey 40 Yarrabee Road, Greenhill SA 5140 Tel: 08 8390 3568 Mobile: 0488 188 449 Email: garry.casey@police.sa.gov.au Western Australia State President: Darcy Boylan 21 Templemore Drive Heathridge WA 6027 Tel: 08 9402 0030 Mobile: 0408 120 299 Email: darc.boylan@police.wa.gov.au
NSW State President: Interim - Laurie Lucas Lake Illawarra Local Area Command 6 Pioneer Drive, Oak Flats NSW Tel: 02 4232 5599 Mobile: 0411 051 904 Email: 22733@police.nsw.gov.au
Northern Territory President: Allan Mitchell 5 Eureka Court Anula NT 0812 Tel: 08 8927 2676 Mobile: 0417 804 546 Email: almitch@bigpond.com.au
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True Blue April 2018
Contents 3 Did you know the UNOPAA is on Facebook? 4
Denis Percy OAM
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Can you assist?
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8 In conversation with Steve Linkowski 11
How good is your memory?
12 The Royal Solomon Island Police Force International Law Enforcement Cooperation Medal
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14 Brits to leave ‘unsafe’ Ledra Palace after nearly 44 years 16 High Flyer seeks Sponsorship Support 18
Honouring Australian Honours
20 UNOPAA National Conference/Reunion 22
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Alan Mitchell
25 Vale 26
Have we got a deal for you!
27 Membership Renewal or Application
Erratum in December 2017 True Blue Ray Strong, from the 1st Contingent to Cyprus contacted us and advised he was concerned that, in the December 2017 edition of True Blue, on page 3, there was a photo of himself, Ian Hardy and Pat Medway, and the caption said he was from NSW. He requested us to advise everyone that, although he currently lives in NSW, he's a proud Queenslander so it should have said QLD not NSW.
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Did you know the UNOPAA is on Facebook?
Our Facebook page is for you to use! Are you having a group reunion, get together or function? Why not advise others within the UNOPAA of your event. It could lead to reconnecting with acquaintances from the past, not only on Facebook, but attending your event. Have you got photos you want to share from your overseas deployment/s? Why not post them on our Facebook page. Have you got photos from your deployment/s of people you can't put a name to? Post them on our Facebook page and you may be surprised with the responses you receive.
Are you interested in finding out what is happening within the UNOPAA in 'real time'? Sure, we maintain our UNOPAA website to be as current as possible, but we can't be everywhere all the time. With the UNOPAA Facebook page it is constantly being added to by our members so you can find out the latest issues as they are posted.
Why not join our Facebook Group and give it a try on: www.facebook.com/UNOPAA/
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Denis Percy OAM 20 October 1944 - 6 March 2018 Age - 73 Police Career - New South Wales Police Force Rank NSW Police Cadet #1631 - commenced 5 December 1960 Probationary Constable Registered Number 11425 appointed 10 May 1965 Constable appointed 10 May 1966 Senior Constable appointed 10 May 1974 Sergeant 3rd Class appointed 26 May 1981 Inspector appointed 1989 Postings Prior to 1970 - not known 1971/72 - Deployed to Cyprus as a member of the 8/9th contingents
2000 - Local Area Commander – Blue Mountains Service From 5 December 1965 to 2001 = 36 years Service Plus 5 years as a Police Cadet Awards: National Medal – granted 15 April 1981 1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 28 May 1992 Police Overseas Service Medal – Clasp CYPRUS – granted 8 July 1992
1980’s - Chatswood
2nd Clasp to National Medal – granted 4 September 2001
1989 - (Inspector) Manager – Equal Employment Opportunity Section
Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) granted Australia Day Honours List 2014
Late 1970’s - 6 Division
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1990’s - Patrol Commander – Ryde
Denis commenced service as a NSW Police officer on the 10th of May 1965 and retired at the rank of Inspector on the 4th of October 2001 after more than 36 years’ service. During his Police career Denis served on secondment to the 8th/9th Australian United Nations Police Contingent to Cyprus from November 1971 until May 1973 a period of 18 months. Denis became a member of the “United Nations Civilian Police Association of NSW” upon his return from Cyprus in 1973. In 1984 he was elected National President of the United Nations Civilian Police Association of Australia (UNCIVPOL) and also held the position of NSW State President. In 1988 a committee was formed to host, on United Nations Day of that year, an Australian National Re-Union of Australian United Nations Civilian Police in Sydney. Denis was a member of that committee and made a significant contribution to its implementation and success. In October 2007, another National UNPAA Sydney Re-union and Conference was held in
True Blue April 2018
Denis's wife, Alex, leaves the church.
UNOPAA members formed a Guard of Honour for Denis.
Natalie and Grant Percy (Denis and Alex’s children) delivered ‘words of remembrance’ about their dad.
UNOPAA President, Mick Travers, speaking at Denis's funeral.
Sydney under the chairmanship of Denis Percy, State President. Since his retirement from the NSW Police in October 2001, he continued in his role as National President of the UNPAA. He organised a NSW Police Band fundraising event for the UNPAA at the Cyprus Club at Enmore and had personally undertaken “gold coin” collections for the “Peacekeeping Memorial” in Canberra by visiting the Goulburn Police College graduation parades during 2010 and 2011. An amount of approximately $10,000 had been collected by the UNPAA for this purpose. Denis was the UNOPAA representative on that committee which was chaired by Major General Tim Ford (Rtd). Denis was instrumental in 2004 in joining forces with the Executive Officer of the Police Federation of Australia to lobby the Minister for Veterans Affairs on behalf of Police Members who had served overseas on UN or Australian Government sponsored peacekeeping and military missions such as East Timor and the Solomon
Islands, Cambodia, Haiti and Mozambique for the introduction of Disability and Welfare provisions not included in the revised “Veterans Entitlement Act of 1986”. The outcome of this lobbying to the Minister of Veterans Affairs was the eventual introduction of Schedule 3 of that Act to cover Australian Police at overseas locations. UNPAA and the Police Federation of Australia (PFA) in 2010 once again combined in the preparation of a submission to the Federal Government for a “stand-alone”act entitled “The Police Overseas Service Act” or similar name to cover Police where the Veterans Entitlement Act did not. That act was introduced initially to cover Australian Military Veterans. During his Police service Denis studied as a mature age external student at what is now Charles Sturt University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1988, and an Associate Diploma in Justice Administration in 1983. He also obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Management from Macquarie University.
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AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin with VicPol A/C Chris O’Neil and Denis Percy.
Sergeant (Sgt) Denis Percy (left), and two other unidentified Australian policemen, meet with a Turkish major in the village of Polamedia. Sgt Percy, a police officer from NSW, served in Cyprus with the United Nations Civilian Police (UNCIVPOL), attached to the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
dedicated service to welfare entitlements on behalf of Australian Police who have served overseas with United Nations or Australian Government missions. He was recognised by the UNOPAA with life membership. During his career as a Police Officer Denis received the following awards.
Four Australian police officers on operations in the Polis district for the United Nations Civilian Police (UNCIVPOL), attached to the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Identified left to right are Sergeant Denis Percy of the NSW Police (left), Sergeant Arthur Hamilton and Sergeant Paul Butler of the Victoria Police and Sergeant Steve Dale, Tasmanian Police.
On the 30th of September 2011 Denis retired as National President of the UNPAA at its AGM. He did not stand for re-election at that meeting and stated in his President’s message that it was time to hand the reigns to a new committee. Denis stood unopposed for 27 years as National President of the UNOPAA. During that time he committed thousands of his personal hours to ensuring the health, welfare , entitlements and contact of members on the UNPAA was considered. He has for many years and until 2017 been the editor on the Associations Magazine “True Blue” this publication is the conduit between members who have served as UN Peacekeepers or Australian Police on Peacekeeping operations overseas for over 50 years. He ensured that all members, some of who are very senior, receive each edition of the magazine so their contact with fellow veterans is continued. His untiring efforts during his Police career and his retirement has led to over 27 years of
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The National Medal, 1st Clasp to the National Medal, 2nd Clasp to the National Medal, Police Overseas Service Medal. The United Nations Peacekeeping Medal for Service in Cyprus. Deputy Commissioners Olympic Commendation for his role as Security Commander, Boxing events. Denis also held the positions as Commander Blue Mountains LAC., Patrol Commander Ryde Police Station. Commander of the Equal Employment Opportunity Branch Police Headquarters and Duty Officer at Chatswood Police Station. Denis’s funeral service was held on Thursday 22 March at St Marys Church, North Sydney. The UNOPAA was well represented and those members present formed a Guard of Honour as Denis’s casket left the church. UNOPAA President, Mick Travers, delivered a stirring valedictory followed by words of remembrance by some of Denis’s family and friends. Also in attendance were the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia and the CEO of the Police Federation of Australia. The UNOPAA sends our sincerest condolences to Denis’s wife, Alex and their two children, Natalie and Grant. RIP Denis
True Blue April 2018
Can you assist? Cyprus - Appeal by Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) for assistance from former Australian Police members of UNFICYP/UNOPAA Dear Mike I write to you in connection with a request the CMP have put to the Australian High Commission for contact details of Australian Police veterans of UN Cyprus operations. UNOPAA is of course the key point of contact. CMP seeks the assistance of your members/ all UNFICYP Australian police veterans to assist their work to establish the details and locations of missing persons from 1963/64 and 1974 conflicts, in particular access to recollections, diaries, notes etc of individual former officers. This request comes on the back of the CMP’s official request to Australia in 2016 that there be a search official archives. The National Archives of Australia (NAA) identified a large number of relevant files, and the search viewed several thousand pages of files individually. Australia (this High Commission) has contributed funds to the CMP in 2017 to support their work – a modest amount compared to others, however indication of our commitment to the objectives of their work. The Minister for Justice Keenan also visited CMP labs in the UNPA / Nicosia in April 2017. You will recall and it was hoped by CMP and the High Commission that UNOPAA members would be able to visit the CMP labs and meet its Greek and Turkish Cypriot heads during the AFP exit activities in June 2017. Unfortunately this was not to be. While the CMP’s work continues, the challenges of finding locations ,exhumation identification of remains are considerable. Many of the witnesses to killings/internment of remains are now getting pretty old. There have been a few publicised near life end/deathbed confessions over the last few years - in a much better bicommunal / negotiations environment - given its now 43+
years. Your members’ recollections will be clearly highly valued. The CMP have noted the request is strictly humanitarian and all information received will be used solely for humanitarian (not criminal prosecution) purposes – “as per CMP Terms of Reference” (see website below) Check out the CMP’s website – http://www. cmp-cyprus.org/_ on their work. About half the missing have been found. Your members will know firsthand all about the melancholy realities of the circumstances and difficulties involved in Cyprus so I won’t rehearse them further here. I would be very pleased if UNOPAA/members could reach out to the CMP to support their important work. The Australian High Commission in Cyprus remains available for any further assistance for you or your members. The CMP have advised that the contact point is Mr Romain Ledauphin Information Management and Research Coordinator Romain.ledauphin@cmp-cyprus.org Best Regards Al
Alan Sweetman Australian High Commissioner Nicosia, Cyprus
Note: The preceding letter from the Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus has been edited and is an abridged version of the original that was directly sent out to specific UNFICYP Contingent members. 7
True Blue April 2018
In conversation with Steve Linkowski "If the plane wasn't going so fast, I would have been able to see the pilot's faces." The amazing story of officer Steve Linkowski, a scuba diver with the New York Police Department whose police rescue helicopter almost collided with the hijacked 'United Airlines' jet just as it flew into the south tower of the World Trade Centre on the 11th September 2001.
At 7.00am on the 11th of September 2001 Officer Steve Linowski, a Scuba Diver with the New York Police Department, left his home in New York City as usual. He kissed his wife and two daughters, aged four and seven, goodbye on what he thought would be another routine work day. He drove across the Brooklyn Bridge to 'Floyd Bennet Field' in Brooklyn where New York Police maintain an Air/Sea Rescue facility. This facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their primary air transport is a large 'Bell 412' helicopter fitted with a rescue winch. Steve was to be one of the five crew rostered that day. The crew consisted of a pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and two police scuba divers. Around 9.00 am the Rescue helicopter became airborne following a police radio call reporting that a plane had flown into the north tower of the World Trade Centre. The crew's immediate thoughts were that the aircraft was probably a light aircraft like a Cessna or Piper. The airspace around the Trade Centre is generally very busy with private and recreational pilots who fly up the Hudson River past Manhattan Island, the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Centre. "We were there within five minutes of the North Tower being hit. As we flew across Brooklyn we see by the extent of the damage that 'this ain't no Piper plane'. There's a huge black gaping hole in the building, with thick black smoke billowing out all the way up to the roof." As we came up to the building we were seeing people hanging out of the windows or what was left of the windows. THE SCENE AT THE NORTH TOWER: “As we came up on the tower in the chopper there is no way for us to get in to any of the people who were hanging out of the windows.
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kinda shuts down a little bit and says “Okay, just deal with what’s happening here. Don’t look at the big picture, don’t look at death!” So here we are. We were actually watching these people falling. I counted one person every six seconds. It just looked like paper falling. This was the most horrific thing. It made everything I has seen in my seventeen year police career, to that point, seem miniscule! You know I felt so helpless! We were about two hundred feet off the building at the time. I think the majority of people that fell were pushed by people behind them, trying to get air. Smoke was rushing out of the tower windows because of the jet fuel, which burns so hot and black”. THE SECOND HIJACKED AIRCRAFT HITS THE SOUTH TOWER: We check again, there is nobody on the roof of the North Tower and we were thinking that we may have to land near the Battery Park area and medivac people to Bellevue Hospital.
“The plane probably comes within three hundred feet of us. I believe our helicopter was the reason he went so low.”
We were about 200 feet off the side of the building and about 80 floors up. Their only chance of rescue would be had someone been on the roof. We checked, there was no one on the roof. We were hoping so bad, we wanted there to be someone on that damned roof, but there was no one! I just couldn’t believe what we were seeing. We still didn’t realise that it was what it was (a deliberate terrorist attack!). The windows were gone. People were just hanging out of the building waiting, thinking that we were going to be able to come over and save them. I COUNTED ONE PERSON FALLING EVERY SIX SECONDS! Hell, I’m going to tell you that being there was surreal! There comes a point where your brain
“So we came around the South Tower and were hovering at the same level, as the second impact was to be, which was around the eightieth floor. I am on the left side of the chopper and all of a sudden I glance over my shoulder, now we’re on the south/west side of the building and I see a United Airlines jet coming right at us. I think ‘where the sh.t is he going!!!!’. He comes right down and slows a little bit underneath us; the plane probably comes within three hundred feet of us. I believe our helicopter was the reason he went so low. IF THE PLANE WASN’T GOING SO FAST, I WOULD HAVE SEEN THE PILOT’S FACE “He came right underneath but in front of us and went right into the building. If the plane wasn’t going so fast, I could have seen the pilot’s face. When he came underneath us I dove to the other side of the ship and watched as it went
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into the building. It looked to me that the plane just disappeared into the building and turned into a fire. It was just the most horrific thing I ever saw.” THERE WERE NO INJURED TO MEDIVAC: “We realise after some short minutes that we can’t help where we are. The pilot heads for a landing at the Statue of Liberty. We change that destination as we thought it might be the next target. We land instead, at Governor’s Island. By radio the pilot arranges a landing and medical evacuation zone on the north end of Battery Park, about three short blocks from the Towers. We subsequently land there and await delivery of the casualties. None arrived - it was just raining debris!” WE SEE THE SOUTH TOWER FALL: “After a short time we flew back to Brooklyn to refuel. On our way to Manhattan, coming across Brooklyn Bridge, we see the South Tower, the one we saw hit, go down. There was this massive white cloud like nothing I could describe, it looked solid. We could still see people jumping! There was still nobody on the roof. The bodies jumping from the Tower just disappeared into the dust cloud below them!”
“From that point we then watched the north tower fall like a pack of cards.” “When I tell you that the South Tower started to fall, it came straight down like a pack of cards. And the last thing that stayed standing was the tower at the top, it almost looked like a girder standing up in the middle and it stayed standing up there for some seconds, then it just completely fell down! The building was down quick, worse than a bomb.” THE NORTH TOWER FALLS: The helicopter crew checks the roof of the North Tower again and there are no people on the roof. They then fly to the Marina about a block away on the river. “From that point we then watched the North Tower fall like a pack of cards. Sergeant Galen,
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who is our Crew Chief, radioed for any available boats to attend the Battery Park and Marina area to evacuate hundreds of people trapped there - to the safety of New Jersey on the other side of the river. They were all trying to get away from the falling debris and thick smoke that was rolling in from the now demolished towers. Tugs, ferries and Police boats all respond. They evacuate shocked, injured and dust covered survivors that had been pushed towards the river to escape smoke and falling debris. Later that day, when our chopper was no longer needed at the operation, my crew returned by Police launch to the Trade Centre. We helped search the wreckage for survivors and were finally relieved from duty by other police and firemen at 9.00pm. MY WIFE BELIEVED I HAD BEEN KILLED: “Prior to the second aircraft hitting the South Tower, we were visible to Police on the ground. They had heard the explosion of the second plane impacting the building and then they couldn’t see the chopper any more. They thought the impact explosion was us crashing. We were in fact hovering above the explosion, above the smoke. Police then reported a helicopter crashed! CNN picked up the police radio report and broadcast the crash as news. My wife heard the report. She rang our base and was told I was one of the crew on the chopper at the World Trade centre site. She then believed I had been killed! She became hysterical!” EVERYTHING NOW IN MY LIFE REVOLVES AROUND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN: Later that evening, when I finally got home (about 10.00pm), my children dove into my arms and said “Daddy, we’re so glad you’re not dead.” We were all together as a family - crying. That night, in bed with my wife, I said “Honey, I am so glad that I’m living my life with you and our kids exactly how it is!” Editor's Note: Steve relayed the above story to Denis Percy who sent it on to me for inclusion in True Blue
True Blue April 2018
How good is your memory? Do you remember when your parents (or grandparents) had some weird looking items around the house. Test your memory and see if you know what these gadgets are!! Answers at the bottom
a
c Answers:
b
d f
e
How many did you know?? f - Tin Egg Separator e - Combination Sifter/Grater/Pie Crimper/Biscuit Cutter d - Yarn/wool Holder c - Hair Iron b - Door Alarm a - Can Opener
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True Blue April 2018
The Royal Solomon Island Police Force International Law Enforcement Cooperation Medal The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are presenting medals to international law enforcement personnel who served on island with Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands (RAMSI) for a cumulative period equal to or greater than 180 days and displayed diligent service during their period of service. This includes any service between 21/07/2003 and 30/06/2017.
The RSIPF International Law Enforcement Cooperation Medal (ILECM) is designed to be worn by the nominated officer as a reminder of their achievement of duty and Service. To be eligible, the member needs to meet the following criteria: • 180 days continuous or accumulated service as a member of the RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF); • Service in the Solomon Islands as part of RAMSI between 24 July 2003 and 30 June 2017; and • Nominees to have displayed diligent service. On 5 December 2016, the AFP was advised by letter from then RSIPF Commissioner Frank Prendergast that “the RSIPF will be awarding the ILECM to foreign police, including the Participating Police Force (PPF) who have served and completed their mission in good standing”. The AFP Executive Leadership Committee has approved the awarding of this medal to AFP employees. Approval was sought and received from the AFP Commissioner for the wearing of this award by AFP employees along with other AFP Awards. In line with other AFP Internal citations of this type, the citation would be worn on member’s right side with the order of precedence placing the medal after any AFP awards that a member may have. AFP Awards are closest to centre, with foreign/ other internal awards towards the right arm. The administrative process for issuing the award will be conducted through AFP Honours & Awards with assistance from International Operations.
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“The RSIPF will be awarding the ILECM to foreign police, including the Participating Police Force (PPF) who have served and completed their mission in good standing.� INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CO-OPERATION CITATION The International Law Enforcement Cooperation Medal is awarded to; a. a group of members for an international police force, who provides direct support to the RSIPF, to assist development or law enforcement initiatives; or b. a group of members of the RSIPF who is deployed on an authorised international operation.
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True Blue April 2018
Brits to leave ‘unsafe’ Ledra Palace after nearly 44 years The British Contingent of the United Nations Peacekeepers in Cyprus is being forced to move from uninhabitable living quarters at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia’s green line after taking up residence there following the Turkish invasion in 1974, and are unlikely to return, the Cyprus mail has learned.
However, the UN plans to retain possession of the 70-year-old hotel that played host to Hollywood stars and the well-to-do in the fifties and sixties, and later to journalists covering the invasion. But only the ground floor, which is noted for hosting bicommunal events, will now be used. Though billed as a routine refurbishment, behind the move lies a more complicated situation going back almost two decades when parts of the once-luxurious hotel, now riddled with bullet holes, were first deemed unsafe.
“Essentially, the UN does not have the millions needed to refurbish the hotel, and the Cyprus government, whose responsibility it is to carry out repairs, have stalled in paying up.”
The upper floors of the former hotel have been declared unsafe as living quarters.
Essentially, the UN does not have the millions needed to refurbish the hotel, and the Cyprus government, whose responsibility it is to carry out repairs, have stalled in paying up, the Cyprus Mail understands. The 210 British soldiers are to be moved to the United Nations Protected Area (UNPA) at the old Nicosia airport, which is also under UN control. The move is part of a strategic review of UNFICYP that was carried out recently. Last week UnderSecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who was in Cyprus, alluded to “changes” to the status of the Ledra Palace. UNFICYP spokesman Aleem Siddique told the Cyprus Mail on Monday that the hotel would remain in UN hands.
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“Due to refurbishment of the upper floors they will be vacated during the course of the year,” he said. “The UNFICYP troops based there will be moved to another location. The ground floor will continue to be used for bicommunal meetings.” There was no return date for the 217 British soldiers who live there, he added. The move is to be completed by the end of this year or the latest the beginning of 2019.
The situation came to a head in February 2007 when a British parliamentary group visited the hotel. One member of the group who called the conditions “shameful”, warned the Cyprus government to act swiftly unless it wanted the UK to withdraw from UNFICYP.
The issue over the bad state of the hotel goes back, on the record, to at least 2005, when then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report that UNFICYP had commissioned an independent engineering survey which found the living facilities to be structurally unsafe and constituted an “unacceptable safety risk”. This problem had been going on for at least five years prior to that. In 2005 it would have cost over $20m to fix the problems.
“The upper floors are not up to code,” said a Cyprus Mail source, who added that to fix all of the problems at the Ledra Palace would be “prohibitively expensive” and there was simply nothing in the UN budget for that kind of work.
In 2007 some effort was made to fix part of the upper floors where at least 40 rooms had been marked as condemned and shuttered up. British troops were then living in 91 of the rooms.
“British soldiers for years had put up with blocked toilets overflowing with sewage, broken pipes and falling plaster, piles of pigeon droppings on the balconies, dangerously exposed wires and electrical fittings.” So bad was the situation that the Cyprus government was being strongly pressured by Britain and the UN to act. By then British soldiers for years had put up with blocked toilets overflowing with sewage, broken pipes and falling plaster, piles of pigeon droppings on the balconies, dangerously exposed wires and electrical fittings, and broken lifts and airconditioning systems.
Though there were some repairs carried out later in 2007, paid for by the government, more than a decade later, the UN is finally calling a halt.
The source said the Cyprus government was wholly responsible for refurbishing, and other UN member states would not pay on these grounds alone. At the same time, the UN could not have troops exposed to the continued risks, so they would be relocated. “The top floors will be moth-balled with minimum works for structural safety,” the source said, adding that it was most likely the British contingent would not be returning there. The reason the UN was hanging on to the ground floor was the hotel’s long association with bicommunality.
Source - Cyprus Mail 5 March 2018
Editors Note: Many Australian Police Officers have resided in the Ledra Palace over the 53 years of Australian Police presence in Cyprus with UNFICYP. The Canadian Military Contingents were the main occupants of the building for many years. Australian Police occupied rooms on the 4th floor (usually reserved to the Canadian Officers) as the lower level floors (occupied by other ranks) were deemed not suitable for the Australian Police.
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High Flyer seeks Sponsorship Support
Stuart McDonald has been a member of the United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia for a number of years and has requested our assistance by including the following in 'True Blue' concerning his participation in the Outback Air Race in August 2018. Stuart is piloting a light aircraft (Cessna 172RG), undertaking a circumnavigation of Australia and participating in the Outback Air Race 2018 which is in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. His navigator, Mr. James Harrison, is a former Australian Army Reservist having served with the 10th Light Horse in Western Australia. The Outback Air Race is held every three years to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It is a challenging event for pilots and their passengers spanning two weeks flying over some of Australia’s most geographically challenging and stunning landscapes. The challenge reflects those often faced by the Royal Flying Doctor Service as they assist everyday Aussies in remote areas during medical emergencies, and where they also go above and beyond in their daily delivery of health, family and
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True Blue April 2018
community support. Despite growing demand for services, Federal Government funding has remained largely unchanged since 2006. Stuart's team, “The Flying Knights”, is registered to participate in this year’s race and aims to raise at least $5,000 by the conclusion of the event in September 2018. They will be fundraising via donation to their team and donations are made online by visiting the team’s fundraising page: https://oar18.everydayhero.com/au/the-flyingknights All donations go directly to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The funds will be utilised in the purchase and maintenance of specialised medical equipment and to fund the incredibly
dedicated teams of doctors and nurses who in 2016, on any given day, made an average of 775 patient contacts, 145 patient transports and flew 71,664 kilometres. If you are interested in covering Stuart's team’s journey please contact them at theflyingknights@iinet.net.au and they will make ourselves available to discuss further story backgrounding. Media coverage of their team in the Outback Air Race presents an opportunity to support a vital service for rural communities, raise audience awareness, and recognise one of Australia’s most iconic charities. You can follow their progress and the race through the Outback Air race website, www.outbackairrace.com.au
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True Blue April 2018
Honouring Australian Honours UNOPAA is seeking legislative change to make it unlawful to wear medals awarded under the Australian honours and awards system when not entitled to do so. This follows concerns in Western Australia where the sitting member for Darling Range in State Parliament, a former police officer, was found to be wearing the Police Overseas Service Medal (POSM), an award not made to him.
Issue: The wearing of police and civilian bravery and service awards under the Australian Honours and Awards framework by persons not entitled is presently NOT prohibited by law. This is in stark contrast to the wearing of military medals and awards which is an offence against the Defence Act 1983, and rightly so. Background: In late 2017, a serving member of the West Australian Parliament, the current sitting member for Darling Range, had been identified as falsely wearing the Australian Police Overseas Service Medal (POSM). He publicly admits to doing so for 17 years. The sitting member has been referred to the WA Government Privileges and Procedures Committee who will investigate this and other matters. The wearing of military awards and honours by those who have no entitlement is well known and widely documented. Falsely pretending to be a returned serviceman and/or the wearing of military honours and awards, when not entitled, is an offence under sections 80A and 80B of the Defence Act 1903. The penalty for such offences is currently 30 penalty units and/or 6 months imprisonment. Falsely pretending to be a Returned Police Peacekeeping Veteran or civilian peacekeeper, or wearing of police or civilian awards when not entitled is currently NOT an offence.
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True Blue April 2018
“Persons who ride on the coat tails of persons who have been legitimately awarded are being fraudulent and are devaluing the integrity of our awards system without any consequence.” This also applies to non-military awards under the Australian Bravery Decorations such as the Cross of Valour (CV), our highest civilian award for bravery. In addition, the wearing of ANY non-official commemorative award, often referred to as ‘tin’ or plastic awards is also not an offence. The wearing of ‘tin’ purchased or unofficial awards has frequently occurred with military and service awards. The introduction of legislation to outlaw this practice should also be considered. Clearly all awards and Honours, such as the Order of Australia in the General Division (AK, AC, AO, AM, OAM) , Australian Bravery Decorations (CV, SC, BM et al), Police Overseas Service Medal and many other respected awards should receive the same protection afforded to military awards. Some of these awards were awarded posthumously, recipients having paid the ultimate price for their service and bravery. We owe it to the recipients of these awards to ensure their bravery, good service and dedication to our great country is not devalued, undermined or trivialized. Action: It is proposed that legislative amendments be introduced with penalties for abusing or exploiting our awards and Honours. The three key offences would be as follows: 1. That any person who falsely claims to be a returned peacekeeper or who falsely claims to
be a Returned Police Peacekeeping Veteran or civilian veteran commits an offence. (Similar in intent and purpose to Section 80A of the Defence Act 1983). 2. That any person who falsely wears or displays a medal or award under the Australian Honours framework to which they are not entitled commits an offence. (Similar in intent and purpose to Section 80B of the Defence Act 1983). 3. That any person who wears any unapproved, commemorative or non official medal in conjunction with any approved official medal/s commits an offence. (A new offence. Providing protection and deterrence similar to Section 80B of the Defence Act 1983). The exemption under the Defence Act which allows family members to wear their families medals on the right breast would apply. It is NOT intended to remove or restrict this practice in any way. In closing, Honours and Awards, approved by Her Majesty and issued by Government House are the pre eminent way the community values citizens who demonstrate service, sacrifice and bravery. Persons who ride on the coat tails of persons who have been legitimately awarded are being fraudulent and are devaluing the integrity of our awards system without any consequence. ‘Honouring Australian Honours’, comprised of a group of relevant key stakeholders will be heavily campaigning to ensure legislation is enacted to protect the integrity of the Honours system, the honour of our peacekeepers and to make offences align with that of Defence. Please join us in lobbying your Federal Member of Parliament to protect the integrity of our awards system. Thank you for your support.
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True Blue April 2018
UNOPAA National Conference/Reunion 20-24 October 2019 The Queensland Branch of the (UNOPAA) is well advanced in planning and organizing the 19th National Conference/Reunion to be held at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast from Sunday 20 October 2019 to Thursday 24 October 2019, inclusively.
An invitation is extended to all members and partners/guests who have served as Police Peacekeepers either as United Nations members, or as members of the International Deployment Group (IDG) or as non UN members in the many peacekeeping locations such as Cyprus, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Mozambique, Bougainville, PNG, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan etc. As 2019 will be the 20th anniversary of the Australian Police Peacekeepers deployment to East Timor under the United Nations banner, a special invite is extended to those members, their partners/family to attend this event. Oaks Hotels & Resorts, trading as Oaks Oasis Resort, 2 Landsborough Parade, Caloundra, has been chosen as the preferred headquarters and accommodation base and as the venue for a number of events/activities. The Resort is in close proximity to Caloundra’s Golden Beach and Central Business District and is within easy walking distance for all kinds of shopping, restaurants/eateries, transport and other essential services/amenities. Oaks Oasis has a large choice of flexible accommodation and is extending the conference rates for accommodation to one week either side of the conference/reunion dates for those wishing to make a holiday of it. For more information on Oaks Oasis Resort, please refer to their website at: oakshotels.com A proposed conference/reunion program, subject to later ratification is as follows:
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True Blue April 2018
Sunday 20.10.2019 - an optional outing for delegates arriving before 21.10.2019 to visit Caloundra Street Fair and Markets; Monday 21.10.2019 - Registrations and Welcome Dinner; Tuesday 22.10.2019 - Canal cruise with bbq buffet and seafood luncheon;
As the Sunshine Coast has much to offer, delegates most probably will not be able to see it all in five days, so it is suggested people plan to arrive early and/or stay later to take advantage of the Sunshine Coast beautiful beaches, hinterland and various other popular attractions.
Wednesday 23.10.2019 - Mayoral Civic Reception is in the planning program, as well as the AGM of UNOPAA;
More detailed information will be sent to members either by email (or by post to those who do not have email access) to include various attractions and other places of interest available to those members visiting the Sunshine Coast in October 2019.
Thursday 24.10.2019 – United Nations Day will be celebrated with a United Nations Day Commemorative Church Service with the final event, the Formal Dinner, to be held that night.
John (Whiskey) Walker President UNOPAA Queensland Branch
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True Blue April 2018
Alan Mitchell A life-changing stint in Cyprus was more than just scenic drives, drinks and Mediterranean food for a young Territory cop. When war broke out in the nation, things changed quicker than he could’ve imagined, writes Phillippa Butt of the Northern Territory 'Sunday Territorian' newspaper
For a Territory copper stationed in Borroloola in 1973, Cyprus was an incredibly long way from home. But when Allan Mitchell heard there was the opportunity for one police officer from the Northern Territory to travel to the Mediterranean country, he jumped. There were simple conditions cops had to meet to be eligible to apply. They had to be a constable and they had to be single. Allan was both, and he applied, not really knowing what sort of adventure this foreign country would hold for him. “In fact, when I was advised that I was successful, I remember going over the road to the library in Katherine to see exactly where Cyprus was,” he said. The secondment would be for 12 months and the copper would be working with 35 other Australians as part of the Commonwealth Police. There was a third requirement of the applicant that wasn’t advertised though — to be of upstanding character so the constable didn’t “bring discredit to the NT Police Force”. “It seems that over the years, some previous members may have been ‘mentioned in dispatches’ back to their relevant police departments,” Allan said. The year was designed to be a breeze. Flying first class on a Qantas jumbo 747, the contingent overnighted in Bahrain before arriving in Nicosia. For Allan, his time in Cyprus could be divided into three periods. Eight months of routine duties, a few busy weeks observing a military coup and then the complete intervention of the country by the Turkish national army.
Allan Mitchell has had an interesting life, both as a police officer and Darwin council alderman. Picture: Keri Megelus.
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“We had three police stations in the south and west of the island — Limassol, our HQ station,
True Blue April 2018
with usually 19 men and two smaller stations at Paphos and Polis about 60 miles away,” he remembers. For the Commonwealth Police, life was fairly routine. Over a number of years a pattern had emerged and procedures and duties carried on without any need for change. One of the jobs a policeman was tasked with was driving to Nicosia airport once a week to collect the diplomatic bag. Containing letters from home, newspapers and official documents, the courier would then report to the United Nations headquarters near the airport.
“I remember being taken aside by one of the contingent members who had been there for six months and told that this job takes all day and sometimes overnight.” A Territory cop who was used to being stationed hundreds of kilometres from anywhere else, the 130km journey was not a big deal. However, Allan soon realised he was “stuffing up a good thing”. “I remember being taken aside by one of the contingent members who had been there for six months and told that this job takes all day and sometimes overnight,” he remembered.
“It didn’t take long to see why the job could take so long. There was lunch to be had at UNHQ at the Canadian Army’s NCOs mess, where you lined up for your meal, or with some slight arrangement to your epaulets, one could eat in the officer’s mess, hosted by the British Army where it was pre-lunch drinks and table service. “If it was an overnight trip that you were after, it was just a matter of stopping at the Danish police camp, where they manned an observation post along the Nicosia-Limassol road. After a few schnapps, we were not capable of going anywhere.” Other highlights involved morning visits to local villages, almost purely to be given Greek or Turkish coffee and tasty snacks. By 1pm the job would be done, and it was time for lunch and an afternoon of sports, shopping or reading. However the trip was not to remain this easy. On a Monday morning in July 1974, the military junta in Greece organised a coup, resulting in an attack on the presidential palace in Nicosia. “At our level, the coup was completely unexpected and did not involve the UN as it was outside our mandate,” Allan said. “The fighting only involved Greek Cypriots, between those that wanted union with Greece and those who supported the lawful independent nation. The Turkish Cypriot community were assured that it did not involve them and they were safe.”
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True Blue April 2018
“One of the things I’ll always remember was how I left my Mercedes-Benz at the station. It was brand new. You really know something is wrong if you’re prepared to leave a brand new Mercedes-Benz behind.” Despite being part of the UN forces, and effectively removed from the entire war situation, Allan said he still ran into some hair-raising situations.
Under the terms of independence 14 years earlier, Greece, Turkey and Britain had signed a tripartite agreement whereby each could intervene should the independence of Cyprus be threatened. Turkey approached the British Prime Minister which, after he failed to act, put everyone “on edge”. Five days later the country had descended into war. Around 20,000 Turkish soldiers took part in the largest seaborne invasion since World War II, and over the next month, pushed south until they occupied one third of the island. At Allan’s police station in Paphos, the 11 officers were told about the fighting in the north through radio broadcasts. “We knew it was to be only a matter of time, before fighting would break out in our town, which had a mixed population and a distinct Turkish enclave,” Allan said. “We were instructed to pack our personal effects in readiness. We had to have everything ready to go but couldn’t leave.... We were to remain at the station until the last minute, so as not to concern the citizens.”
At one point, after visiting a Turkish village at the bottom of one of the hills, Allan drove himself, a passenger and two armed British soldiers towards another village before coming across a group of militia. “The leader came up to my driver’s side door and started to accuse us of spying for the Turks in the village below and that we would report to them what we saw,” he said. “Of immediate concern was one of his lackeys, who was standing immediately at the door and pointing a Kalashnikov sub-machine gun at me, complete with bayonet — about a foot from my head.” After eventually convincing the militia the UN had the right to use the road, the car was let through. “The problem with dealing with the militia and not the regular army was one of discipline, or rather lack of it,” Allan said. “They were normally in small groups and had a mix of homemade uniforms, weapons and the like. It seemed anyone could join.” The one thing that kept life a lot easier for Allan and his fellow officers was their nationality.
Gone were the organised plans of taking long, winding routes through the city.
“I think that the fact that the Australian police were unarmed, and every Cypriot had a relation in Australia — ‘do you know Costas, he lives in Melbourne’ — put us in good stead,” he said. “We were well accepted by both sides and there were occasions when we were sought out when information was to be given.”
The officers raced out, driving in a long convoy towards the British army camp.
Eventually, 12 months after he arrived, Allan left Cyprus.
“We were just boys from the bush, Australians a very long way away from home. It certainly was not what we were expecting,” Allan said.
He’s since returned a number of times, including in 2017 when he attended a ceremony for the official withdrawal of Australian troops from the country.
It wasn’t until guns started firing from the Greek patrol boats in the harbour that the station broke into chaos.
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Vale On behalf of the UNOPAA National Executive, our National Committee, our NSW Branch and all members of UNOPAA, we would like to acknowledge their service, particularly to overseas peacekeeping, and express our sympathy to their families, their contingent members and their friends.
DENIS PERCY Denis Percy was a NSW member of the 8th & 9th Contingents to Cyprus (1971-73). Among his many achievements, Denis was the President of the United Nations Policing Association of Australia (the predecessor to UNOPAA) for many years; the Editor of our True Blue magazine since its inception in 2007; and a Life Member of UNOPAA. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours in 2014 for his service to the community and contribution to the recognition of international policing. Denis passed away in hospital on 6 March 2018, after collapsing at home a few days previously. He was 73. His funeral was held on Thursday, 22 March 2018 at 1.00pm at St. Mary's Church, 42 Ridge Street, North Sydney NSW.
On behalf of the management and staff at Countrywide Austral and Support Media, we would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of Denis Percy. We would also like to acknowledge him for all his time and effort in putting together the True Blue magazine over the years. He was a pleasure to work with and will be missed.
MERVYN LINDSAY BECK Mervyn Lindsay (Merv) Beck was a NSW police member of the 11th Contingent to Cyprus (1974-75). Merv passed away on 21 March 2018, aged 96 years. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, 27 March 2018 at 11am at the Rose Chapel, Palmdale Memorial Gardens, 57 Palmdale Road, Palmdale NSW 2258. Merv was a World War 2 veteran, he served as Contingent Commander in Cyprus, and retired from NSW Police as a Superintendent. RIP Merv.
THOMAS (TOM) McINERNEY Thomas (Tom) McInerney was a NSW police member of the 8th Contingent to Cyprus (1971-72). Tom passed away from cancer on 26 February 2018, aged 90 years. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St Finbar's Catholic Church, 106 The Promenade, San Souci NSW on Wednesday, 7 March 2018 at 10.30am.
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True Blue April 2018
Have we got a deal for you! Do you like standing out from the crowd and being dressed in the latest fashion? Do you regret not buying that outfit you loved at the time you saw it? (ok we blew it)
The UNOPAA have left over stock of Polo Shirts from last year's events (2017). These Polo's are excess stock left over from the Cyprus Withdrawal and from the Hobart Conference/ Reunion. Limited sizes are available in each design (see available sizes below)
UNFICYP Polo Shirts The dark Blue Polo is the shirt all attendees in Cyprus received
Hobart Reunion Polo Shirts Price $15 each (including postage)
To Pay for your Polo You can pay via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
The Light Blue Polo was worn by UNOPAA and AFP Organisers in Cyprus
Sizes available - Extra Small (XS) to Extra Extra Large (XXL)
BSB 815-000 (Police Bank),
Price $15.00 each (including postage) Sizes available - Extra Small (XS), Small (S), Medium (M) only
To Order your Polo Contact Mick Travers on mt2976@gmail.com advising which Polo style you would like and the size required. Also advise Mick of your payment type (see below)
Account Number 229831S2. Account Name - UNOPAA Merchandise Account Reference - Your Surname If that's too techo for you - Advise Mick of how you wish to pay and he will make arrangements. Be quick - stocks are limited
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UNITED NATIONS & OVERSEAS POLICING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (UNOPAA)
Membership Renewal or Application Your annual UNOPAA membership subscription is $20.00. Please complete this form and return with your subscription to address at the bottom of this form.
Surname or Family Name Given Name/s Preferred Name Private Address (No. & Street) (Suburb or Town) (State)
(Postcode)
Spouse/Partner’s Name Phone (Home or Mobile)
(Business)
Email Address Current or former Police Organisation (please tick)
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VIC
SA
TAS
NSW
QLD
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Other
(specify below)
Former or retired
Associate
United Nations or Overseas Policing Service UN Mission/Country of Policing Service (eg: UNFICYP-Cyprus, UNMIT/TLPDP-Timor Leste, RAMSI, Afghanistan, etc)
Year/s
Contingent Number/s
Military Service (eg: RAAF, Corps, Regiment, Wing, Ship etc)
Membership Fees
for Serving Members, Former or Retired,
$20.00 or Associate Cheque
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EFTPOS - Account Name: UNOPAA BSB: 815-000 Account No: 229831
Direct debit (form attached)
All payments MUST be made in Australian Dollars. Make cheques payable to UNOPAA. Do NOT send cash.
Please send this Application Form and remittance to: UNOPAA c/- Peter McDonald, National Secretary 83 Prospect Drive, East Keilor, VIC, 3033 Phone: (03) 9337 4736 Mobile: 0418 131 352 Email: secretary@unopaa.org
Official Use Only
Membership updated on: By:
UNITED NATIONS & OVERSEAS POLICING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA UNOPAA (Inc. NSW) ABN: 83 146 901 797
MERCHANDISE
COST
Blue UNOPAA Tie
$20.00
Custom UNOPAA Tie Bar
$20.00
UNOPAA Cufflink
$20.00
UNOPAA Lapel Pins
$10.00
QUANTITY
SUBTOTAL
Printed UNOPAA Tie
Custom UNOPAA Tie Bar Challenge (UNOPAA/ANF) coins
$25.00
DELIVERY DETAILS
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Please note – GST, postage and handling included
TOTAL $............................
CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER Send cheque or money order in mail, payable to “UNOPAA”, and this form completed with your order to PO Box 7099, KARABAR NSW 2620 DIRECT CREDIT - INTERNET TRANSFER Account: UNOPAA Merchandise S2 BSB: 815000 Account: 100343942 Reference: <your last name> and ‘MRCHDS’ in the reference field Then e-mail details of the transaction including your reference number and a copy of this completed form to heldale.cooper@gmail.com Title (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, Rank)
No/Street
First Name
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Last Name
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UNOPAA Cufflinks
UNOPAA Lapel Pins
Post/Zip Code
Challenge (UNOPAA/ANF) Coins Email
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Phone
The United Nations & Overseas Police Association of Australia (UNOPAA) will accept returned products/merchandise where: • The product is faulty, or not fit for purpose, or the product does not match the sample or description. Proof of purchase (UNOPAA merchandise receipt) must be provided in order to: • Obtain a refund (by cheque) will be provided or re-issue alike article.
IMPORTANT NOTES The UNOPAA will take the utmost care in packaging; however, we will not accept any responsibility for goods damaged in transit. The UNOPAA will not accept returns where the product or merchandise is ordered specifically for an individual (eg Montage, clothing, etc) All queries for return of merchandise must be received within 30 days from date of purchase and directed to the UNOPAA Merchandise officer @heldale.cooper@gmail.com. Item returns will be at the discretion of the APPVA Merchandise Officer provided the above criterion is met in the first instance. Please choose carefully as UNOPAA cannot accept returns due to a change of mind.
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