True Blue August 2022

Blue

SAME CAREER, DIFFERENT LIFE.

Come and join the good life in Western Australia.

Are you a police officer who loves the job, but looking for a change? Exciting adventures and a new lifestyle await with the WA Police Force. Your skills and experience will be recognised and valued, keeping your career on track with plenty of opportunities.

As a big state, Western Australia has a lot to offer, with a wide range of locations to police within Perth and beyond. It also has the best weather anywhere. Winters are sunny and summers are beachy.

The relaxed WA lifestyle is great for raising a family and home prices are the cheapest in Australia for capital cities.

Join the WA Police Force. There’s nothing to lose and awesome sunsets over the Indian Ocean to gain.

Kings Park and Botanical Garden*

Busselton Jetty*

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 Nation Peacekeeping Forces or AFP International Policing Operations throughout the world! TRUE BLUE is provided to its members throughout Australia and worldwide to where Australian Police 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 Overseas Policing operations.

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

Mobile: 0418 297 086

Email: mt2976@gmail.com

National Vice President

Mr Rod Walker

Tel: 0411 953 966 Email: enidandrod@tpg.com.au

National Vice President

Mr Dale Cooper RFD

PO Box 7099 Karabar NSW 2620 Mobile: 0418 266 033 Email: unopaa@gmail.com

National Secretary/Treasurer

Mr Peter McDonald APM 28A Dinah Parade, Keilor East Vic 3033 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: unopaa@gmail.com

New South Wales

Acting Branch President: Dale Cooper

Victoria/Tasmania

State President: Gavan Ryan APM

Email: gavan.ryan@bigpond.com

Queensland

State President: John Walker APM

Unit 230, 96 Village Way, Little Mountain QLD 4551 Mobile 0474 157 982

Email: whiskeywalker41@gmail.com

South Australia

State President: Garry Casey 40 Yarrabee Road, Greenhill SA 5140 Tel: 08 8390 3568

Mobile: 0427 188 449 Email: garryecasey@yahoo.com.au

Western Australia

State President: Darcy Boylan 21 Templemore Drive Heathridge WA 6027 Tel: 08 9402 0030

Mobile: 0408 120 299 Email: gdboylan@bigpond.com

Northern Territory

President: Allan Mitchell

5 Eureka Court Anula NT 0812 Tel: 08 8927 2676

Mobile: 0417 804 546

Email: almitch@bigpond.com.au

Proudly published by:

Countrywide Austral Pty Ltd ABN: 83 146 901 797 Ph: 03 9937 0200 • Fax: 03 9937 0201 Email: contact@cwaustral.com.au

Contents

4 75th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping

6

Australia’s peacekeepers in Cyprus

7 Queen’s Birthday Honours List

7 An introduction to Gavan Ryan

8 UNOPAA Norfolk Island Conference 2022

12 Anzac Day Cyprus

13 Anzac Day in Darwin

14 Tom McGrath updates us on the Land Rover

15 Last Commodore

16

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

18 Letter from Julie Collins MP

19 Around the Missions

20 UNFICYP marks International Day of Peacekeepers

21

Abandoned dog learns how to “woof again” after being rescued by UNPOL from the UN buffer zone

22 World Wildlife Day: UNFICYP tackles illegal bird trapping in the buffer zone

23 UNPOL peacekeepers awarded peace medal

24

Provision of Haematology Analysers

24 The Australian Governor General visits Timor Leste

25 National Ambulance Service takes over

25 Let the games begin

26 Hospital Disaster Management Program

27 Maritime Security Desk Top Exercise

27 English Language Training

28 RSIPF and AFP step-up preparedness for ‘Operation Parliament’

29 NZ Police and RSIPF deliver 5 Step Mindset training programme

30 Our country owes you all with deep gratitude: Hon Minister Veke

31 Police conduct joint maritime and foot patrol in Solomon Islands

32 Solomon Islands: cops bearing gifts

34 China donates vehicles and drones

35 Chinese Communist Party donates police equipment to Solomon Islands

36 Juliana was kidnapped and taken from Timor Leste as a ‘war trophy’

39 The background to the current conditions facing the people of Ukraine with the invasion by Russia

40 AFP Cambodia UN mission reaches 30th anniversary

42 Helping to rescue 13 people from a Thai cave in 2018 remains the highlight of AFP diver Kel Boer’s career

45 I want you for Peel’s Police c1839

46 The Final Inspection

47 Vale

48 Membership Renewal or Application

49 Merchandise

Cover Photo – 75th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping

Do we have your Email Address?

UNOPAA maintains a membership database and communicates with its members from time to time by email. If you haven’t been receiving these communications, it may be that we don’t have your email address, or it is out of date.

If uncertain, or it appears we don’t have it, please send your email address to the Secretary, Peter McDonald, at vp14970@gmail.com

14 September 2022 – 10:00am

Australian Peacekeeping Memorial

ANZAC AVENUE, CAMPBELL ACT 2600

Current and Former Police Peacekeepers are invited to attend the commemoration marking the 75th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The event will be live-televised on the ABC and will acknowledge the service and sacrifice of both Australian Police and Military Peacekeepers over the past 75 years.

75th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping

INTRODUCTION

A national commemorative service will be held on 14 September to recognise the 75th Anniversary of Australia’s involvement in international peacekeeping operations.

In 1947, Australians were part of the first group of United Nations military observers anywhere in the world, and in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) became the first peacekeepers to go into the field.

Since that time, Australian Peacekeepers have served in locations ranging from the Middle East to Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, East Timor, Southeast Asia, Bougainville, the Solomon Islands and many more. Tragically, 16 Australians have lost their lives during peacekeeping operations.

The 75th Anniversary commemorative service will be an opportunity for all Australians to pause, reflect and acknowledge the service and sacrifice of all Australians that have contributed to Peacekeeping since 1947.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs will deliver a televised commemorative service to mark the 75th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial on Anzac Parade, on Wednesday, 14 September 2022, commencing at 10:00 am.

This commemorative service provides an opportunity to recognise and acknowledge those Australians who have contributed and continue to contribute to Australian Peacekeeping across the world. The commemorative service will be broadcast live across Australia by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and streamed online. The ABC will also make the broadcast available to other networks to provide all members of the community the opportunity to acknowledge the 75th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping in solemn and dignified manner from their home.

Australia’s peacekeepers in Cyprus

Australia’s police connection with peacekeeping on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus began on 26 May 1964 when a contingent of 42 Australian police joined the multinational United Nations Peacekeeping Force Cyprus (UNFICYP).

That was the first day of 53 years of service in Cyprus by Australian police officers and has resulted in hundreds of photographs and dozens of objects and one well-travelled Land Rover finding their way into the AFP Museum collection.

The AFP Museum collection reflects the Australian experience in Cyprus which included the formal policing role, performing humanitarian tasks, building community relations and dealing with daily personal dangers of a potential war zone.

Objects such as UN helmets, berets and uniforms held in the collection speak to the core business of peacekeeping, while other objects and photographs speak to the mission’s community policing aspects. In total 1600 Australian police officers served with

the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus from 1964 to 2017.

Close to 180 International police and military officers lost their lives while on mission including Australian police officers, Sergeant Lew Thomas (SAPOL), Inspector Pat Hackett (NSWPF) and Sergeant Ian Ward (NSWPF) whose service is commemorated on the National Police Memorial in Canberra.

In September 2022, the AFP will join with the Department of Defence and Department of Veterans Affairs in commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Australia’s involvement in Peacekeeping Operations.

Source: AFP Hub - April 28, 2022

Queen’s Birthday Honours List

2022 Queens Birthday Honours included a few awards of interest to UNOPAA. Congratulations to each of them:

AM (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA)

Ivan Dean APM , who served as a TASPOL member of the 6th Contingent to Cyprus (1969-70) and later became a member of the Tasmanian Upper House. He recently retired from Parliament and received his award for “significant service to the people and Parliament of Tasmania, and to the community.”

OAM (MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA)

Wally Trenorden, who served as a COMPOL member of the 6th Contingent to Cyprus (1969-70) and was later the long serving Secretary of our SA Branch. He is also a life member of UNOPAA and has been an active member of the RSL and the SA Police RSL Sub-Branch for many years. He received his award for “service to veterans and their families.”

An introduction to Gavan Ryan

APM (AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL)

Scott Mellis, who served as an AFP member in East Timor in 2000.

Graham Shoobert, who served as a VicPol member in the Solomon Islands and East Timor in 2005-06.

You can find further details about all their awards, if you wish, by looking them up on the “It’s an Honour” database.

New Branch President for Victoria

Gavan served with Victoria Police for 29 years starting in 1979.

He worked at Port Melbourne, St Kilda, Fitzroy CIB, Homicide Squad (at 3 ranks), Brunswick, Spectrum (Mr. Cruel) Purana and Petra Taskforces reaching the rank of Detective Inspector. In 2008 he was offered a Superintendent position with the AFP IDG and remained there for 5 years. He served 13 months in the Solomons, 2 years in Afghanistan, the Christchurch

Earthquake and the sinking of SIEV221 off Christmas Island.

He immensely enjoyed his career at both Victoria Police and AFP. Gavan retired in 2013 and has since volunteered at the Austin Hospital (Repatriation Campus) at Ward 17 (PTSD Wing) and as a committee man for a local RSL. He is no longer involved with either.

He enjoys being part of the Police Overseas Service Association and particularly Anzac Day.

UNOPAA Norfolk Island Conference 2022

23-27 October 2022

Your UNOPAA 2022 Norfolk Island Conference Travel Packages are ready to go!

The UNOPPA Committee and conference organisers have arranged for travel packages inclusive of all conference activities that are now ready and available for booking. The venue for the conference is at Governors Lodge on Norfolk Island and the hotel is also our chosen accommodation for the week.

Travel Packages are for 7 nights and available departing Sydney or Brisbane. Packages start at $2,419pp twin share from Sydney and $2,409pp twin share from Brisbane. This price includes:

✓ Return economy class airfare to Norfolk Island ex Brisbane or Sydney

✓ All pre-paid airline taxes

✓ Meet & Greet at Norfolk Island Airport

✓ Return airport transfers on Norfolk Island

✓ Seven nights accommodation

✓ Seven days car hire (includes hire car surcharges, petrol is extra and payable direct whilst on the island)

✓ Daily fully cooked breakfast

✓ Welcome Dinner at Paradise Hotel

✓ Half Day Island Orientation tour

✓ UN Day parade to Cenotaph (UNOPAA members) followed by All Saints Church Service (transfers incl)

✓ UNOPAA 2022 AGM at Governors Lodge (for those attending. Tea and coffee included)

✓ Dinner at the Norfolk Island RSL including entertainment (drinks at own expense. Transfer incl)

✓ Reception at Government House by the Administrator of Norfolk Island (Transfer incl)

✓ UNOPAA Formal Black Tie Dinner at Governors Lodge

✓ Norfolk Island shopping bag, handy hints & shopping discounts

Travel Centre has appointed Christan Davies

at

GOVERNORS LODGE RESORT HOTEL NORFOLK ISLAND

The Governor’s Lodge Resort offers individual one bedroom fully serviced cottages set in wonderful sub-tropical gardens incorporating the famous majestic giant Norfolk Pines. Facilities include licensed restaurants, swimming pool, direct ISD phones with kitchenette. All day dining options available at the Boatshed (open 07:00 – 09:00 for breakfast, 11:00am – 5:00pm for lunch) Lounge Bar (daily 09:00 – 5:00pm) and the Baileys Restaurant for dinner (Tue – Sat 5:30pm – 8:00pm)

A week of fun and relaxation on stunning Norfolk Island

HALF DAY ISLAND TOUR

An orientation tour with a friendly local guide which will introduce you to Norfolk’s history, culture and geology, while pointing out key sites to revisit and some handy local tips for your stay.

GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOUR

Our two Norfolk Islander’s, Donald and George, will share their knowledge of Norfolk’s unique marine life. Once you’ve ‘walked the plank’ with these ‘mutineer descendants’ it takes 60 seconds (yes one minute!) to be at the reef. View beautiful coral gardens and tropical fish inside the calm crystal waters of Norfolk’s lagoon. Donald & Les provide full interesting commentary on this environmental tour. With these two, be prepared for a touch of Norfolk humour!

COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH HOME TOUR

Colleen McCullough, world-renowned author of 24 books called Norfolk Island home for almost 36 years. She and husband, Norfolk Islander, Ric Robinson, created a luxurious hideaway and maintained their privacy to ensure that Colleen had the perfect environment for her writing. Some of her most powerful titles were created in this much-loved sanctuary.

CONVICT SETTLEMENT TOUR

Join an ‘In Depth’ tour of the historic Georgian settlement of Kingston. Walk through the cemetery & hear the history of interesting convict & colonial headstones, hear stories of the houses along Quality Row. Walk through the ruins of the New Gaol, see the Pier Store, Boat Shed and the Crank Mill.

ISLAND ADVENTURES 4WD TOUR

Climb aboard our 18-seater 4WD bus for a Pioneering Adventure off the beaten tracks. A state-of-the-art Norfolk Island experience. Enjoy air-conditioned comfort and safety as we share authentic insights of Norfolk’s unexplored valleys, ridges, coastlines and private properties.

FARM AND INDUSTRY TOUR

Whilst tourism is Norfolk’s largest industry, it is by no means its only one. On this tour, we take you on a selection of the many other enterprises that sustain our community. These might include: raising meat producing sheep, market gardening, pig farming, manufacturing soft drinks and liqueurs, gardening or exporting Kentia seedlings.

PITCAIRN SETTLERS VILLAGE TOUR

Learn about the colourful history of Norfolk’s most recent settlement – the Pitcairn descendants. Experience the history & culture of the Pitcairn Settlers. View the magnificent homestead gardens, including many traditional crops. Ride in Norfolk’s first tour couch, a model A Ford. View a film, visit a blacksmith’s forge, the original homestead, a WWII Army hut & Museum of Memorabilia (incl. light refreshments).

GREENFINGER TOUR

A tour featuring some of the Islands most lovely gardens. Through the morning we visit a nursery owned and operated by a Norfolk Islander, and view the hydroponics. We also visit a gorgeous private garden and Norfolk Island’s only maze. Morning tea at a scenic spot included.

BREAKFAST BUSHWALK

Take you choice of a stroll through Palm Glen Reserve or for the more energetic a leisurely 3.5km walk through scenic Mt Bates to Captain Cook Monument. At the end of the walks we meet on the clifftop for a delicious barbecue Breakfast. Tour is not recommended for anyone with medical conditionswalking shoes and water are recommended.

There is also a choice of optional tours and experiences you can enjoy as part of the UNOPAA conference:

Included in your package cost is a Half day Tour and Island Fish Fry.

What is Norfolk Island famous for?

There is no doubt that Norfolk Island is a unique destination and aside from its incredible beauty, there are a number of interesting reasons Norfolk Island stands out from the rest.

1. Descendants of the Bounty Mutineers

More descendants of Fletcher Christian than anywhere else in the world

Norfolk is now home to the famed descendants of the Polynesian women and Bounty Mutineers, originally living on Pitcairn Island. After outgrowing Pitcairn, the community, made up of 8 family groupings, relocated to Norfolk in 1856. Owner of NITC, Rebecca Christan, is a seventh-generation descendant of Fletcher Christan.

2. Convict Colony

The resting place of Australia’s most important shipwreck, flagship of the First Fleet HMS Sirius

Norfolk was home to two penal settlements. During the first, the Island became home to many ‘First Fleeters’. Then, after 1825, the poor souls who were to live, enduring ‘punishment just short of death’, simply tried to survive life here.

3. Norfolk Island Pine

Home to endemic Araucaria heterophylla, or ‑as you may know it, the Norfolk Pine

The Norfolk Island Pine was discovered by Capt. James Cook in 1774, Cook noted the pines would be perfect for masts and yards for sailing ships but it was later found that they were not resilient enough. Today, the Norfolk Pine can be found around the world, particularly coastal areas, due to its ability to grow in sand and high tolerance for salt and wind – making it the perfect seaside tree.

4. Norfolk Cows

Moooove over because the free‑range cows on Norfolk Island have right of way

These friendly four-legged grass-mowers have been an integral part of Norfolk’s culture, in fact, they were the star of the Museum’s Longest Paddock Exhibition in 2020!

5. Colleen McCullough

Colleen McCullough and her convict ancestor

“Morgan’s Run” both lived here

The world-renowned author Colleen McCullough, made Norfolk home in 1979 and stayed until her passing in 2015. Here you can book an exclusive guided tour to the author’s magnificent property.

6. Emily Bay

The very same one named in Trip Advisor

Travellers Choice Top 10 Beaches

Summer + Norfolk Island = Emily Bay. This stunning beach has it all. Emily Bay is a unique gem. This is the perfect place for families to safely and easily enjoy a Norfolk Island summer holiday.

7. Unique Phone Book

Where you can search by nick‑name in the local phone book

Check out the The Faasfain (fast find) section of the Norfolk Island phone book. Islanders are so much more familiar with each other’s nicknames rather than their long forgotten birth names. Updated every three years.

8. Thanksgiving

The only place in the South Pacific that celebrates Thanksgiving Day

Norfolk Island is one of the few places outside of America to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, an influence left from the American whaling ships who would frequently visit during the late 1800’s. The Norfolk Island Food Festival is always timed to coincide with Thanksgiving Day.

9. Fishing

Or as the locals call it ‘catching’

With a 50sq Norfolk Marine Park seclusion zone around the Island, no commercial fishing allowed and deep water right at our doorstep, Norfolk Island is an undiscovered game fishing paradise.

10. Norfolk Island Golf Course

As seen in Golf Australia’s 60 best 9‑hole courses in Australia

Play golf on Norfolk Island and you’ll find one of the most friendly and social clubs with a course bordered by the South Pacific Ocean and set within historic Kingston, a World Heritage listed site. Often described as one of the most beautiful locations for a course, it’s not hard to understand why it’s such an attraction.

ANZAC Day Cyprus

ANZAC Day 2022 was marked with a small ceremony at Wayne’s Keep in the Nicosia UN Buffer Zone. Wreaths were laid by Australian High Commissioner Fiona McKergow, Deputy Head of Mission Michelle Anderson and New Zealand Honorary Consul Chris Christodoulou at the graves of five ANZACs (3 Australians and 2 New Zealanders) and at the Cross of Sacrifice. Thank you to the Commander of Sector 2, the Regimental Sergeant Major, the Padre and team for their support and participation.

New Zealand Embassy Rome, Italy Australian High Commission, Cyprus

Anzac Day in Darwin

Kym Chilton (East Timor) and myself attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Darwin recently. As is common at such ceremonies in the NT, instead of a wreath, we laid a book, which will be later given to a school, to add to their library.

I chose a book titled, Anzac Animals. The RSL will collect the books and over the couple of weeks will distribute them to the nominated schools.

There was an excellent turnout for the hour-long ceremony, with numbers possibly boosted by the attendance of both the (then) Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and the Acting Leader of the Opposition, The Hon. Richard Marles.

Allan Mitchell President UNOPAA (NT)

Tom McGrath updates us on the Land Rover

Hi all, just an update on the Land Rover and Anzac Day. With the Anzac Day March in Melbourne banning the use of vehicles such as the Land Rover being able to participate, it became a bit of a problem as to its future. However, this Anzac Day the local Anglesea RSL declared the day as a Peacekeepers Day and I was able to bring the Land Rover out of retirement for the local march. They also had a display at the local hall for three days, very well attended, and the Land Rover was put on show there with its new banner. I was dragooned into being the Peacekeeper of the day and had to make a short speech . It was a very good day and a lot of people showed interest in the Land Rover and the fact that Australia has been involved in Peacekeeping for many years since just after WWII. The Land Rover is going well, albeit a mongrel of a thing to drive, no power steering and no automatic! I hope you are all well and triple vaxed! No lamb on the spit for three years now.

Tom McGrath

Last Commodore

One of the last Australian-made Holden Commodore police vehicles has come to its final stop, with a ceremony held on Thursday, 30 June, 2022, in Belconnen.

For 44 years Australian-made Holden Commodores have been used by police officers in the ACT, but the silver 2018 SSV Redline was the last in operation before it was retired last month.

The iconic status of the vehicle has meant there would be no more fitting home for it than the AFP Museum.

Yesterday, ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentlemen welcomed the car to its new home.

“As a long time car lover, I am thrilled that we can commemorate a fantastic Australian-made vehicle by displaying it in the AFP Museum where it will be enjoyed by generations to come,” Minister Gentleman said.

“The Holden Commodore was a vehicle built for Australians, by Australians and has served our police force well for many decades.”

Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan, who drove a Holden Commodore in his first roles in ACT Policing, said the car held a special place in the hearts of many Australians and Australian police officers.

“It was a vehicle that could handle the harsh driving conditions of the country, from the straight highways of the Nullarbor to the winding roads of the Snowy Mountains. It was a vehicle built to handle Australia’s unique climate and road system,” Chief Police Officer Gaughan said.

The AFP leases its vehicles through SG Fleet, which generously donated the Commodore to the AFP Museum when it reached the end of the lease arrangement last month.

SG Fleet’s Federal Government Contracts Manager Kenrick Winchester said SG Fleet has been a proud partner of the Australian Federal Police and ACT Policing for the past nine years.

“The donation is a great opportunity to help preserve a piece of Australian motoring history,” Mr Winchester said.

Senior Constable Greg Harlovich was the primary driver of the Commodore. He said that he was lucky to have been allocated such a great Australianmade vehicle.

“I was genuinely sad to have to hand this car back, but I am pleased to know it will be around for others to view long after I finish my career,” Senior Constable Harlovich said.

ACT Policing will also permanently retire the Tango-51 radio call sign allocated to the vehicle as a mark of respect for the last vehicle of its type and its long-time driver.

The vehicle will go on display at the Museum of Australian Policing in Acton when it opens.

Source: AFP Hub

Editor’s Note: If you think the name of the vehicle’s driver sounds familiar - Senior Constable Greg Harlovich is the son of Frank Harlovich of the 21 st Cyprus Contingent

Chief Police Officer for the ACT – Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan and Inspector Jo Brown (OIC AFP Museum) with the vehicle’s number plate.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

Commemoration Ceremony

It was a cold and windy morning, but the sun shone through. We were gathered at the National Peacekeeping Memorial, Canberra, to commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This year we were able to commemorate the day with more relaxed COVID restrictions and a reasonable gathering attended the service.

Assistance was provided by the AFP Recognition and Ceremonial Team along with Australian Defence Force who provided personnel for the Flag Party and wreath ushers.

The service Master of Ceremonies was UNOPAA National Vice President (and ACT Branch President) Dale Cooper RFD.

We were honoured to be joined by Mr Damian Cardona Onses, the newly arrived Director of The United Nations Information Centre for Australia.

We were also joined by Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, AO, CSC, Chief of Joint Operations, ADF representing the Chief of the Defence Force,

while The AFP Commissioner was represented by Superintendent Dean Elliott.

Also attending was Security Attaché Hermenegildo da Cruz and First Secretary Samuel Soares from the Timor Leste Embassy along with other diplomatic representatives. Mr Ian Lindgren of the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans Association (APPVA) along with Major General (Retd) Michael G Smith AO, Member of the United Nations Association of Australia ACT and Past National President of UNAA were also in attendance. In all – a gathering of approximately 30 people were in attendance many of whom retired to Poppy’s Café at the Australian War Memorial afterwards for coffee and a catch up.

The welcome address was delivered by UNOPAA National Vice President Rod Walker on behalf of the UNOOPAA National President.

The Flag Party was under the command of AFP Sergeant Damian Greenwood.

Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, AO, CSC, Chief of Joint Operations, ADF laid a wreath on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force.

Mr Damian Cardona Onses, the newly arrived Director of The United Nations Information Centre for Australia delivered the UN Secretary General’s Message for International UN Peacekeepers Day.

Mr Peter McDonald

Secretary

United Nations and Overseas Policing Association of Australia

Dear Peter McDonald

I am writing to you as I have been notified by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs of your recent grant application through the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program on behalf of the United Nations and Overseas Policing Association of Australia.

I am advised that your grant of $6,400 to install an honour board to commemorate Tasmanian Police who have served in peacekeeping operations at the Tasmanian Police Academy in the electorate of Franklin has been successful.

Congratulations on this great effort and on the work your organisation did in putting together this application.

This honour board will be an excellent addition to our community and a timely reminder of the great work that Tasmania Police do not only in our community but internationally.

It would be much appreciated if you could keep me informed as to the progress of this project. I would appreciate the opportunity to come and see the honour board once it has been installed.

If I can be of any assistance to you in the future, please let me know on 03 6244 1222 or by email: Julie>Collins.MP@aph.gov.au

Yours sincerely

Julie Collins MP Federal Member for Franklin Shadow Minister for Agriculture

Around the Missions

UNFICYP marks International Day of Peacekeepers p 20

Abandoned dog learns how to “woof again” after being rescued by UNPOL from the UN buffer zone p 21 UNPOL peacekeepers awarded peace medal p 23

World Wildlife Day: UNFICYP tackles illegal bird trapping in the buffer zone p 22

Provision of Haematology Analysers p 24

The Australian Governor General visits Timor Leste p 24

National Ambulance Service takes over p 25

Let the games begin p 25

Maritime Security Desk Top Exercise p 27 Hospital Disaster Management Program p 26 English Language Training p 27

RSIPF and AFP step-up preparedness for ‘Operation Parliament’ p 28

NZ Police and RSIPF deliver 5 Step Mindset training programme p 29

Our country owes you all with deep gratitude: Hon Minister Veke p 30

Police conduct joint maritime and foot patrol in Solomon Islands p 31 Chinese Communist Party donates police equipment to Solomon Islands p 35

Solomon Islands: cops bearing gifts p 32 China donates vehicles and drones p 34

UNFICYP marks International Day of Peacekeepers

On 29 May, UNPOL celebrated International Day of Peacekeepers, and the power of partnerships, with Cypriots at Ledra Street in Nicosia. We celebrate all our peacekeepers for their service for peace in Cyprus and around the world.

On 27 May, SRSG Colin Stewart, briefed staff on recent developments during a townhall to mark peacekeepers day. The day offers an opportunity to pay tribute to the contributions of uniformed and civilian personnel to the work of the Organization, and to honour more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the flag since 1948.

Meet OP, a Rottweiler sadly abandoned by his owner in the UN buffer zone. The mistreated dog was left to fend for himself in the grounds of an abandoned factory in Derynia, on the eastern side of the island.

OP had lost hope of seeing better days until he was found by two UNPOL officers on patrol, Giulia Dorella, from Italy and Brian Quirke, from Ireland.

UN Police Officer Dorella recalls finding OP cowering in a dark corner of the factory: “He looked so scared and lonely, he had given up hope. He captured my heart as soon as I saw him, so I took him to the vet”. The dog was malnourished, and his legs covered in wounds. After a trip to the vet where he received medical checks and treatment he is now on the mend and has been taken under the wing of Giulia herself, who decided to name him OP, as he was found at one of the UN observation posts.

OP remains in the place where he was discovered, and our UNPOL officers based in Derynia are regularly feeding him and spending time with their new mascot.

UNPOL Officer Dorella said “Sadly finding abandoned pets and working dogs in the buffer zone happens far too often, particularly at the end of each hunting season. Dogs are for life not just for the hunting season.”

Hunting, training dogs or abandoning animals inside the buffer zone are strictly forbidden and poses a serious security risk. OP has recovered and is happy, healthy and “woofing” again. Nevertheless, he is looking for a new forever home where he can be loved every day with all the care and attention he deserves.

Abandoned dog learns how to “woof again” after being rescued by UNPOL from the UN buffer zone

World Wildlife Day: UNFICYP tackles illegal bird trapping in the buffer zone

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and lies on one of the main bird migration routes across the area. In the United Nations buffer zone alone, there are around 200 bird species out of the over 400 known to exist on the island. Many of them endangered by bird traps set illegally by hunters.

Mark Wall has served as a detective police officer in Ireland for almost 30 years. Since 2021, he has been deployed with UNPOL to Pyla, where he is responsible for coordinating the daily patrols of 9 patrol officers. For him, “effective patrolling means being aware of all potential illegal activity and coordinating a response.”

In addition to partnering with local authorities, like the Game and Fauna Services, to seize and destroy illegal hunting equipment inside the buffer zone, UNPOL works in close collaboration with UNFICYP’s military and Civil Affairs components and also has the support from CABS, the Committee Against Bird Slaughtering, which is helping enforce the law for the protection of birds and works to detect and spot illegal hunting and trapping activities.

Andrea Rutigliano, who has been working with CABS since 1996, oversees the antipoaching operations in Cyprus, Italy, Spain, and France. On the island, they count with 4 staff and few volunteers who are mostly foreigners. For her, “We are glad to have the contact and support of UNFICYP. We believe that joint operations between UNFICYP, the Cyprus police and CABS would bring great results in the buffer zone.”

The buffer zone extends for approximately 180 kilometres across the island. In some parts of old Nicosia, it is only a few meters wide, while in other areas it can reach a few kilometres between both communities. The area has remained a haven for flora and fauna, thriving on the near absence of hunters and most other human interference.

However, over the last months, UNPOL have spotted illegal

trapping devices in remote areas. Once this happens, a detailed search of the location is carried out and depending on the circumstances, Game and Fauna Services or CABS staff are escorted to the scene and assist in seizing the equipment.

UNFICYP pays careful attention to preservation of the natural environment, and to the prevention of unlawful activity in the buffer zone. However, despite Mission efforts and

active patrols, Mark details that in some instances, “illegal bird traps were found placed near large trees or on small grove of trees such as olives in distant areas ways from patrol tracks.”

Andrea explains that “small migrating birds are a sought-after delicacy”. According to her, although CABS does not remove traps on their own, they inform authorities on the spot. With CABS support, in 2021, “we removed around 2,300 lime sticks, 140 nets and 130 electronic decoys used for both hunting and trapping,” she recalls.

On 23 February, UNFICYP peacekeepers from UNPOL in sector 4, together with the Game and Fauna Services, held a symbolic ceremony in Kofinou village to destroy all illegal bird trapping equipment seized by the Mission’s military and police in the buffer zone over the last months.

UNFICYP keeps a permanent watch over the buffer zone with patrols in vehicles, on foot, on bicycles and by helicopter. For Mark, “patrolling the buffer zone makes you realise

how fragile the ecosystem in Cyprus is. The buffer zone has many beautiful but endangered plants and animals. Anything we can do to help support their survival gives us great satisfaction.”

On many occasions, he witnessed birds being rescued from their traps and recollects the experience: “we have actively assisted in freeing protected wild birds. It’s a great feeling knowing you are making a positive contribution to the protection of wildlife in Cyprus.”

As we mark World Wildlife Day, UNFICYP reminds that such activities inside the buffer zone are strictly forbidden and the use of weapons, dogs or equipment in this context poses a security risk and all illegal equipment that endangers wildlife seized inside the area will be removed.

UNPOL peacekeepers awarded peace medal

On 5 May, 20 UNPOL peacekeepers from China, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Sweden were awarded United Nations medals for serving for peace in Cyprus in a ceremony held at the UN Protected Area, several ambassadors also attended the ceremony.

Provision of Haematology Analysers

Australia is pleased to provide three haematology analysers to the National Laboratory in support rapid clinical diagnosis. The requested analysers will support blood cell count, one of the most prescribed blood tests, allowing doctors to quickly diagnose several illnesses.

“This equipment will support the established isolation facilities (Lahane, Vera Cruz and Tasi Tolu) to run haematology tests for Dengue patients and increase the capacity of haematology testing to over 100 tests per day”, said Ms Endang Soares da Silva, Director Executive of the National Laboratory.

The machines and reagents were received by The Executive Director Ms Endang Soares da Silva, Director for Pathology and Clinical Microbiology Ms Ari Jayanti Tilman and Director for Quality Control Ms. Domingas Campos.

The Australian Governor General visits Timor Leste

Australia’s Governor-General, Honorary David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley visited Timor-Leste to represent Australia at the inauguration of the President Dr José Ramos-Horta, and to attend events marking the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Timor-Leste’s independence.

National Ambulance Service takes over

In July the Australian government proudly congratulated the leadership of Serviço Nacional de Ambulancias e Emergencia Medica (SNAEM. IP) for gradually taking on management of the Ambulance service from the Health Transport and Ambulance Program (HTAP), including the recent recruitment of mechanics and call responders. This illustrates the commitment of SNAEM to maintain and improve ambulance services.

The Health Transport and Ambulance Program (HTAP), supported by the Australian Government since 2014, works to improve health emergency transport services through support to i) clinical services ii) ambulance maintenance and iii) strategic management.

Last week, HTAP celebrated the handover of the mechanic and call responder functions fully to SNEAM. All 19 staff (6 women and 13 men) received a certificate of appreciation for their efforts, in maintaining ambulance services that save lives every day.

“We appreciate the commitment from the Australian Government to support the Government of TimorLeste to strengthen ambulance services over the last 8 years. This has contributed to a significant increase in ambulance availability across the country that on average provides assistance to 20,000 people per year. We are grateful for the

increased quality and capacity of our ambulance drivers and clinical services,” says the DirectorGeneral for SNAEM dr. Horacio Sarmento da Costa. “We are receiving fewer community complaints on ambulance services compared to the situation before 2014, and SNEAM will continue to maximise the remaining support from the Australian Government this year.”

The Australian Government through PHD is providing continuous advisory support to ensure proper planning, fleet maintenance and system improvement until June 2023, after which time, SNEAM will have full responsibility for the Ambulance service.

Let the games begin

For the first time, representatives from the F-FDTL have participated in Exercise Khaan Quest in Mongolia. In partnership with Australia, Timor-Leste has taken part in this multi-national United Nations exercise as observers. Khaan Quest is conducted over 14 days and includes over

16 nations, making it one of the largest annual exercises in the world. The Exercise has a strong focus on learning, shared experiences and UN values. Reflecting Timor-Leste’s priorities, Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program prioritises supporting the development of F-FDTL capabilities in peace operations.

Hospital Disaster Management Program

In July, 31 senior medical, nursing & allied health professionals from HNGV, officers from PNTL, Bombeiros, F-FDTL, INS, Universidade Cristal, Universidade Nasional Timor-Leste and Ambulance staff from SNAEM have consolidated their skills in the domains of teamwork, triage, incident command and control, communications, safety and patient flow during the Hospital Major Incident Medical Management & Support (HMIMMS) course delivered by Australia’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC).

The HMIMMS course is designed to provide leading clinicians, health administrators and disaster emergency management staff with advanced skills and knowledge to support hospital disaster management.

Dra Custodia Florindo, Diretora Nasional Operasaun at HNGV

said this training will help the Hospital and Government emergency responders have a standard approach to managing medical emergency response and disasters.

The NCCTRC has been working in partnership with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funding support to deliver health

emergencies training and preparedness across the IndoPacifc region since 2010.

This ongoing multi-year commitment recognises the importance of building local response capacity and capabilities across health and emergency services sectors to effectively respond to mass casualty incidents, disasters and health emergencies.

Well done to the officers from the Maritime Police Unit and the FFDTL Navy/National Maritime Authority who attended the 11th Annual Maritime Security Desktop Exercise (MSDE). Officers participated in discussions and syndicate-based scenario work around maritime bounders, transnational serious and organised crime, and safe and secure seas. A key theme was how to co-operate effectively with regional law enforcement partners.

The MSDE was co-hosted by the Indonesian Coast Guard and Maritime Border Command, Australian Border Force and featured maritime security agencies from 22 countries across our region: Indonesia, Australia,

English Language Training Maritime Security Desk Top Exercise

Congratulations to over 50 officers from Migration Services, Customs Agency, the PNTL, ANATL, Quarantine and AACTL for completing the Year 1 English language training program—

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, and Vietnam.

The MSDE was facilitated by subject matter experts from the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong with support from the Australia Government.

funded by the Australian Government.

Australia has a long-standing commitment to enhancing the language training proficiency of counterpart agencies in

Timor Leste. English helps them to communicate more effectively with foreign visitors at the border, liaise with international counterparts, and contribute to regional and international initiatives.

RSIPF and AFP step‑up preparedness for ‘Operation Parliament’

In preparation for the sitting of parliament

commencing next week (18 July 2022), the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and components of the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) conducted Public Order Management (POM) exercises this week.

Under RSIPF ‘Operation Parliament’, the SIAF contingent will support the RSIPF in maintaining law and order to ensure the continued safety of the Solomon Islands people, institutions and infrastructure.

Conducting ongoing operational exercises is ‘business as usual’ for police agencies across the world. The ongoing POM exercises is necessary to ensure operational readiness and interoperability between agencies when required. A key component of operational readiness is ongoing regular POM exercises, where officers refine their skills from their training in real life scenarios.

The RSIPF and SIAF officers will continue with POM joint operational exercise programs to ensure both police agencies are ready to respond swiftly and efficiently to any potential public disorder incidents.

RSIPF Commissioner Mangau said we have the Pacific Games in 2023, where our country will be on the world stage. The international community is watching closely and my team will continue to work with the Solomon Islands community

to maintain peace and security within our Hapi Isles. Thank you to our SIAF partners for their ongoing partnership as we prepare for current and future operations.”

SIAF Deputy Commissioner (DC) Davies Heath reinforced the message that SIAF is here to support RSIPF and the Solomon Islands community and is ready to respond to any incidents during the sitting of parliament or as required.

DC SIAF Mr Heath says, “Our officers continue to work alongside our RSIPF partners and are undertaking ongoing preparations for ‘Operation Parliament’. The SIAF contingent is ready and equipped to detect and disrupt public disorder and will respond effectively if required. We encourage all citizens to respect the livelihood of fellow community members and to refrain from attending any unlawful gatherings or protests.

Source: RSIPF website

NZ Police and RSIPF deliver 5 Step Mindset training programme

New Zealand Police attached to the Solomon Islands Police Support Programme (SIPSP) have developed a 5 Step Mindset training programme for the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF).

New Zealand Police working alongside National Crime Prevention Department (NCPD) staff and Learning and Development staff from the RSIPF have developed the programme to assist the RSIPF to be the best that they can be – every day.

The training has been delivered over the past month to Police leaders within the RSIPF who have been identified as suitable trainers to deliver the training across the RSIPF organisation.

NZ Police team leader Inspector Warwick McKee says “Our team

is committed to mentoring and assisting the RSIPF to develop their people so they are in the best position they can be to deliver the service the communities within the Solomon Islands deserve.

By training the RSIPF trainers we ensure that the RSIPF will deliver this training through all the provinces to enhance the capability, culture and mindset across the RSIPF.

Inspector Steve Sunaone from the RSIPF NCPD says “This training is exciting for our

organisation. We want the RSIPF to be leaders across the pacific in crime prevention and service delivery to our communities. This training is vital for our Police to understand how they contribute to our organisation and challenges them to have the best frame of mind every day when they come to work.”

The training is set to be delivered in the coming months to RSIPF staff across the Solomon Islands.

Source: RSIPF website

Our country owes you all with deep gratitude: Hon Minister Veke

Our country owes you all with deep gratitude… a strong statement uttered by the Hon Minister of the Ministry of National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS) Mr Anthony Veke during a 44th Independence Day celebration at the Rove Police Club on July 7, 2022.

During the program Hon Veke says, “The past years have not been easy, we have faced a lot of challenges which tested the capability of both agencies. The COVI-19 pandemic has in-deep stressed our efforts, planning, our finances, our human resources and our ethics.”

Minister Veke says, “You have delivered the essence of security in these tough times and I must thank you to all. I understand a lot of issues have been raised in terms of working conditions and procedures. We are trying our best to address them. Please know that we are trying our best to address them.”

“Our resources are limited and we can only do much. However it must be noted that we have not forsaken you and will always work hard to ensure that your welfare is taken care of. Allow me to thank you and my deep gratitude to the work you have done during the COVID-19 period,” says Anthony Veke.

Hon Veke says, “You have proven yourself worthy of the badges and uniforms you wear to work. During the November riot in 2021 both agencies came out in numbers to bring back order to this country.

You did not involve yourself in politics of the situation but stood out and restored order as was expected of you. The country owes you all a deep gratitude. I must tell you that you should be proud of yourself for a job well done.”

The independent celebration was organised by the MPNSCS for the Royal Solomon Island Police Force

(RSIPF) and Correctional Services Solomon Islands (CSSI) with their family members.

The main highlight of the independence celebration is the cutting of the independent day cake, cultural performances, and out outdoor activities for officers and families of both agencies.

Source: RSIPF website

Police conduct joint maritime and foot patrol in Solomon Islands

Members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) conducted a joint maritime and foot patrol along the Mataniko River and Koa Hill Community on Monday 13th June 2022.

The maritime patrol was conducted along the Mataniko River using a banana boat while the foot patrol started on the Skyline Ridge, through Koa Hill Community, and ended in the Tuvaruhu area.

Police visibility was high at Koa Hill community where members of the patrol had the opportunity to interact with elders and youths of the community and the large number of children excited by the visit.

A/Sgt. Craig Pfeiffer said patrolling communities is vital as it allowed officers to engage with community members and to better understand issues impacting the community.

The visit gets RSIPF, AFP and SIAF members to gain better knowledge of the area through interactions with community leaders and members.

The patrolling officers had the opportunity to visit the Macedonia Academy and learn about the school which is located in the Koa Hill Community.

Source: AFP Hub - June 6, 2022

Joint water patrol into Koa Hill community – River joins the China Town District

Patrol Team meet with local children during the patrol

Solomon Islands: cops bearing gifts

Australia and China offer the archipelago nation a grab bag of policing options that often miss the mark.

The pre-Christmas announcement that Solomon Islands’ government was going to accept China’s offer of six police advisers and a swag of emergency riot equipment generated consternation in Canberra. The ABC’s Andrew Greene reported discomfit from his “defence and diplomatic” sources. The offer came on the heels of a contingent of Australian police and military arriving following riots in Honiara in November. A few weeks later, Australian Federal Police (AFP) commander Paul Osborne was sworn in as Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Osborne is not new to this beat. Immediately prior to holding the position, he had been leading the

AFP’s capacity-building efforts in the country. From 2011 to 2013, he headed the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) police force. In valedictory remarks to the AFP’s in-house magazine, he opined that “the [Royal Solomon Islands Police Force] we see now is rapidly becoming equal to any other Pacific police force”. He’s probably right. And after more than 40 years of steady assistance, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force must surely also be a viable candidate for the most exhaustively and expensively trained in the region too, or even the world.

In 2014, a Lowy Institute analysis found that of the $2.6 billion price tag for RAMSI, the “law and

justice” component comprised the overwhelming share (some 83 per cent), with close to A$1.5 billion spent on the AFP assistance in RAMSI’s first decade.

What’s this all achieved? It’s hard to know. There’s never been a publicly released independent assessment gauging Australia’s police reform efforts. However, a 2019 public opinion survey conducted by the Australian government and the United Nations Development Program found that using community leaders was considered the most effective, and police the least effective, way of resolving disputes.

Notwithstanding extensive critique, the notion that delivering more training along with countless more

AFP and ADF patrols in Honiara in December following the earlier riots (Defence Department).

Around the Missions

policies and procedures is required for police to thrive seems to be firmly embedded as a approach. Australian programs have rumbled on year by year, punctuated by openings of initiatives, and handing-overs of cars, computer labs and the like. Australia has guarded this insular space assiduously. Back in 2019, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare related how crotchety he had become when Australia rebuffed Taiwanese attempts to provide police training.

The Chinese announcement and consequent grousing lays bare that police assistance programs aren’t about the technical matters of capability building they are dressed up to be. These are “presence missions”, more to do with geopolitical shadow boxing and currying favour with elites.

The arrival of the Chinese cops seems a powerful indicator that Australia has less leverage nowadays. The question is, what’s likely to be on offer from the Chinese? More of the same train and equip stuff that Australia offers? Or something different?

Likely more of the same. To date, China’s Pacific policing assistance has been a grab bag of gifts – antiriot equipment for Fiji in the lead up to 2014 elections, a police training centre for Samoa, vehicles for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea. While Fiji has hosted Chinese cops on short-term secondments, in-country assistance is new territory. It will likely raise strategic eyebrows, coming on the heels of China appointing its first Pacific police liaison officer to Fiji in September 2021, and its first defence attachés to Fiji and Papua New Guinea a year ago.

The international arm of China’s police bears little resemblance to its domestic sibling. China’s police force is remarkable (in a

country often referred to as a police state) for its lack of resources and desperately low morale. The force is focussed on “stability maintenance” – stopping protests and keeping tabs on dissidents rather than catching criminals or implementing technocratic plans, the purported focus of policing in Solomon Islands Chinese advisers headed for Solomon Islands are more likely to be English-speaking veterans of UN peacekeeping missions than demoralised beat cops. China devotes considerable resources to supporting peacekeeping, contributing far more personnel (over 50,000 to date) than other UN permanent Security Council members and making a considerable contribution to costs, second only to the United States. It is one of a handful of areas where China still looks to work with the United States. In international relations jargon, China is still a “norm taker” in peacekeeping.

It’s not inconceivable that a policing partnership with Australia could emerge here, too. China and Australia have cooperated productively on malaria prevention in Papua New Guinea. And the two countries have good policeto-police relationships already, as per adulatory comments on the AFP’s website. And even if rebuffed, it would be a proactive move, preferable to the reactive nature of Australia’s previous responses to China in the Pacific.

All development cooperation programs need a punning acronym; this one could be “Solomon Islands Police CAP” (China Australia Partnership).

A note of caution to end. While stories that warn “the people of the Solomons [being] crushed by a PRC-trained police force” amount to overkill, there is one community with cause for concern. That’s Chinese business migrants whose shops were looted last year and back in 2006. Xi Jinping’s rhetoric frames security cooperation as protecting the motherland’s investments abroad, but it’s also about optics. Chinese citizens deemed to be harming the nation’s image through their “low quality” investments are in the sights of a state with an appetite for extraterritoriality and few concerns about due process. Chinese police bypassed Pacific legal systems in Fiji in 2017 and in Vanuatu in 2019 to round up Chinese nationals, label them as criminals, and bundle them onto planes. That’s an example of criminal justice partnership few want.

Article written by - Gordon Peake/Graeme Smith for the Lowy Institute

Source: www.lowyinstitute.org

The Lowy Institute is part of the

Chinese police serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in 2019 (UNMISS/Flickr).

China donates vehicles and drones

A small team of Chinese police trainers has been in Solomon Islands for several months, although it’s not clear if they will remain in the country now the round of training has been completed.

Mr Sogavare also flagged a new donation of police cars, motorcycles and drones from China.

“Ambassador Li Ming, I also acknowledge and appreciate the 22 police vehicles, 30 motorcycles, two police water cannons, eight police drones and advanced CPP (close personal protection) equipment, which are valued at $SBD22 million ($3.97 million) that will arrive in the country soon,” he said.

Solomon Islands has been plagued by riots and disorder over the last three decades. Australia led a multi-national force that restored order in 2003, and sent a smaller deployment of police officers and troops in November last year when Honiara was rocked by a fresh outbreak of looting and rioting.

While the deployment of Australian police quickly calmed the situation in Honiara, Mr Sogavare has since repeatedly accused Australia of refusing to protect Chinatown and projects financed by the Chinese government.

Australian officials have repeatedly and forcefully rejected that assertion, and say it is unreasonable to blame Australia for the devastation in Chinatown because the damage was done before Australian forces landed in Honiara.

But Mr Sogavare again made it clear at the graduation ceremony that he no longer wants to depend on Australia, New Zealand or other Pacific nations to guarantee security in Solomon Islands, and said he was determined to improve the capacity of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force with China’s help.

“If we achieve such capability, we will not have to depend on other countries to assist us to deal with our internal threats,” Mr Sogavare said.

“Let me repeat that as a sovereign country we cannot continue to depend on other countries to look after us. We must have the capability to address our internal threats.”

Source: ABC, foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic

Always wear underwear in public, especially when working under your vehicle. From the local paper comes the story of a Brisbane couple who drove their car to the shopping centre, only to have their car break down in the car park. The man told his wife to carry on with the shopping while he fixed the car.

The wife returned later to see a small group of people near the car.

On closer inspection, she saw a pair of hairy legs protruding from under the chassis.

Unfortunately, although the man was in shorts, his lack of underpants turned his private parts into glaringly public ones. Unable to stand the embarrassment, she dutifully stepped forward and quickly put her hand up his shorts, and tucked everything back into place.

On regaining her feet, she looked across the bonnet and found herself staring at her husband who was standing idly by watching.

The RACQ mechanic however, had to have three stitches in his forehead.

Chinese Communist Party donates police equipment to Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has declared he wants China to play a permanent role training police in his country and flagged a substantial new donation of police vehicles and equipment from Beijing.

It is another sign that he is intent on intensifying security ties with the emerging power.

Last Friday, Mr Sogavare attended a graduation ceremony for Royal Solomon Islands Police Force members who had received riot control training from Chinese police.

Australia has always been the major provider of police training in Solomon Islands, and senior Australian officials have publicly expressed their unease about China’s growing police cooperation with Honiara, warning that Beijing might inflame tensions by encouraging local officers to use more confrontational and violent tactics.

Australia has also been deeply alarmed by a broader security

pact signed by Solomon Islands and China, fearing it could allow Beijing to establish a military presence in the country down the track.

Pictures posted by the Chinese Embassy in Honiara have shown Chinese police trainers teaching Solomon Islands police how to use riot control gear and replica guns, while Solomon Islands Police Minister Anthony Veke has flagged China may also establish a new training centre for local officers.

Mr Sogavare told the graduation ceremony he would also like China to play a permanent police training role.

“Going forward I would like to see a more permanent arrangement in place that is not only reactionary to certain situations, but one that is forward-looking in identifying gaps and addressing these gaps before these gaps are exposed by situations such as the November riots,” he said.

A small team of Chinese police trainers has been in Solomon Islands for several months.

Chinese police trained Solomon Islands officers in how to use riot control gear.

Senior Australian officials have raised concerns about China’s growing police cooperation with Honiara. (Supplied: Solomon Islands government)

Juliana was kidnapped and taken from Timor Leste as a ‘war trophy’.

Two decades later, she made a daring dash for freedom

Days after Timor Leste’s independence ballot in 1999, Juliana was kidnapped at 15 by a pro-Indonesia militia leader and taken across the border to Indonesian West Timor.

She said she was raped, forced to marry her alleged kidnapper Egidio Manek, and gave birth to his child at the age of 16.

“He took other wives, the fifth one lived with us,” she said.

“I was treated like a slave and forced to serve him and his wife. All the household chores, including tending the fields, were left to me.”

Juliana said her captor was abusive.

“Sometimes he would beat me until my eyes were black and swollen,” she said.

“I would just stay silent because the children were still small and I tried to be patient.”

But in January this year, Juliana could take no more. With her children’s encouragement, she made a daring dash for the border. But she said her captor was not willing to let her go without a fight.

‘HE GRABBED MY HAND AND SAID I HAD TO MARRY HIM’ Juliana dos Santos and her family still live with the trauma of the day she disappeared.

It was a week after the Timorese had voted overwhelmingly to support independence and an

end to the 24-year Indonesian occupation.

For months leading up to the vote, militia gangs waged a campaign of terror across Timor Leste, murdering and torturing those who supported independence, burning their homes and livestock, and deporting Timorese civilians by the truckload to West Timor. Juliana and her family were among hundreds who had fled to the Catholic Church at Suai on Timor Leste’s south coast, as militia thugs backed by Indonesian soldiers circled with rifles, swords and machetes. Her 13-year-old

brother Carlos was murdered, along with up to 200 other people that day.

One of the militia leaders who ordered the killings at Suai, Egidio Manek, seized the then-15-yearold Juliana and forced her into a nearby car.

“As we tried to flee the church, Egidio was waiting at the door,” she said.

“He grabbed my hand and said I had to marry him. I didn’t even know him. He forced me into a vehicle that was heavily guarded by his men.

“I was crying uncontrollably when my parents came out of the church, but I couldn’t even embrace them because I was locked inside the car.”

‘WHEN WE’RE OLDER, WE’LL FOLLOW YOU’

Juliana said she was in the possession of Egidio Manek, then deputy commander of the Laksaur militia, which carried out the Suai massacre.

The United Nations-administered Special Panel for Serious Crimes later indicted him and 13 others with crimes against humanity.

Egidio Manek was charged with multiple counts of murder, torture, rape, enforced disappearance, deportation and inhumane acts, many of them relating to the slaughter at Suai.

Juliana dos Santos says she had been a “war trophy” for 22 years when she decided it was time to escape the man she claims kept her a prisoner and a slave.

Juliana made a daring escape across the border into Timor Leste, spending five hours in croc-infested water. (YouTube: Radio Comunidade Cova Taroman)

The true death roll remains unclear because like Juliana, hundreds of victims — dead and alive — were taken to West Timor. Some of the bodies were later recovered from mass graves.

UN prosecutors also accused Egidio Manek of abducting Juliana dos Santos.

But the trial never went ahead, because he and so many other militia members had disappeared into Indonesia.

Juliana dos Santos said she was taken to live at Betun in West Timor with the captor who called himself her husband.

Juliana said she was allowed to return to Suai a couple of times when there had been a death in her family back home.

She was never allowed to take her children, which she believes was a way of forcing her to return to her husband.

She said she was threatened with a beating if she returned even a day late.

But Juliana said it was her children who finally persuaded her to flee after their father threatened to stab their mother to death.

“They told me, ‘when we are older, we’ll follow you,’” she said.

“I am always in touch with them. I have told them I’ll give them money to get passports. They want to come.”

FIVE HOURS IN CROCINFESTED WATER

Juliana’s escape was fraught with danger.

As she approached the border of Timor Leste, she says Egidio Manek’s nephew and a group of Indonesian soldiers arrived in the dark, hunting her with torches.

She was forced to jump into the crocodile-infested river that runs along Timor Leste’s border.

“The water was as high as my neck,” she said.

“I knew that the Indonesian soldiers were after me, and so I swam, grasping hold of the roots of trees to help keep me afloat.”

Juliana said she spent five terrifying hours in the water before she finally reached a bamboo grove on the Timor Leste side of the river.

“Throughout the night my father had been calling me constantly,” she said.

“Miraculously, I had managed to keep my phone clear of the water and it was still working, [but] I had turned it to silent to avoid being heard by the Indonesian soldiers.”

Juliana was finally a free woman.

‘THERE ARE MANY JULIANAS STILL SUFFERING’

Juliana dos Santos has been the most publicised case among hundreds — if not thousands — of Timorese women and girls who

were raped, abducted or subjected to sexual slavery in the months and years surrounding Timor Leste’s independence ballot.

Some women who were also taken to West Timor have since managed to return home, many of them with children born from rape.

But how many more women are still trapped in Indonesia, perhaps still under the control of their kidnappers, is unclear.

A UN report in 2001 said after the Suai massacre alone, 20 women were taken to West Timor.

“We can presume that there are many Julianas still suffering in silence or who perished,” said women’s rights campaigner Kirsty Sword-Gusmao, the former wife of Timor Leste’s independence leader Xanana Gusmao.

“But precise figures are unavailable to us.

“The shame factor and the normalisation of violence by men against women in Timorese society, particularly at a time of conflict, mitigate against us ever obtaining a true and accurate snapshot of the problem of sexual violence and slavery as weapons of war.”

Ms Sword-Gusmao took Juliana dos Santos’s case to the UN Human Rights Commission in 2001 and lobbied tirelessly to have her freed.

When she established a Dili-based organisation to raise awareness of sexual violence against women, Ms Sword-Gusmao wanted to honour Juliana.

Juliana is known as Alola to her loved ones, so Ms Sword-Gusmao called her organisation the Alola Foundation.

Multiple inquiries over the years found that Indonesia’s security forces and the militia groups they controlled carried out widespread

Pro-Jakarta militiamen are accused of waging a campaign of terror in Timor after people voted overwhelmingly for independence. (Reuters)

and systematic sexual violence in Timor Leste.

The involvement of Indonesia’s security forces partly explains why militia leaders like Egidio Manek have evaded prosecution for so long.

Kirsty Sword-Gusmao said Indonesia has refused to hand over more than 300 of its citizens, including former militia members charged with crimes against humanity, among them Egidio Manek.

“Instead of cooperating with the UN, and to head off demands for an international war crimes tribunal, Indonesia set up its own ad hoc tribunal,” she said.

“Only one man... was jailed as a result of this process.”

EGIDIO MANEK DENIES KIDNAPPING JULIANA

Neither the Indonesian military nor the government would answer questions the ABC asked about its failure to hand over Indonesians accused of carrying out the violence of 1999.

Egidio Manek denies all allegations against him.

“What happened in 1999 is not my business. It’s the business of the state,” he told the ABC.

“The allegations of violence aren’t true. If that violence actually happened here in Indonesia, I would have been prosecuted by now. I would have been jailed.”

While not denying he was a member of the Laksaur militia, Mr Manek said Juliana dos Santos had chosen to stay with him and their children in West Timor.

“If she wanted to go back to Timor Leste then she could have. But she said she would stay here because her husband was here,” he said.

“There has been no violence. We worked together well as a couple. We built our home, we tended the garden, and took care of our paddy fields.”

WHAT NOW FOR JULIANA?

Juliana plans to stay in Timor Leste, and hopes to build a house and run a small business to help support her parents.

After two decades of her life were stolen, she said she wants her abductor to face justice.

“He deserves to be punished for the suffering he caused me,” she said.

“But my kids have asked me to forget about him and I don’t think about him at all.”

Many Timorese women who have given birth to children from rape have faced discrimination from their own families or communities in Timor Leste, and even the Catholic Church. But Juliana’s parents see her as a hero.

“Not even the bravest man could have done what she did, she was helped by the spirits of our ancestors,” said her mother, Maria Martins.

“All those years of Alola’s suffering are over now.

“I am angry for what he did to my daughter, but I am just happy that she has come home.”

By Indonesia correspondent Anne Barker

Source: ABC News Posted April 3, 2022

Egidio Manek denies taking part in the massacre or holding Juliana against her will. (ABC News: Oktavianus Seldy Bere)

After two decades away, Juliana was given local ID papers so she could resume her life in Timor Leste. (Supplied: Alola Foundation)

The background to the current conditions facing the people of Ukraine with the invasion by Russia

At the entrance to the memorial park in Kyiv, there is a sculpture of an extremely thin girl with a very sad look holding a handful of wheat ears in her hands. Behind her back is the Candle of Remembrance, a monument with details reminiscent of authentic embroidery that can be found on traditional Ukrainian costumes.

This is a monument that commemorates a historical event known as the Holodomor.

WHAT IS THE HOLODOMOR?

After the end of the First World War, Ukraine was an Independent State, but in 1919 the Soviet Union “sucked up” Ukraine into the community of Soviet States. The Ukrainians, who even then considered themselves Central European people like the Poles and NOT Eastern European like the Russians, tried to restore Ukraine’s Independence.

In 1932, not wanting to lose control of Europe’s main granary, Stalin resorted to one of the most heinous forms of terror against one nation. In the process of nationalization, Stalin took away the grain-producing land from the Ukrainian peasants, but also all its offerings, thus creating an artificial famine. The goal was to “teach Ukrainians to be Smart” so that they would not oppose official Moscow. Thus, the people who produced the most grain in Europe were left without a crumb of bread.

The peak of The Holodomor was in the Spring of 1933. In Ukraine at that time, 17 people died of hunger every minute, more than 1,000 every hour, and almost 24,500 every day! People were literally starving to death in the streets.

Stalin settled the Russian population in the emptied Ukrainian villages. During the next census, there was a large shortage of population. Therefore, the Soviet government annulled the census, and the enumerators were shot or sent to the gulag, in order to completely hide the truth.

Their poison gas was hunger and starvation. Their Hitler was Stalin.

Their Holocaust was the Holodomor!

For them, fascist Berlin was the Soviet Union, and their concentration camp was the Soviet Union.

Today 28 countries around the world present the Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainians, which you could not learn about in school, because almost all evidence was destroyed, and victims were covered after decades. Survivors were forcibly silenced by not having the right to vote until recently.

The Holodomor at the time broke the Ukrainians resistance, but it made the desire for Ukraine’s independence from Russia eternal.

AFP Cambodia UN mission reaches 30th anniversary

This year marks 30 years since the first of two contingents of AFP peacekeepers arrived in Cambodia (19 May 1992).

The contingents were part of the 3600 strong United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), established to supervise the country’s first democratic elections.

UN involvement followed the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements which brought to a conclusion a devastating conflict in Cambodia between a variety of factions that had been at war for more

than 20 years. Under the leadership of Superintendent Bill Kirk, the AFP’s first contingent established an area of responsibility centred on the village of Thmar Puok in the country’s north-west.

The primary tasks were to supervise and control local police forces, to investigate alleged violations of human rights and to stabilise conditions for the

elections planned for May 1993. The second phase would include the training of the local police. The UN provided six Tunisian and five German police to assist the AFP group.

Thmar Puok was bounded by the Thailand border to the west, while to the east and south the cease fire lines loosely separated the Khmer Peoples’ National Liberation Front military from the Government

Sergeants John Rixon and Alf Turketo receive an eye opening introduction to Cambodia’s violent past while visiting Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.

forces. The location was remote and was two day’s drive from Phnom Penh over roads which, in the wet, were often impassable.

With the first phase of the UN task completed under Superintendent Kirk’s command, the AFP’s second contingent led by Superintendent Bob Bradley took over in midJanuary 1993. The first AFP contingent had established the Khmer Police Training School at Thmar Puok Headquarters and the role of the second contingent was to continue this training just as successfully.

During the following eight months, the AFP officers were responsible for training more than 400 local police from all five local political factions. Courses were conducted over a period of three weeks with approximately 50 students in each course instructed by the CIVPOL members from the Thmar Puok District. Remarkably contingent members in their spare ‘time’ provided English lessons to villagers and for the children, they built a playground.

The connection with the people of Thmar Puok was so close that AFP contingent members were welcomed back to Thmar Puok to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the mission.

Source: AFP Hub Date published: April 4, 2022

First Contingent members being farewelled in Canberra by Senator Michael Tate are Superintendent Bill Kirk and contingent members John Rixon, Bert Kuijpers, Shane Connolly, William Williams, Rod Carnell, Shan Rice and Alf Turketo. Photo courtesy Canberra Times.

Members of the 2nd Contingent to Cambodia. Back row: Constable Paul Cartwright, Constable Phil McInerney, Constable John Anderson, Constable Adrian Selkirk, and Constable Steve Pereira. Front Row: Sergeant Keith Martin, Sergeant Peter Baldwin, Superintendent Bob Bradley, Sergeant Ian Standish and Constable Shaun Bennetts.

Helping to rescue 13 people from a Thai cave in 2018 remains the highlight of AFP diver Kel Boers’s career

It has been four years since a multi-national team rescued a group of 12 young soccer players from a cave in Thailand, but Australian Federal Police rescue diver Kel Boers still cannot believe it was a success.

Leading Senior Constable Boers was one of the divers called up to travel to Thailand in July 2018 as part of the frantic mission to locate and rescue the boys and their soccer coach, who had become trapped in a cave due to rising floodwaters while on a hike in Tham Luang Nang Non.

The group had been missing for seven days before they were found alive, four kilometres inside the cave.

Quickly realising how difficult it would be to extract the team from the complex network of tunnels, Thai authorities called in assistance from other countries.

Constable Boers first heard about the Thai soccer team’s plight on the news, when it was reported they were believed to be trapped in the cave.

“I remember saying to my wife, ‘oh man, they are screwed. Who’s going to get them out?’” he said.

“I never really even gave it a thought that that might be something we became involved in.”

About a week later, the AFP’s maritime team, of which Constable Boers is a part, was contacted by the Thai liaison officer.

“His question simply was, ‘do you guys cave dive?’” he said.

The team did not have specific cave diving experience but as commercial divers they said they

were willing to be a part of the rescue operation.

They were travelling to Thailand the next day.’

The Wild Boars soccer team and their 25-year-old assistant coach had hiked in the cave system before, but this time things had gone badly wrong.

A storm had hit while they were inside, flooding a stream at the entrance of the cave.

The youngest among them was 11 years old.

Their belongings were found outside, near the entrance, sparking an operation to discover their location.

Once they were found, the combination of medical experts

and divers was tasked with figuring out how they could extract them.

Everyone knew it would be very dangerous for all involved, as the cave system poses a challenge even for the most highly trained divers.

The passageways were narrow and currents strong, with divers forced to pull themselves along slowly, feeling their way along in the muddy water.

There was also the risk that their mask could be ripped off, and in some of the narrower sections, they were forced to remove their gear in order to crawl through.

Constable Boers and his team arrived while the mission to find the boys was still underway.

“It was chaotic,” he said.

“I have never seen such a media scrum. A camp had been set up and there was literally thousands of people, their support staff, media, a lot of people from the local Thai community that had come up to cook food for people.”

He said it took some time to work out what was happening and who was in charge.

“And when we finally nailed down the Thai Navy Commander, his comment was ‘I need you in the cave straight away,’” he said. They asked him what it was he needed them to do.

His answer was, “you tell me what we need”.

It was a formidable task, Constable Boers said.

“I mean, we’ve all done, in my team, penetration dives into shipwrecks or boat wrecks or aircraft and you have some experience but going into a cave is an entirely different situation,” he said.

“You simply can’t go up to get out.” He described the water as “black, gross, dirty, silty”.

“You couldn’t see your hand in front of our face,” he said.

“You immediately lose all direction and perspective of where you are because of it.

“And the only thing we had to go by was a very small, thin tagline

that had been tied from point to point.

“You have to keep your hand on that as you’re moving through the cave, and if you let go of that you’re in a world of hurt.”

Each dive on the way to where the team was trapped was a different length, some about 10 metres, others more like 400.

At first, their role was simply to support the search for the boys and their coach.

“I think when we got there it was ‘let’s see if we can just find them, first,’” he said.

“And we’ll take it one step at a time.

“There was probably a general belief that we weren’t going to find anyone, and if we did, we wouldn’t find anyone alive.”

But the unexpected occurred, and all 13 were found — thin and hungry, but alive.

The divers assisted in bringing food, water and medical supplies to the team, as work began to build up their strength for what would come next.

By then, the divers had been working in long shifts in incredible circumstances for days but were determined to see the mission through.

“So, we had a day shift and it was pretty much, in the cave by 6am,” Constable Boer said.

“And we’d be lucky if we were getting out by seven or eight o’clock at night, so then you’d have to rush off trying to clean gear and prepare gear and get everything ready to go for the next day.

“Get out of bed by 4:30 and you’d be back at the cave by five to prep your gear and get in.”

But they had a problem.

“Once the kids were found and obviously there was a massive

The team of 12 and their coach in the cave where they had been trapped for nine days before being found by rescuers.

Rescue teams searching for the missing Thai soccer players.(Supplied: Tham Luang Rescue Operation Centre)

An illustration of the kind of mission the divers had to undertake. (ABC News: Tim Madden)

amount of elation that they were found and alive, and I think within a minute the question is, ‘how do we get them out now?’” he said. “So, lots of different theories were run — scuba dive them out, teach them how to swim, all sorts of things, but it just proved to be too difficult and too risky.”

Among the international search and rescue team were Australians Dr Richard Harris and Dr Craig Challen, both of whom had cave diving experience.

The pair became instrumental in solving the problem of how to get the team out.

Their plan was to anaesthetise each boy, dress them in scuba gear and then carry them out through the tunnels on a stretcher.

“Dr Harry” — as the Adelaide anaesthetist is known — played the crucial role of sedating the boys with ketamine, while his long-time dive partner and friend Dr Challen assisted with medical checks deep inside the cave.

The plan was agreed upon by all involved.

It took hours to extract each boy from the cave.

“We rehearsed for several hours the day before the anticipated first attempt,” Constable Boer said.

Located in the first section of the rescue operation, Constable Boer would send them off to the next team of divers and be left wondering if they had made it.

“You’re left wondering, ‘well, did he make it the rest of the way?’” he said.

“And you get out of the cave at the end of the night and found out that every boy that came out had been taken to hospital and was well and healthy, it was an amazing feeling.

“Pretty much every time I was still expecting the next one to be dead or the next one to be dead.

“I still held that something could go wrong right to the very end because it was just something that was so risky.”

Tragically, one Thai Navy SEAL lost consciousness due to the poor oxygen levels in the cave and died during the operation.

“And when that retired Navy diver did die, it just really hit home to everyone that ‘hey, this is seriously dangerous stuff, let’s lift up our socks and make sure we’re always on our game and let’s make sure we get through this without any other tragedies,” he said.

Inevitably, the mission was successful — each of the 12 boys and their coach made it out alive and were transported directly to hospital.

Dr Harris and Dr Challen were named joint Australian of the Year in 2019 for their pivotal role. When the last of the group was safely taken to the end of the tunnels, a cheer went up among the group.

As they began the process of removing all their gear from the tunnels, pizza and KFC were

brought to them to celebrate.

“It was like a party atmosphere, sitting with men that I’ve never met before eating soggy pizza and KFC and just so excited about what we achieved,” Constable Boer said.

He said the mission remained the highlight of his career.

“I can honestly say, into the future when I’m no longer a police officer, it’ll still be a highlight of my life,” he said.

“It sounds like a cliche, but that’s why I became a police officer, so I can help people, and to have that experience is incredible.”

He said the team of AFP divers did leave Thailand having learned one lesson — to ensure there was a clear leader of any operation, even when the prospect of such a role might be daunting.

“Somebody has to put their hand up and make the decision,” he said.

By Niki Burnside

Source: ABC News – July 10, 2022

Dr Richard Harris and Dr Craig Challen were named joint Australian of the Year for their pivotal role in the rescue operation. (ABC News: Tamara Penniket)

I want you for Peel’s Police c1839

I wonder how many would apply these days!

You must be aged between 23-40 years of age

You will be paid the following rates:

CONSTABLE 17s (shillings) per week (-85p)

SERGEANT £1.1s per week (-£1.05)

SUPERINTENDENT £3.10s per week (-£3.50)

CHIEF CONSTABLE £13.19s per week (£13.50)

• Your working hours will be eight, ten or twelve hour shifts, seven days a week. Every encouragement will be given to officers to grow beards as shaving is regarded as unhealthy. However, beards must not exceed two inches in length.

• Uniform will be worn all the time, to prevent accusations of spying on the public, whilst in ordinary clothes. A duty band will be worn to indicate whether you are on duty or not.

• You are NOT allowed to vote in elections.

• You must not gossip with the public. In particular, avoid conversations with female servants or other women on duty. Do not walk or converse with your comrades, merely exchange a word and pass on.

• You will walk about 20 miles per shift.

• No rest days are allowed and only one week holiday per annum, unpaid.

• No meal breaks are allowed. The top hat may be used to hold a snack. You must inform the Superintendent before you associate, eat or drink with any civilians.

• Before attending for medical examination and interview to join the police, it is advisable to have a bath.

• You are NOT allowed to sit down in public houses at any time.

• You must expect a hostile reception from all sections of the public and be prepared to be assaulted, stones or stabbed in the course of your duties.

The Final Inspection

The policeman stood and faced his God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining. Just as brightly as his brass. “Step forward now, policeman. How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek? To My church have you been true?”

The policeman squared his shoulders and said, “No, Lord, I guess I ain’t, Because those of us who carry badges can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I’ve been violent, Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny, That wasn’t mine to keep … Though I worked a lot of overtime When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place Among the people here. They never wanted me around Except to calm their fear.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord, It needn’t be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don’t … I’ll understand. There was silence all around the throne Where the saints had often trod. As the policeman waited quietly, For the judgment of his God. “Step forward now, policeman, You’ve borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets, You’ve done your time in hell.”

Author Unknown

National Police Remembrance Day 29th September https://npm.org.au/remembrance-day-services/

Vale

On behalf of the UNOPAA National Executive, our National Committee, State Branches and all members of UNOPAA, we would like to acknowledge the service of the following, particularly to overseas peacekeeping, and to express our sympathy to family, contingent colleagues and friends. It is with regret that we advise of the passing of:

JON SELWYN LAUTREC

Passed away on 3 May 2022, aged 58 years.

Jon deployed to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Timor Leste, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

At the request of the family, a private funeral service was held and no further details were disseminated.

BARRY EDWARD BARKER

A Victoria Police member of the 3rd Contingent to Cyprus (1966-67).

Barry passed away on Sunday, 22 May 2022, aged 81 years. His funeral was held at Bethel Funerals, Mitcham, Victoria on Tuesday, 31 May 2022, commencing at 11am.

Barry was a co-author of “Police as Peace Keepers”, the authoritative history of the initial years of Australian Police involvement in United Nations peacekeeping in Cyprus. He was a stalwart of UNOPAA and will be greatly missed.

REVEREND PETER JOSEPH GUY (RETD).

Reverend Guy passed away on 23 April 2022, aged 82 years.

Reverend Guy joined the Australian Federal Police as the AFP’s first Chaplain in 1995. He was also the NSW Police Chaplain for the Monaro Division during this period.

During his service, Reverend GUY deployed to Cyprus on two occasions.

Reverend GUY retired from the AFP in 2002.

Peter’s funeral was held at Graham Family Funerals, New Town, Tasmania on Wednesday 4th May 2022

LORRAINE JANICE (SUE) HODGES

The widow of Max Hodges, a New South Wales Police member of the 4th Contingent to Cyprus (1967-68).

Sue passed away in Mildura on 2 July 2022, aged 78 years. Her funeral was held on the Lawns, outside Wentworth Cemetery, Wentworth NSW on Friday, 8 July 2022,

ANTHONY GEDDES

A New South Wales Police member of the 3rd deployment to East Timor (2000).

Anthony passed away on Saturday, 3 July 2022, after a long battle with motor neurone disease. He was aged 53 years and is survived by his wife Eva and a young son. His funeral was held 12 July 2022.

ALEX MCDONNELL

A Victoria Police member of the 10th Contingent to Cyprus (1973-74).

Alex passed away in his sleep after a long illness on Tuesday (12 July 2022). He was 90 years of age and is survived by his wife Jill. No funeral will be held at his request.

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