4 minute read
A place to call home
Editorial and photography: Grant Condon
The main streets of Beechworth are lined with noteworthy historic buildings, but none are more important to police working in Victoria’s north-east than Dryden House.
Built in 1912, the heritage-listed home served as a police residence for more than a century before being transformed into a facility fit for a modern police force.
Dryden House is now a multi-use accommodation facility for Victoria Police employees who may be working in Eastern Region Division 4 (ED4) away from home or are in the process of relocating to the area.
Most importantly, the house can also be used by employees who need welfare assistance or respite from their normal roles.
The transformation of the house was the brainchild of Superintendent Kerin Moloney, who was working in ED4 in 2019 when the residence became available and the project began after the retirement of the long-serving officer in charge of the Beechworth Police Station.
“I looked at the challenges of working in the rural policing environment, like isolation and high workloads spread over large areas, and I wanted to find a solution for officers from both the local area and across the organisation,” Supt Moloney said.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working for a long time in the regions, it’s unique but also really satisfying, and I wanted to support that work.”
At its official opening in April this year, the facility was named Dryden House in honour of long-time injury management consultant Jeanette Dryden.
Superintendent Kerin Moloney led the project to transform Dryden House from a police residence into the facility it is today. He surprised Jeanette Dryden on the day of its opening by revealing it would bear her name.
“Jeanette has worked in Eastern Region for 10 years, helping a huge number of employees return to work after physical and mental injuries,” Supt Moloney said.
“Jeanette, and the house named in her honour, represents the great work done by all our injury management consultants who go above and beyond to look after our employees.”
Ms Dryden said she was honoured to see the house now carry her name and hoped Victoria Police would continue to be innovative when it came to workplace welfare.
“The house is quite an innovation and Kerin showed great leadership in establishing it,” Ms Dryden said.
“I’m fortunate enough to have it named in my honour, but I think it is an acknowledgement of the work injury management consultants do and a nice reminder of how we need to keep progressing work in the welfare space.”
Sergeant Liam McMahon has made good use of Dryden House since its opening.
Sergeant Liam McMahon and Inspector Brad Sprague are two police officers who have seen the benefits of Dryden House, a multi-use accommodation facility named in honour of injury management consultant Jeanette Dryden (centre)
As the highest-ranking officer at the five-person station in Corryong since 2016, Sgt McMahon has been a constant point of contact for the small town as it undertakes a taxing rebuild after being severely impacted by the bushfires of the 2019-20 summer.
“As one of the few police in town, it can be pretty hard when you’re in a remote place like Corryong. You carry the load, particularly after an event like the bushfires,” Sgt McMahon said.
“The town is already benefitting while I’m away by having new officers coming in with new ways of thinking.
“And I can’t believe how good it (Dryden House) is. You can see the effort that’s gone into it. It feels a bit more like home, it’s much better than a motel.”
As a country-based police officer for the entirety of his 16-year career with Victoria Police, Sgt McMahon said Dryden House can also help attract Melbourne-based police to the regional areas in the north-east.
Inspector Brad Sprague is one of those officers. He’s been staying at Dryden House to adjust to life in the country after a recent promotion saw him relocate to Wangaratta, having spent most of his 25 years with the force working in metropolitan areas.
“I’ve got three kids going through schooling in Melbourne and, while my family looks at our next step that comes with my relocation, it’s been great to not have to worry about accommodation. I can focus on getting to know the job and the area,” Insp Sprague said.
That’s how a facility like this helps increase the diversity of police working in regional areas; I’m coming from a long career in the city so hopefully I can bring an injection of new ideas, which is good for police and the community.
Images Home away from home 01 Sergeant Liam McMahon and Inspector Brad Sprague are two police officers who have seen the benefits of Dryden House, a multi-use accommodation facility named in honour of injury management consultant Jeanette Dryden (centre). 02 Superintendent Kerin Moloney led the project to transform Dryden House from a police residence into the facility it is today. He surprised Jeanette Dryden on the day of its opening by revealing it would bear her name.
