SMALL TALK VOXPOP
EXHIBITION REFLECTS ON BUSHFIRES
If you hadn’t become a police officer, what career path would you have chosen and why? SENIOR SERGEANT WARREN TAYLOR Sunbury Police Station
“I’ve coached a lot of sport and worked in sports management prior to joining. I would love to have gone overseas to develop my coaching and see where that might have taken me.” CONSTABLE ELLEN NOUGHER Melbourne West Police Station
“Probably firefighting. It’s similar kind of work to Victoria Police. I like the excitement of emergency services and the fact that every day is different.” SENIOR SERGEANT PAUL MASLUNKA Police Assistance Line, Ballarat “I’d say at this stage in my life, I would be a farmer. There’s something about working on the land that is very relaxing. I have some land now that I work on in my downtime from policing.”
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Victoria Police has launched an online exhibition to remember and reflect upon the organisation’s involvement in the 2019-20 bushfires. Victorian Bushfires Remembered comprises still images, video footage, media clippings and personal stories, and captures the extraordinary contribution police made in protecting the community and keeping Victorians safe. Five new videos, produced specifically for the online exhibition, reflect on the impact of the fires and the ongoing recovery across East Gippsland, including at Mallacoota, Cann River, Orbost and Buchan. The videos feature police members who live and work in these towns, along with representatives from partner agencies and local community members.
In one video, Eastern Region Superintendent Simon Humphrey says he is “incredibly proud” of the police officers who responded to the fires. “I think we had close to 1200 members up here from start to finish, many of them from outside this area, and many of them with absolutely no experience in this type of event. “Their ability to keep pushing on, day after day, was really heroic and I think we provided really good support to the communities,” Supt Humphrey says.
Visit police.vic.gov.au/victoria-bushfiresremembered
SECRET LIFE OF POLICE When Leading Senior Constable Leigh Johnson isn’t in uniform, you’ll most likely find him on a stage. From Oklahoma and Jesus Christ Superstar to Hair and Rock of Ages, the Sunbury Youth Resource Officer (YRO) has a wide range of stage experience as a member of Altona City Theatre, an amateur musical theatre group in Melbourne’s west. Having first been bitten by the theatre bug when he was in high school, Ldg Sen Const Johnson has been performing in amateur theatre around Melbourne and regional Victoria since finishing high school in the 1980s.
“I’ve found during my more than 30-year career with Victoria Police that theatre has been a wonderful balance between work, family and life. “It gives me the opportunity to work and perform with people from all walks of life, whether they are a teacher, student, doctor or tradie, we all come together to put on this show and have some fun.” Of all the shows he has done, there is one that stands out above all else. “I once did a show, Age of Aquarius, where my whole family was in the show together and it was the best show I’ve been a part of,” Ldg Sen Const Johnson said.
“Back in the day, I started out as a bass player of average ability and didn’t mind singing a few tunes,” Ldg Sen Const Johnson said. “I always enjoyed musicals and when I left school I tried my hand at my first show called Godspell and was hooked. “It was a great group of people I was performing with and I loved performing for an audience – I’ve been doing shows on and off ever since.” Today, the Sunbury YRO has about 70 shows under his belt and said performing on stage helps keep balance and wellbeing in his life. “I’m a firm believer in balancing life and finding pursuits that are good for your wellbeing,” he said.
Image Police performer Ldg Sen Const Leigh Johnson centre stage as part of his theatre group’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Editorial: Danielle Ford
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POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2021
