Driving back memories

Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann

Retired police officer Graham Allchin drove the Hume Highway countless times over his many years in highway patrol cars, but his latest trip was one down memory lane.

The 80-year-old former sergeant was reunited recently with a beautifully restored 1970 XW Ford Falcon 351, the kind Mr Allchin used to patrol in.

Mr Allchin was overcome by nostalgia upon getting behind the wheel of the Falcon, which has been brought back to glory by its owner Don Campanile, a member of the Victoria Police Historical Society.

“It takes me back 50 years to see a car like this,” Mr Allchin said. “When Don hit the siren, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. And there’s nothing like listening to those twin exhausts from a big V8 engine like that.”

Mr Allchin said one of the only things missing from the experience was the smell of burgers inside the car from many meals out on the road.

Mr Allchin joined the Victoria Police Traffic Branch in 1962 and, from 1965, spent several years with Seymour Highway Patrol. Being a huge car enthusiast, Mr Allchin always loved the different patrol cars he drove, and the XW Falcon was one of his favourites.

“We looked after them and they looked after us,” he said. “The bucket seats were comfortable enough that you could easily drive all day and the car absolutely loved the highway speeds.”

Victoria Police Historical Society member Tactical Flight Officer Sgt Jim Stafford with former highway patrol officer Graham Allchin.

The reunion with the historic car came about after Mr Campanile and fellow Victoria Police Historical Society member Tactical Flight Officer

Sergeant Jim Stafford organised to bring the 1970 Falcon in to meet one of its successors – the State Highway Patrol’s last remaining Ford Falcon V8. Sgt Stafford, who used to work in Victoria Police’s Traffic Operations Group but is now part of the Air Wing, even brought an old patrol uniform along for the occasion.

“These two cars have both performed the same role, just 50 years apart, so this has been a great way to see the old with the new,” Sgt Stafford said. “It’s been great to see Graham get back in the car, bring back some memories and have a yarn about the good old days.”

The restored 1970 XW Ford Falcon 351 sits next to its descendant, the State Highway Patrol’s last remaining Ford Falcon V8.

The 1970 XW Falcon is just one of four former police patrol cars Mr Campanile owns and often displays at events for the historical society. His interest started with his enthusiasm for Ford vehicles when he was young and evolved into being captivated by high-performance police pursuit cars.

“To have one as original as this, I think it’s a privilege,” Mr Campanile said. “To see Graham sit in it and acknowledge and appreciate the equipment in there, which can be very hard to come by, it is very satisfying.”