Small talk

Editorial: Lane Mihaljevic

Photography: Supplied

Secret life of police

After riding in her first Royal Melbourne Show when she was just two years old, First Constable Samantha Richardson developed a passion for horse riding — one that she now balances alongside policing in the Eastern Region.

“My mother rode show horses for many years, so it was a given that I would go down the same path,” Const Richardson said.

“But I eventually became involved in show jumping, which I’m still doing to this day.”

Show jumping is a discipline that requires a horse and rider to jump over a series of colourful obstacles in a set order.

First place is awarded to the duo with the quickest time and least amount of penalty points.

“I’ve been competing most weekends since the COVID-19 restrictions lifted, which can be challenging to juggle alongside work at times,” Const Richardson said.

“But I am incredibly lucky to have such an accommodating team at Morwell, who allow me to have my rest days in conjunction with competitions where possible.

“The flexibility of shift work is fantastic, and I have a far better work-life balance than I did prior to joining Victoria Police.”

As a young girl, Const Richardson competed at royal shows, Horse of the Year and national competitions with great success.

“I was a member of the Jumping Victoria Young Rider Squad for eight years and, when I was 19, I placed first in the Ammo Young Rider Challenge and won a trip to Germany to train at Klatte farm, an elite stable, for three months,” she said.

“Unfortunately, when I became an adult my opportunity to compete was slightly curtailed,

but I have been the South Australian State Amateur Champion and placed in royal, state, national and World Cup competitions.”

Const Richardson is grateful for the support of her mother, Liz, who helps take care of her beloved horses, Gold Play and Furiosa, when things get tricky.

“I’m lucky that my horses live at home with me and that the property is set up with stables, paddocks and an arena to train on, but it still takes approximately four hours per day to ride and do all the care that is needed to look after my horses,” she said.

“They say it takes a village, and I am lucky to have a very supportive one.”

Odd Spot

Wonthaggi police were as stunned as mullets to discover a very strange vessel washed up at Waratah Bay on 25 April.

The barnacle-covered, unmanned boat had clearly travelled a long way before ending up at the quiet cove to the west of Wilsons Promontory.

After a bit of research, it was revealed that the vessel, known as a ‘Saildrone’, is used for ocean mapping and scientific research.

A California-based company launched three Saildrones from Bluff in New Zealand in 2019 on a mission to sail around Antarctica researching krill numbers using sophisticated sounding equipment (expensive fish finders).

Unfortunately, contact was lost with one of the vessels while it was navigating an ice pack somewhere between Antarctica and Cape Horn in late 2019. It then drifted for 18 months before washing up on this quiet corner of the Victorian coast.

Sometimes used by the CSIRO for research in Victorian waters, these vessels weigh 45 kilograms and are seven metres in length. For boat spotters out there — this model has a fixed hard sail, a motor, rudder and keel and is apparently the only one that has ever gone missing.

Vox Pop

When was your first day on the job and what do you remember?

Sergeant James Lee - Marysville Police Station

My first day on the job was 11 November 1996. A bunch of us turned up to Heidelberg Headquarters and were then sent to Mill Park from there — but no one knew we were coming! A very unexpected first day for all involved.

Constable Harrison Burgess - Prahran Police Station

Technically it was my first night on the job. It was a nightshift at Malvern Police Station in May 2020. I remember being excited but nervous. It was also interesting as it was just after the first coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, which added a different element.

Leading Senior Constable Mark Trepper - Transport Support Unit

I joined Victoria Police on 5 January 1979, as a Police Cadet, and have just clocked up 42 years’ service.

I remember being very nervous as I walked into the Cadet Academy, along with a number of others and being greeted by our drill instructors and honestly wondering what I had got myself into. After 42 years I would gladly do it all again.