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THE WHEEL THOSE EXPECTING ANY GOOD GOSSIP FROM RETIRING CHIEF COMMISSIONERS’ DRIVER LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE GAVIN MCGRAW WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. CONFIDENTIALITY ENSURED HIS LONGEVITY IN THE ROLE.
VALUING OUR PEOPLE EDITORIAL JANAE HOUGHTON PHOTOGRAPHY SUZY WOOD
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fter serving five Victoria Police chief commissioners, and outlasting numerous cars and Melways, Leading Senior Constable Gavin McGraw retired in July. With 37 years as a police member, Ldg Sen Const McGraw spent 26 of those ferrying chief commissioners around Victoria and being their personal security. While he admits to being privy to many controversial conversations, he said his lips are sealed. “If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I am going to write a book about what I have seen and heard, I’d be a rich man,” he said. During his tenure, Ldg Sen Const McGraw served former chief commissioners Mick Miller, Kel Glare, Neil Comrie, Christine Nixon and Simon Overland. But Ldg Sen Const McGraw does not pick favourites. “They all treated me with respect and were all very different. I loved going to work every day,” he said.
Ldg Sen Const McGraw has many anecdotes and fond memories from over the years. He remembers a time being in the car with Mr Miller. Two members were arguing over the police radio about who should attend a job. “Mick picked up the radio and said ‘Could you ask that member to have a look at the badge on his shoulder? Does it say Victoria Police or Caulfield Police?’ “The member quickly accepted the job without any further discussion.” Ldg Sen Const McGraw said Mr Glare was a dedicated family man. “I was driving Kel around just before the birth of my first child and I remember him telling me not to worry about him, if my wife went into labour, just to take the car and he would find his own way to work.” Ldg Sen Const McGraw spent many weeks travelling around devastated areas of Victoria after the 2009 bushfires with Ms Nixon. “We drove all around the state, visiting families who had lost so much and just seeing the damage. We were all really affected by it.”
"If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I am going to write a book about what I have seen and heard, I'd be a rich man." .01
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AUGUST 2011 POLICELIFE
ON THE ROAD .01 Leading Senior Constable Gavin McGraw enjoyed driving Victoria Police’s chief commissioners around.