NEWS DESK
Trailblazer inspires those who follow
Beware: con men on the move
Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
THE state government is warning Victorians about a coming spike in the number of dodgy door-to-door tradespeople trying to rip off people. Consumer affairs minister Jane Garrett said summer was the peak time for con men offering cheap "today only" cash deals on jobs such as painting, roof and driveway repairs. In 2014-15, Consumer Affairs Victoria received 486 reports of travelling con men, with reported losses totalling $1.35 million. Reports spike between January and March. Ms Garrett said con men often ask for cash payments up front, then take the money and run. They leave behind unfinished or poor quality work. Victorians are encouraged to report con men to a national hot line – 1300 133 408 – or call police. Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Fyffe of Frankston police said a gang of Irish gypsies several years ago had conned several "vulnerable" elderly homeowners out of tens of thousands of dollars by promising to repair their roofs. The gang extracted deposit money and cash for supplies, returned next day and appeared to do work on the roof but caused more damage, he said. Some con men used fake business cards from a legitimate company. The men were caught, had their visas revoked and were deported to Ireland. Sergeant Fyffe urged residents to be careful of itinerant tradies. Never pay money up front. If the price sounds too good to be true it usually is. "If you need a tradie, look online or in the Yellow Pages," he said.
A VILLAGE Glen resident farewelled at Rosebud Funerals recently was the 13th Victorian police woman and one of the first five to be permitted to take part in police mobile patrols. Joyce McCallum, 97, who died at Rosebud West last month, was born on 12 February 1918. She left a lasting legacy – one that’s influencing police women today. Mrs McCallum – nee Johnson – joined the force in 1946 at a time when policing was a man’s job and women were allocated administrative and driver duties, keeping them out of harm’s way. “She was proud of her time there and thought she was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time,” son Ross McCallum said last week. “Times were tough when she saw an advertisement for drivers and thought, ‘I could do that’. She was accepted and became a member of the first group to wear uniforms and be permitted to drive around town looking for offenders.” Ross and his brother Howard didn’t hear their mum talk often about her former policing career – she left that to their dad, former Chief Superintendent Hugh McCallum (deceased). The couple also had seven grandchildren. “She was proud of her role, but it wasn’t a big deal for her. She didn’t say much about the early days.” Southern Metro Region Inspector Karen Nyholm said Mrs McCallum registered as No. 9840, meaning she was the nine thousandth, eight
Uniform approach: Joyce McCallum, right, in her policing days and, above, as a happy retiree.
hundredth and fortieth member to be sworn in. But, she also held the separate number of P/W 13 – indicating she was the 13th police woman to join. This type of number is no longer allocated. “For me, a current woman in Victoria Police, I am inspired by women such as Joyce who led the way back in the 1940s to gradually challenge the role and equality of women in policing,” Inspector Nyholm said. “I am the benefactor of her trailblazing career – now enjoying equal pay and equal opportunity. “Having spoken to her friends and family at the funeral, I learnt that Joyce was a dignified, elegant and strong woman who was very proper, as well as a committed mother and nana.”
A 1946 newspaper article made much of the-then Joyce Johnson and her four colleagues in their “smart, dark blue uniforms, peaked caps and silver police badge”. “It is felt the new uniforms, which follow the tradition of London’s police women, will lend weight to their authority for arrests,” the paper said. It recorded their first arrest – in Swanson St: “The woman prisoner was locked up at the City Watchhouse on a drunk-and-disorderly charge.” Inspector Nyholm said after five years’ service Mrs McCallum was obligated to resign due to her impending marriage, which was required by law at that time. She then supported her husband as his police career took them all over
Victoria – often to run stations with a residence at the rear – and finally to Burwood, where they retired. When her husband died Mrs McCallum made the move to Village Glen for the last three months of her life. “She loved it there,” Ross said. “She especially got a kick out of the day trips with other Village Glen residents, especially one visit to the Police Academy a little while ago. “Mum happened to tell the guide that she had once been a police woman and they looked at some old photographs on the wall and there she was. “The surprised guide was in awe, telling the other visitors they were honoured to have a celebrity in their midst. That tickled mum.”
BOOK NOW FOR
CHRISTMAS LUNCH • Seafood Entree • Traditional Christmas Roast with all the trimmings
Santa will
be visiting with a present for
• Delicious selection of Desserts
the kids.
* Includes Beer, Wine & Soft Drink
Limited tables don’t miss out!
1099 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud P: 5950 0300 www.rosebudhotel.com.au
New generation TOP-UP hearing aids now FREE* Eligible pensioners and veterans There is no longer any need to are entitled to FREE hearing feel left out, isolated or frustrated aids through the government’s by not being able to hear clearly hearing services scheme*, or in noisy social environments. they can pay extra (TOP-UP) for Major scienti¿c advances in hearing aids with additional or computer processing and wiremore advanced features or for a less technology have enabled the smaller size. latest hearing aids to emulate the As an EXCLUSIVE cognitive processing of the brain SPECIAL OFFER, Hidden to focus on speech and reduce Hearing is providing eligible interfering background noise. pensioners and veterans The improvement is dramatic and
with certain hearing needs to beTOP-UP experienced to be aids incorporating the appreciated, which islatest why we’re generation offering atechnology FREE TRIAL to the FREE OFpeople CHARGE until theto ¿rst 50 who respond DECEMBER END OF SEPTEMBER. this offer. Hear and enjoy the The choice isfor yours, eitherYou a will difference yourself. discreet, discrete deep canal aid or a be impressed. miniature receiver in canal aid. In As an EXCLUSIVE short term both cases theOFFER, aids will Hidden be small SPECIAL discreet, andHearing discrete, programmed is and providing eligibleto \RXU VSHFL¿F KHDULQJ OHYHOV DQG pensioners and veterans unique personal needs.
CALL NOW to book your FREE hearing assessment and start hearing better again.
FREE CALL
1800 717 717
*“*Conditions Conditions and apply under the the CommonwealthHearing Hearing ServicesVoucher Voucher System. Offer ends December 31, 2015. andeligibility eligibility requirements requirements apply Offer ends Wednesday April 30. Monday June 30. *Conditions and eligibility requirements applyunder under the Commonwealth Commonwealth HearingServices Services VoucherSystem. System. Offer ends Wednesday September 30, 2015.
BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Southern Peninsula News 3 November 2015
PAGE 5