Slow enough to kill
“The problem isn’t the first one who drops to 25, it’s the one behind who doesn’t realize what’s happening ahead and is sitting on 110.”
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Real stories from our police member community...
"To say that I’m still here because of Police Health isn’t a stretch. In the short 10 years I’ve been a member I’ve claimed well over $100,000. I can’t help feeling a bit guilty, but I know I have a great policy. Everyone says so!”
David Walsh, retired Qld Police motorcyclist
“After wearing a gun belt for 37 years, I had developed a serious abnormality on my kidney, which ended up being a low-grade bladder tumour. It required a six-week treatment every Friday with what, I was told, was a ‘very expensive drug’.
“Luckily, it was covered by Police Health.
“The anaesthetist whispered in my ear: ‘Don’t ever leave Police Health.’
“Fast-forward 12 months and I was sent back for the same treatment. The doctor queried how much I got charged last time. I said: ‘Nothing.’ We had a nice laugh and joked that the doctor forgot to bill me.”
David has received more than $141k in benefits from his Police Health cover since joining 12 years ago.
“Everywhere I go, everyone comments how good Police Health is. My doctors, specialists, practitioners, dentist, secretaries, and now, my three kids who I’ve joined up.
“Joining Police Health was the best thing I ever did. I don’t know why I waited this long. I didn’t think the private health system would be any different, to be honest. Boy, was I wrong!
“Having private health isn’t just about maintaining good health. It’s a smart decision for our finances, too. The body just starts to break down at 60.
“I had a torn meniscus, which I could have waited seven years to fix in the
“When
young,
don’t
you’re
you just
think you need coverage.
I
was a handsome,
healthy, young motorcycle cop. I thought I was invincible. But it’s easy to see how the benefits add up.”
public system. With Police Health, I had my surgery the week after my appointment. I also had arthrodesis surgery to rectify 60 years of extreme pain in my foot. And, I had a kidney removed, pneumonia treated, plus dozens of dentist appointments.
“When you’re young, you just don’t think you need coverage. I was a handsome, healthy, young motorcycle cop. I thought I was invincible. But it’s easy to see how the benefits add up.”
“I vividly remember the first time I saw a police motorcyclist. I was working as a boilermaker and the office girl’s husband raced down the road on his motorcycle. I realized then, being on a bike was my future.
“I got knocked back a couple of times because I had a ‘too expansive a traffic history’, as they diplomatically put it. There are no second chances, and I couldn’t just reapply, I was told. But I wouldn’t give up and, finally, I got in with the help of a local member of parliament.
“I’d still be there today if I didn’t need to retire. I kept telling them, cheekily: ‘I get to ride around on a motorcycle all day. This isn’t a real job.’
“It’s the excitement and camaraderie I still miss. But I had a great end to my career – just one week after I retired, I flew to New Zealand to serve the Earthquake Commission in Christchurch. I think they chose me because I was a long-serving police officer.
“It’s the responses that affected me, more than the bodies. I have the face of a father grieving the loss of his son burned into my brain. I remember their faces, their despair. But there can also be a positive change in people’s perception in a crisis and I remember that too.
“There’s not one thing I’d change about my career, let alone my life. I have no regrets. I don’t fear death. I often tell people, I work on planet Earth, but my perception is different. Most 70-year-olds I know just sit back and watch the world go by. I have nine kids, who all call me every day. I just don’t see myself as an old man.
“I have a whole lot of life left in me. And, I have Police Health to thank. I can work purely for the joy of it, not because I have to repay medical bills.”
EDITOR
Seasoned operational cops insist that the 25km/h emergency service speed zone is highly dangerous They’ve been highlighting that danger for several years, and their lists of examples of crashes and near misses in speed zones is almost endless.
We spoke with 10 Police Association members who operate within 25km speed zones every shift, and they explained the essence of the problem.
It is the expectation on drivers to make such dramatic reductions in their speed, with limited warning, on highways and the SE freeway In many cases that’s a reduction of 85km/h – from 110km/h down to 25km/h – in seconds
The Police Club has been just as hard hit as any other bar-and-restaurant establishment around town owing to restrictions and the recent lockdown But the Police Association has kept its jewel of a social hub running, and we found out how
More international recognition for the Police Journal with awards in Germany and the USA in June and July respectively And these honours covered not only our journalism but also our design expertise over a 10-year period
Most people have likely suffered at least a few migraine headaches in their lives. Dr Rod Pearce explains the different types of migraine and how best to deal with them.
And, in Jobs you never forget, Detective Sergeant Steve Atkinson recalls his toughest death message, a case of identity theft, and a job that landed him in Greece
Brett Williams
brettwilliams@pj asn au
Publisher: Police Association of South Australia Level 2, 27 Carrington St, Adelaide SA 5000 T (08) 8212 3055 F (08) 8212 2002 www.pasa.asn.au Editor: Brett Williams (08) 8212 3055 Design: Sam Kleidon 0417 839 300 Advertising: Police Association of South Australia (08) 8212 3055 Printing: Finsbury Green (08) 8234 8000
The Police Journal is published by the Police Association of South Australia, 27 Carrington St, Adelaide, SA 5000, (ABN 73 802 822 770). Contents of the Police Journal are subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the Police Association of South Australia is prohibited. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. The Police Association accepts no responsibility for statements made by advertisers. Editorial contributions should be sent to the editor (brettwilliams@pj.asn.au).
August 2021
12 Slow enough to kill
Many operational cops who have come close to disaster in 25km/h speed zones deliver a serious warning about the need for legislative change.
20 Police Club mastering the art of survival
The Police Association and its Police Club staff have again had to get innovative to keep the hospitality going for members
22 Police Journal an international winner again
Already Australia’s leading and most awarded police publication, it has just won two more major awards –in the US and Germany
COVER: Police in a typical 25km/h emergency service speed zone in Callington. Photography by Josh McCawley.
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Michael Kent Treasurer
COMMITTEE
Bernadette Zimmermann Secretary
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Mundy Vice-President
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POLICE A S S OCIATION OFSOUTH AUSTRALIA
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REPRESENTATIVES
Superannuation
Mark Carroll and Michael Kent
Police Dependants Fund Bernadette Zimmermann
Leave Bank Andrew Heffernan
Country housing Andrew Heffernan
Commissioner’s Office Health Safety & Welfare Advisory Committee Steven Whetton
Legacy Julian Snowden
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Intersex members Nadia Goslino and Andrew Heffernan
DELEGATES & WORKPLACE REPRESENTATIVES
Metro North Branch
Elizabeth Shane Dragon
Gawler
Metro South Branch continued
Netley
Andrew Wearn
Golden Grove Darren Quirk
Holden Hill Matthew McCarthy
Northern Prosecution Tim Pfeiffer
Parks Matthew Sampson
Salisbury Stuart Smith
Country North Branch
Coober Pedy Glenn Batty
Kadina Gavin Moore
Peterborough Nathan Paskett
Port Augusta Peter Hore
Port Lincoln
Port Pirie
Mark Heading
Gavin Mildrum
Whyalla Paul Velthuizen
Crime Command Branch
Adelaide Alex Grimaldi
Forensic Services
Adam Gates
Fraud Sam Agostino
Intelligence Support Stephen Foenander
Major Crime Alex McLean
Port Adelaide Scott Mitchell
South Coast Scott Milich
Metro South Branch
Adelaide James Cochrane
Hindley Street Dick Hern
Paul Clark
South Coast Andrew Bradley
Southern Prosecution Sallie McArdell
Southern Traffic Joshua O’Dwyer
Sturt David Handberg
Country South Branch
Adelaide Hills Joe McDonald
Berri
Millicent
Mount Gambier
Murray Bridge
Naracoorte
Renmark
John Gardner
Nicholas Patterson
Robert Martin
Stephen Angove
Michael Hutchinson
James Bentley
Operations Support Branch
Dog Ops
Academy
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Bryan Whitehorn (chair)
Melanie Smith
Ian Mitchell
Human Resources Eugene Wasilenia
Mounted Ops Sonia Wellings
STAR Andrew Suter
State Tac/Op Mandrake Duncan Gerrie
Traffic David Kuchenmeister
Officers Branch Les Buckley
Women’s Branch Kayt Howe (chair) (no delegates)
ATSI Branch Brendan White (chair) (no delegates)
PRESIDENT Mark Carroll
Senior-sergeants’ issues on the table
The Police Association has established a senior-sergeants’ working party which held its first meeting earlier this month
Several issues which affect senior sergeants came under discussion at that meeting They included:
• Disparity between senior sergeant wage and inspector wage.
• Role of district duty inspectors/detective inspector and comparison to district senior sergeant responsibilities.
• Status of senior sergeants in SAPOL
• Classification process to position of senior sergeant 1C
• Workload intensification and out-of-hours work
• Complexities of work
• Shift work
• Enterprise agreement outcomes
• Lack of access to professional development
• Ability to laterally transfer between senior sergeant roles.
• Impact of flexible work options.
One of the significant recommendations members made at the meeting was that the association conduct a survey of all senior sergeants to obtain data on:
• Workloads
• Out-of-hours work
• Span of control
• Other issues including changes to roles, status, and professional development
The committee of management also discussed the survey recommendation when it met this month.
A future working party meeting will be scheduled to discuss the survey methodology and I will keep members updated on all progress
One of the significant recommendations members made at the meeting was that the association conduct a survey of all senior sergeants …
Crime Command Branch meeting
A recent meeting of Police Association Crime Command Branch delegates led to a decision to hold a forum specifically for detectives and investigators to discuss current issues which affect the CIB
The association will hold a meeting for members of the branch between 9:30am and 12:30pm on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at the Police Club’s Fenwick Function Centre
The meeting will also be live streamed. The association will provide members with the streaming link closer to the event.
Issues scheduled for discussion include:
• CIB — staffing in districts and regions
• Impact of Operation Ironside
• Growth in detective positions (historical and future)
• Growth in financial crime and cybercrime, including the SAPOL response
• Selection process for detective positions.
• Industrial issues – on-call regional and metropolitan.
• Equipment.
The seating is limited to 100 Members can book a ticket or register to receive the streaming link at www trybooking com/BTRCC (attendance in work time must be authorized by members’ local management)
Police Association member wellness programme
No secret among police unions is the researched fact that suicidal thoughts among cops are twice as common as those among the general population
Similar research shows that police and other emergency-services workers are three times more likely to have some sort of suicide plan
It’s not an easy subject to talk about, and I accept it’s a conversation topic that many of us avoid Nonetheless, we should revisit it often
It is certainly a conversation the Police Association takes seriously.
Over the years, we have led the development of many initiatives designed to provide affected members with practical solutions and pathways to help
Some of these include:
• The Invictus Pathways Program –access for first responders and their families This is a partnership enabling members to access specialist well-being and PTSD-related services, including free gym access as well as psychological, physical, and highperformance programmes
• The Road Home – group emotional and relationship skills (GEARS) programme . This is designed to improve mood regulation, interpersonal communication skills and relationship skills for people with PTSD
• Family support group for partners of police – you can register your interest on the Police Association website
• A Cop in The Family – a publication designed to help police identify, understand and prevent mentalhealth pressures, as well as provide pathways to assistance
• Head Notes (pocketbook) – another publication which acts as a social and emotional guide for police officers.
• Dark Blue (feature film) – true stories from behind the thin blue line, filmed and directed in SA It can be viewed at pfa org au/ member-wellbeing
• Police Health – the recommended private health insurer for police officers and their families There are generous benefits in psychology and counselling Members can access them via the website
Police officers need –and should always have –ready access to mental-health professionals and dedicated facilities.
• Police Credit Union – we all understand the need to recognize the link between mental ill health and financial pressure. PCU personal relationship managers can visit members at work or at home to provide free budgeting assistance We have been fortunate to receive guidance from some eminent psychologists and psychiatrists in producing some of these initiatives All the available materials are free to members and readily available under the Member Services section of the Police Association website. The assistance we have provided in this space won’t be a miracle cure, but it will start critical conversations in policing Police officers need –
and should always have – ready access to mental-health professionals and dedicated facilities
We all need to understand what’s going on in policing, and it starts with not a reactive but rather a proactive approach to mental health
This is especially critical during COVID-19, which represents one of the greatest mental and physical challenges police have faced in generations
The demands have undoubtedly affected police resources. It is an ongoing situation, and the extra tasks and burdens have come with an impact on all levels of SAPOL
I continue to maintain talks with Commissioner Grant Stevens, with a particular emphasis on members’ protection, welfare and mental health
PFA federal council and bravery awards
The upcoming National Police Bravery Awards ceremony was the subject of a Police Journal story in June (The award for police, by police).
The ceremony was to take place in Canberra on September 22 and encompass both the 2020 and 2021 awards, owing to the cancellation of the event last year
Regrettably, the Police Federation of Australia has again had to cancel the event – as well as its annual federal council meeting – owing to the uncertainty surrounding COVID restrictions.
The awards will be postponed until September next year and will encompass nominees for 2020, 2021 and 2022 .
Slow enough to kill
By Brett Williams
Operational police are not using shock terminology like There will be blood. But they are warning that the 25km/h emergency-service speed zone will cause deaths.
It was easy to hear that dramatic sound of heavy-vehicle brakes locking up in the early-morning quiet of the South Eastern Freeway Mount Barker sergeant Joe McDonald, in a parked patrol car, looked instantly to his rear-vision mirror And there was the image: an out-of-control B-double truck skidding “sideways down the freeway” straight at him
It was already too late for McDonald to jump out, and clear, of the patrol car. The truck was way too close to allow him any time to escape. All he could do, with as much force as he could muster, was brace himself in his seat for the imminent crash
At the same time, the life of his colleague, Senior Constable Joel Reid, was under equal threat Standing in the emergency lane between the patrol car and the verge, he too had neither time nor choices
His one chance to save himself was to make a dash for that verge. But he would have to react instantly and move fast enough to dodge the lethal 12-tonne truck .
“I was in immediate fear for my life,” he remembers. “And Joe was as well. ” Indeed, McDonald expected to “get cleaned up”
“I thought he was going to hit us, and hit us hard,” he says “He’d hit the picks, locked it up, and just went sideways ”
But, with less than a second to spare, the truckie took his best shot at avoiding disaster McDonald would later describe the moment in an e-mail message to the Police Association.
“Thankfully,” he wrote, “the driver had the nous to take his foot off the brake six metres from our location, and to steer the truck and trailers around us
“It missed us by a (hair’s breadth) I’m not sure on the exact distance I think I closed my eyes ”
Of course, the 2015 incident had endangered the truckie too, as well as a motorist whom the two officers had pulled over for speeding on the freeway
McDonald had been running checks on his driver’s licence in the patrol car when he first heard that ominous sound of locked-up truck brakes.
The truckie, after he had avoided disaster, approached the two cops and apologized to them But McDonald and
“I thought he was going to hit us, and hit us hard. He’d hit the picks, locked it up, and just went sideways.”
Reid knew exactly where to apportion blame for the incident.
Dealing, as they were, with a motorist on the freeway, they had had to activate their red and blue patrol-car lights That created an emergency-service speed zone of 25km/h under section 83 of the Road Traffic Act
And that zone compelled freeway motorists, travelling as fast as 110km/h, to cut their speed to 25km/h before, and to drive by, the scene of the traffic stop.
As the truckie explained to McDonald and Reid, a car in front of him had rapidly reduced its speed to “nearly a standstill”. In his desperate effort to avoid crashing into the car, his brakes locked up and his truck wound up out of control
One lucky break for everyone involved was that the truck was unladen The truckie himself conceded that, had it been otherwise, he would certainly have crashed
Operational cops have, for several years, stood in total opposition to the emergency-service speed zone, which the SA parliament voted into law in 2014.
“It wasn’t thought out properly,” McDonald says. “You stop people for speeding or whatever (other offence), you activate the emergency lights, and this (speed zone) kicks in
“But 25, especially in places like the South Eastern Freeway or other rural highways, is just straight-out dangerous It’s probably okay in metro areas but, in country areas, it creates more danger than it’s trying to solve
“That (near miss) with us could’ve been fatal, easily
“The problem isn’t the first one who drops to 25, it’s the one behind who doesn’t realize what’s happening ahead and is sitting on 110 on the freeway. You don’t expect people to be doing 25 there ”
“It’s
Countless other experienced, operational cops agree with McDonald and share his concern about the high risk of fatalities
“Slowing to 25 in a 110km zone on the freeway is just a huge speed variance,” Reid says “Some people take a common-sense approach and think: ‘No way I’m going to slow to 25 because that’s just dangerous ’
“Others abide by the law no matter what But then some, like trucks, don’t have time to slow down because they’re just too heavy. They can’t slow to 25 like a small car can in seconds.
“And they (small car drivers) might not know about the truck behind them, and then you can have a serious incident. ”
Highway Patrols sergeant Eamon Bull knows well the peril of standing to the side of the freeway with a 25km speed zone in play He regards it as the place where police face the greatest chance of “getting cleaned up”
“There’s nothing worse than when you hear the screeching of tyres or see a car barrelling down the road sideways at you, at 80 or 100,” he says.
“We’ve ended up with cars doing a slalom through slower moving vehicles, losing control, and spinning out into median strips
1-2. A car loses control in a 25km/h speed zone. 3. The red car brakes to avoid a rear-end crash with the vehicle in front of it. 4-7. A car bakes to avoid a rear-end crash and swerves around the car in front of it and into the dirt verge. 8-9. Police attend a crash on the freeway and set a speed zone in play. 10. Slow-moving traffic banks up on the freeway. 11-13. A truck crosses double lines to avoid the slow-moving car in front of it. 14. A truck crosses double lines as it passes a 25km/h speed zone. 15-17. A car swerves to avoid a rear-end crash with a slower-moving car, loses control and ends up in the dirt verge.
“It’s going to lead to a serious injury or a fatality. Whether it’s a member of the public or a police officer who knows, but that’s the way it’s going ”
Mount Barker sergeant Kym Webb considers the 25km speed zone appropriate for firefighters and ambos who deal with emergencies on the roadway
“But we’re dealing with people on the edge of the road in the emergency lane,” he explains “We’re reasonably safe there if people drive sensibly
“The trouble is, some slow and some don’t. That’s what causes the problem and makes it extremely dangerous for us and whoever we’ve stopped.
“At some point, someone will lose their life There’s nothing surer It may not be the copper but (rather) the family parked in front of the police car or in the emergency lane
“It’ll be the person going past who’s actually doing the right thing at 25 Or it’ll be the one who’s not doing 25, loses control, and goes into a tree or across the other side and smacks into someone coming the other way. ”
Highway Patrols senior constable Brenton Lind also insists that “someone will get killed” unless change comes to the 25km speed-zone law. He speaks of scenarios like 67-tonne B-double trucks rounding corners as they travel at 100km/h on high-speed roads
“And all of a sudden,” he says, “the cars in front of them slam on the brakes to 25 and the trucks have got nowhere to go “It’s too slow You’re asking people to slow down far too quickly And that’s where it becomes dangerous, not only for members of the public but for us as well.
“People aren’t expecting traffic to be slowing down that much. Even though they see the (police car’s) red and blues, a lot of people just whiz past at 110 Some slow down, some don’t ”
“It wasn’t an issue,” he says, “because we weren’t blocking the road and we weren’t doing traffic control. ”
A northbound car approached the scene at what D’Arcy thought to be around 30km/h and veered toward the centre of the road and over the barrier lines
In another car, a southbound driver failed to slow to 25km/h, which the speedzone law demands of motorists on both sides of a road without a median strip
The result, as D’Arcy describes it, was an “almighty” head-on crash
“One of the cars spun around right in front of me and off the road,” he says. “It hit one of our bikes, knocked it over, and both cars then caught fire.
“Both drivers were trapped too, so it was just lucky that we were able to put the fires out and rip the drivers out of the cars ”
In 2016, Kym Webb and his colleagues had to restrain, and detain under the Mental Health Act, a suicidal young woman on the South Eastern Freeway She had threatened to run onto the road into the path of fast-moving traffic
With the emergency lights of three police cars activated, and therefore a speed zone in play, the officers had to wait for an ambulance.
“Most of the (passing) vehicles slowed,” Webb says “But one woman didn’t slow, and, when she realized she was going to crash into the arse of the car in front, slammed on the brakes
“She slid off into the centre of the freeway, went down the slope (into the culvert) and onto the opposite carriageway before she crashed her car
“You could’ve been looking at fatalities there: a vehicle travelling at 110 on the wrong side of the road, out of control. That woman wouldn’t have been able to avoid any other vehicle. It’s just really, really lucky (she didn’t hit one) ”
In 2020, Heavy Vehicle Enforcement
slow. You’re asking people slow down far too quickly. that’s where it becomes dangerous, not only for members public but for us as well.”
In 2019, the lives of two motorcycle cops came under threat in a 25km speed zone on the Princes Highway near Meningie State Traffic Enforcement Unit senior constables Corey Sweet and Shane D’Arcy had stopped to help a motorist whose caravan had lost its wheels
They had activated their emergency lights and therefore created the speed zone, in which motorists were supposed to pass by them at 25km/h. D’Arcy, however, was not concerned when he noticed many vehicles passing at around 100km/h
Section sergeant Nick Williams and senior constable Sam Petts struck trouble in a speed zone on the Eyre Highway
They had pulled over a B-triple on a straight stretch of the highway where visibility for motorists was clear for a couple of kilometres
The right-hand side of the 36-metre truck wound up right on the fog line with the officers’ unmarked police Kluger parked behind it. Petts activated the red and blue emergency lights as well as the hazard lights That, of course, created a speed zone
The two officers had a plan. Williams would approach the truckie, collect his work diary and return with it to the police car. He and Petts would then follow the truckie to a parking bay in Port Augusta and, on the way, Williams would check out his diary
So, as Petts remained seated in the Kluger, Williams walked the length of the truck up to the cabin where the truckie handed over his diary
Petts could see that not every car passing through the speed zone was slowing down as he watched Williams walk briskly back toward the Kluger.
“Then,” Petts says, “he’s just stopped dead with this pale look on his face. At that second, I looked in the patrol-car mirror and saw a road train completely on the gravel verge and its trailers all skew-whiff and sliding sideways
“It was coming straight for the back of the patrol car, and, in a split second, Nick started to run to the scrub I then floored the car and shot forward as far as I could, just as the road train in front moved a little bit
“I shot forward probably 10 metres and was almost hard up against the back of that road train. Then this (out-of-control) truck pulls up just behind us. If I didn’t shoot forward, it would’ve nailed me straight in the back
“Its weight was probably around 100 tonnes Big huge bull bar If it had hit us, it would’ve been a fatality We could have had another incident like (the one that killed four police officers in) Melbourne, quite easily ”
Petts found that, before the road train went into its slide, two cars travelling in front of it had slowed down for the 25km speed zone.
Highway Patrols sergeant Troy Kaesler remembers the close call one of his members had on Port Wakefield Road at Waterloo Corner in 2014
The member had dismounted his motorcycle on the side of the road and initiated a 25km speed zone Just as he was heading toward a vehicle he had stopped, he heard the booming sound of a crash He turned and saw an out-ofcontrol ute heading straight for him
The driver of the ute just managed to veer into the right lane and miss the officer by the narrowest margin. But then came a Kenworth prime mover towing a trailer. It, too, was heading straight for the motorcycle officer
“Imagine you’re working on the freeway and it’s a wet road … and you’ve got trucks travelling at 100km/h. It’s not hard to imagine how, if someone brakes suddenly to 25, it could all turn pear-shaped really quickly.”
“It had to veer sharply into the right lane, locking its brakes,” Kaesler explains “And both vehicles only managed to stop a good 200 metres further up the road
“The truck had run into the rear of the ute which had come to a rapid halt. And, at the time, the truck driver was convinced that the ute had hit and killed that (motorcycle) member ”
Kaesler makes a cogent argument against the 25km speed-zone law with figures
“Each member,” he says, “depending on volumes of traffic and duties at the time, may be pulling over between 10 to 20 vehicles per shift, minimum
“And for us in the Barossa, we have a significant number of main arterial roads and highways leading to and from the metro area.
“I’m amazed that a fatality hasn’t occurred up to this point. I think it’s a matter of time ”
18. Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Unit members on a wet road at night in a 25km/h speed zone.
19. A patrol car on an open road with emergency lights setting a speed zone in play – AAP image/Reuters/ Tracey Nearmy. 20. An emergencyservice speed zone causes traffic to bank up on the freeway.
In the last several years, cops have done more than just voice their strong opposition to the 25km speed zone They have brought not only their expert opinions to the table but also credible solutions.
Brenton Lind is one of many advocating a simple half-speed policy for motorists passing through emergency-service speed zones
“If you’re in a 50 zone,” he says, “you slow to 25 If you’re in a 60 zone, you slow to 30 And, if you’re in a 110 zone, you slow to 55 It’s safe for all environments and all weather conditions
“Imagine you’re working on the freeway and it’s a wet road or perhaps there’s fog or an accident and you’ve got trucks travelling at 100km/h.
“It’s not hard to imagine how, if someone brakes suddenly to 25, it could all turn pear-shaped really quickly.
“If people are only slowing to 55 on
the freeway, the traffic obviously doesn’t have to slow down as much, and it goes a long way to alleviating the dangers ”
Yorke Mid North LSA senior sergeant first class Steve Griggs has had numerous near misses in 25km speed zones. He sees the half-speed concept as “much more realistic and achievable” and, ultimately, a better option
“It’s more dangerous to have some people slowing down to 25 while others are not even aware,” he says “On multiple occasions I’ve seen the first vehicle slowing down and the vehicle (driver) behind unaware and creating that serious risk of a collision ”
Shane D’Arcy would also apply the half-speed concept to emergencyservice speed zones.
“If a vehicle did 50 or 55 in a 110 zone, that would be a lot safer,” he says. “The traffic’s still moving and motorists who aren’t switched on have that buffer ”
“Our members, working on the freeway and on highways, are the ultimate sources of information. If they, as experts, insist there’s going to be a fatality, what kind of government would fail to enact change?”
The question is: who, besides the Police Association, is listening to and acting on these officers’ expert advice?
It appeared the New South Wales government listened and responded when its police expressed the same concerns their SA counterparts had voiced And the speed they found dangerous, during a 12-month trial, was not 25km/h but rather 40km/h
An amendment, which came into play in 2019, required NSW motorists simply to reduce their speed to a level “reasonable for the circumstances”
Knowing the extent to which the 25km speed zone threatens the safety of its members, the Police Association has repeatedly urged the government to implement change.
It first took up the issue with then-police minister Tony Piccolo (Labor) five-and-a-half years ago Piccolo, however, resigned his police and other portfolios just days later
The association then lobbied his replacement, current Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas (Labor)
And, after the 2018 election and change of government, the association pursued the speed-zone issue with two more police ministers. First was Corey Wingard (Liberal) and then current police minister Vincent Tarzia (Liberal).
But nowhere in their responses has there ever been a commitment to bring change, recommended by operational police, to the speed-zone law
Police Association president Mark Carroll speaks of how fortunate successive governments have been to receive the “invaluable advice” of seasoned police officers He also describes as “appalling” the choice of those governments not to act on it
“I’ve always said that the person who knows best about a job is the person who performs that job,” he says. “That means operational police know best about operational police work
“Our members, working on the freeway and on highways, are the ultimate sources of information If they, as experts, insist there’s going to be a fatality, what kind of government would fail to enact change?”
Police Association secretary Bernadette Zimmermann speaks of the ongoing fight to eliminate what she calls a “needless risk to police lives”
“Those in power ought to think about the blood they’d have on their hands if the worst happened after their failure to act,” she says. “They’d never be able to say they weren’t told. And, be assured, we’d hold them to account ”
SERGEANT
EAMON BULL:
“It’s ridiculous. It’s causing issues for officers’ safety on the side of the road and contributing to stats for injury crashes It’s not efficient at all for the safe flow of traffic anywhere and causes massive traffic jams, which result in crashes further down the road.
“At times you’re just standing on the side of the road and hear lock-ups and then hear a crash Every time you go to a crash on the freeway, you’re pretty much guaranteed you’re going to end up with another crash there ”
SENIOR CONSTABLE
SHANE D’ARCY:
“It’s not efficient. It doesn’t work I don’t believe it’s an effective safety measure, especially because of the diverse roads we work on There’s anywhere from 25k zones to 110 zones You just can’t have one rule for all these speed zones
“We (operational police) don’t agree with it. Everyone I’ve spoken to always says the same thing, that the speed shouldn’t be 25 If it’s a 100k zone, it should be 50 No one agrees it should be 25k on the freeway or in a 90k zone ”
SENIOR SERGEANT
FIRST CLASS
STEVE GRIGGS:
“Going from 110 to 25 is a big ask You can’t always choose where the incident is going to be If it’s a crash or an emergency situation, it might not be in an ideal location where you’ve got hundreds of metres of forward vision
“I think we’re past that frustrated (stage). I think we’re now numb to it. Not that we accept it, but I bet there’s less and less HIRs being put in We hoped it would make some type of immediate difference but here we are seven or eight years later still talking about it ”
SERGEANT
TROY KAESLER:
“On an open road, 25km is a significant decrease in speed from say, 100 or a 110k Unless everyone is completely alert at the time, we’ll continue to see drivers quickly reacting to their obligations to slow down and vehicles travelling behind them also having to react as a result.
“I’ve got no doubt there’s frustration amongst the members I supervise but also across the board within other highway patrols and areas within Traffic Services Branch The fact that this has been discussed for so long without an appropriate outcome is concerning but not surprising ”
“… expecting someone to go from 110 to 25 in a heartbeat, with little to no warning, is bloody dangerous.”
THE EXPERTS’ FINAL SAY ON THE EMERGENCYSERVICE SPEED ZONE
SENIOR CONSTABLE BRENTON LIND:
“(Whoever) put this legislation together obviously didn’t realize what the ramifications would be for high-speed country roads
“One of the biggest frustrations is dealing with a crash or something on the freeway and we’ve got fire trucks and ambulances there and people slowing down to 25.
“In the morning peak hour, it basically creates extreme build-ups of traffic which will run for kilometres
“Then we’ll get traffic that’s doing 110, or heavy vehicles doing 100, approaching a stationary line of cars, basically, and we get rear-end crashes ”
SERGEANT
JOE MCDONALD:
“We didn’t have this problem when it was 40ks because no one did the 40k on the freeway anyhow They were doing 60 or 80 and there were no problems with it
“But then when they brought in the 25k rule and did a big ad campaign on it, people were slowing down to the (legislated) speed, and that’s what caused problems.
“The only solution is to change the legislation, and until the legislation is changed, well, we’ve got the same issue ”
SENIOR CONSTABLE
SAM PETTS:
“If you’re setting up a site and managing the scene and you’ve got cones and everything out, no problem But expecting someone to go from 110 to 25 in a heartbeat, with little to no warning, is bloody dangerous
“The difference between 25 and 100 is too great. It needs to be graduated or we need to adopt a higher speed. It used to be 40 years ago. No one ever did 40 but we used to just accept it if they backed off and gave us a bit of room, which truck drivers generally do if they can ”
SENIOR CONSTABLE JOEL REID:
“It is frustrating. No one who’s working in highway situations is going to be in favour of it (the 25km speed zone) I don’t know why they (the government) haven’t acted It’s not a hard thing to change, or it shouldn’t be a hard thing to change.
“You’re never going to get everyone to be able to slow to 25 on the freeway. (The solution) is for people to slow down to a safe speed But I wouldn’t want it to slow to less than 60km an hour on the freeway Anything less than that is unsafe ”
“… when they brought in the 25k rule and did a big ad campaign on it, people were slowing down to the (legislated) speed, and that’s what caused problems.”
SERGEANT
KYM WEBB:
“For SAAS and firies it’s good because they’re actually on the roadway when it comes to an incident or a crash In that case, people do need to go to 25 I’m sure the 25k was designed for them because they have personnel on the road
“But we’re stopping or dealing with people off the road. We’re not in trucks like the CFS or big rigs like ambulances. So, for us, (a policy of) slow down and move over would be good rather than do 25km/h ” PJ
POLICE CLUB MASTERING THE ART OF SURVIVAL
By Nicholas Damiani
SA GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 have imposed the most extensive challenges on the Police Club since its inception 60 years ago
Back in March 2020, the club was facing one of the greatest-ever threats to its survival
The situation called for an intelligent strategy, and one quickly emerged.
A meeting with Police Association president Mark Carroll, hotelier David Basheer (the Basheer Group) and club staff brought about a takeaway operation
It was to involve a small, highquality menu of takeaway options as well as pre-prepared Friday roasts and meals
For hungry cops and others, the procedure was as simple as placing an order by phone or in person at the Precinct Café window
For club staff, it was not easy, but it kept patrons happy and the club viable. And, after 18 months, the club is not only still alive but prospering.
Full-scale lockdowns have not been the only challenge A host of other capacity restrictions, in place since the beginning of the pandemic, left some of the other club functions in jeopardy but ultimately surviving
Mark Carroll attributes that survival to the ongoing adaptability and commitment of the club and café staff
“Their work performance during this period has been fantastic,” he said
“I assured them back in early 2020, when the pandemic first hit, that the association would help them alter their operations and provide a flexible service to keep the club focussed on members and other patrons.
“It would have been easy to simply close the club for the entirety of the pandemic but that would have risked its future and none of us was prepared to do that
“We rate the 60-year history of the club, its staff and its loyal patrons too highly to risk losing them ”
Club management and staff have had to think on their feet and provide novel ideas to cope with the uncertainty, which has impacted on every facet of their normal business model.
“Events have had to be reworked or postponed, often with just hours’ notice,” Mr Carroll said
“The bar, dining room and event spaces have to be constantly reconfigured to accommodate the ever-changing social-distancing requirements
“The club has continued to develop and market new takeaway options, which allows us to keep providing a service to members and patrons even when inside dining isn’t an option. ”
Mr Carroll said that, despite setbacks, the club and café staff had fought through and risen to every challenge
“The impact on the broader hospitality sector has been huge, especially small to medium-size operations,” he said
“We rate the 60-year history of the club, its staff and its loyal patrons too highly to risk losing them.”
“But the way our staff have responded reflects their expertise and that of our club manager, Bronwyn Hunter Along with Head Chef Gary Petrus, all have worked tirelessly to keep the club up and running ”
Ms Hunter said maintaining the club’s viability would not have been possible without the loyal support of regular patrons – and some new ones
“We’ve loved seeing so many familiar faces, especially after the most recent lockdown (in July),” she said.
“We’ve actually enjoyed getting creative with how to keep providing services through the pandemic.
“Chef Gary has thrown himself into preparing delicious pre-prepared meals that can be taken home and, at only $10 each, they’re great value for both families and single people ”
Mr Carroll also spoke of the relaunch of events such as the Police Wine Club evenings and graduate dinners, which became some of the first casualties of the restrictions.
“Through most of the pandemic, we weren’t able to stage those events,” he said.
“The graduation dinners are now back on, with a flexible approach by staff to accommodate the required format changes
“And the Police Wine Club has been kept alive by staff working closely with sponsors and guests to provide tastings under revised formats (to cater for the restrictions)
“We froze Wine Club membership fees during the pandemic, so our members haven’t lost out financially.
“And without letting any time go to waste, we secured some new sponsors for the events like Wine Showcase Magazine and Wines of Adelaide ” PJ
The Police Club and Precinct Café are open for coffees, takeaways, pre-prepared meals, in-house meetings, lunches, functions, drinks, dinners and Friday night happy-hour drinks. Go to policeclub.com.au for opening hours, menus and coming events. Revised 2021 membership forms for the Police Wine Club are also available to download.
Police Club manager
Bronwyn Hunter Head Chef Gary Petrus
FORCED TO SHOOT!
Police Journal an international winner again
By Nicholas Damiani
The dream run of international honours for the Police Journal has continued with design and journalism awards in Germany and the United States.
A Best of Decade award for design was the prize in Germany It was a big call, made by a jury of six publishing industry experts from Austria, Germany, Denmark and Luxembourg for the International Creative Media Awards (ICMA)
The jury considered works submitted to ICMA between 2010 and 2020 It judged the concept and design of cover story Forced to Shoot (February 2013) to be the best in the Cover and Cover Story category
The Police Journal had originally received the ICMA Award of Excellence for the design in 2013. Bestowing the honour in that case was a panel of eight judges from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Magazine and book designers who participate in the annual ICMA come from countries across five continents
News of the Best of Decade award came from Germany just after 2am (SA time) on June 30.
The ICMA judges had concluded a review in which they selected the best custom works of the decade in a range of categories Each winner received the title Best of Decade
Photographer Steve McCawley and graphic designer
Sam Kleidon, both long-time members of the Police Journal team, jointly produced the award-winning artwork
McCawley shot separate studio images of detectives
Alex Grimaldi and Rob Lengyel for both the cover and opening spread of Forced to Shoot
He also shot separate background images of character buildings from street perspectives.
“My task was to produce strong, impactful images that reflected the seriousness and dire circumstances of the story,” he says.
“Receiving an award for my part in that is both humbling and affirming ”
A gunman had fired a bullet at one detective and aimed his rifle at another. Both officers had to respond, but they and a third colleague would spend years reliving the drama. By Brett Williams
“But our members deserve equal recognition for sharing both their professional and deeply personal stories with us.”
best of decade
Sam Kleidon conceived and developed the layout of both the cover and eight-page cover story of 4,000 words
“My thought process was to make the most of Steve’s great images for this story,” she says, “especially the opening spread. The headline needed to be powerful but not overpower the image.
“It was really about trying to use the images to best support the copy and heighten the reader’s sense of the whole event
“So, it’s a nice nod when something is deemed worthy of such an award ”
Just weeks after the win in Germany, the Police Journal won the Gold Award in the Feature Article category at the Tabbie Awards in the US Judges for Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI) gave the cover story Torn almost limb from limb (February 2020) a glowing endorsement.
“An immersive article that brings the reader to the scene of the depicted event,” one judge wrote. “This writer is an excellent storyteller, sharing details with an authentic yet compassionate voice
“The design stayed true to the storyline, not shying away from sharing somewhat graphic images of an injury (which may not be for the faint of heart) Grateful this person made a full recovery!”
Police Journal editor Brett Williams wrote the story, which told of a vicious dog attack on AFP constable Carla Duncan in Canberra in 2018
Williams based the feature on an interview with Duncan after he had met her in Canberra in 2019 and raised the idea of the story with her.
“Carla was immediately agreeable and willing to be totally open, not just about the physical but also the mental trauma she had suffered,” Williams recalls.
“She was so generous in that regard, and generous
Torn almost limb from limb
“I remember him just flinging the screen door open and just holding it for that dog to run out.”
with her time On a couple of her days off in late 2019, she flew into Adelaide from Brisbane just for the interview and photoshoot
“As soon as we got word of the Tabbie award out of Ohio, I rang Carla to let her know. She was delighted to think that her story had earned a place on the world publishing stage.
“I was delighted too, to win the award, but I regard it as recognition of Carla and her bravery in horrific circumstances ”
Williams has now won the Gold Tabbie for Feature Article two years in a row He won the award last year for the cover story Post-crash indecision (August 2019)
The US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand participated in the 2021 Tabbies, which attracted its highest number of entries since 2017
Other recognition the Police Journal received at the Tabbies were honourable mentions in two categories. One was for Best Single Issue (April 2020) and the other for COVID-19 coverage (Stopping COVID at the border, August 2020).
The Police Journal has now won a total of 12 international awards since 2014 Making up the Tabbies are four gold, two silver and three bronze On the ICMA list is one gold, one silver and now one Best of Decade award
Police Association president Mark Carroll spoke of his gratitude to the team he assembled more than a decade ago
“Brett, Steve and Sam are great professionals who, as a team, produce the most extraordinary work,” he says
“They’re just so knowledgeable and competent in their respective fields, and that’s how they’ve made our Police Journal a worldwide success.
“But our members deserve equal recognition for sharing both their professional and deeply personal stories with us ” PJ
LLETTERS
Letters to the editor can be sent by:
Regular mail Police Journal, PO Box 6032, Halifax St, Adelaide SA 5000
Email editor@pasa asn au Fax (08) 8212 2002
Internal dispatch Police Journal 168
Concern over COVID letter
I am responding to a letter (Real crime-fighting the role for police, Police Journal, June 2021) from Woman’s Christian Temperance Union SA president Karen Edwards.
The author says that she is speaking for her organization in wholeheartedly supporting the Police Association president’s comments praising the members of SAPOL I am thankful for her praise of our members when doing their normal roles
I do not agree with, and am quite concerned in regard to, the rest of her letter I am not sure if the rest of her letter would be supported by her whole organization
The author downplays the roles that those same police officers have played since COVID-19 hit our shores and even tries to use statistics to support her statement that we do not have a pandemic.
The author further makes an outlandish statement: “The public is tired of the propaganda and the fear that is pushing people toward QR code compliance which is the conditioning for the nationwide passport ”
When she speaks of “troubling times” what is she referring to? It appears she is referring to vaccination passports
Vaccination is the only way Australia, and the world, can end the lockdowns, illnesses and deaths caused by this pandemic, and an insinuation that vaccination is being used as a control method by our government is the backbone of COVID deniers and antivaxxers, which has directly impacted police around the country and their ability to do their jobs safely, as well as the safety of the entire community.
As well as being a police officer I am a member of the public that she refers to and I take insult to her comments. If it was not for the fine effort our police officers have performed during this pandemic South Australia would not be in the comfortable position it is today
Got something to say?
Some of our Police Association members are working in roles they have never worked in before. They have put themselves at risk in unknown circumstances They have had to forgo their leave and work longer hours than they have before, including being separated from their families, not only during their duties, but being put into hotel/self-quarantine due to exposures, causing great mental distress to those officers and their family members
This pandemic has affected every police officer It has affected every member of our Police Association Every day they return home from borders, airport or medi-hotels, not knowing if they are exposing their loved ones to a deadly disease
Our commissioner speaks most days to the media and within his comments he encourages and almost pleads that the South Australian public uses the QR code system to keep South Australia safe. To enable those who rely on the QR code system to do their jobs when this system is critical
This system allows contact tracers to quickly and effectively identify those who have been exposed to a positive case so that we can make these people safe and limit the amount of time we are subject to lockdowns, thus decreasing any effect on our economy and the lives of South Australians
For the author of this letter to suggest that this is propaganda and that there are other reasons for the QR code is insulting and dangerous to all
Julian Snowden
Julian Snowden is a Police Association committee member but is not, in this letter, representing the association.
Got a comment about a story you’ve read? Do you have strong views on a police issue?
Is there someone you want to acknowledge? Know of an upcoming social or sports event? Whatever the subject, put it in a letter to the editor
Regular mail Police Journal, PO Box 6032, Halifax St, Adelaide SA 5000
Email editor@pasa asn au Fax (08) 8212 2002 Internal dispatch Police Journal 168
BIG SAVINGS! Police Association Members’ Buying Guide Facebook Group
The Police Association has created a new Facebook group to advise you more effectively and efficiently of savings and special offers for you and your family. This is a closed group for members only.
By joining the group, you will be the first to know about
Steve Whetton Assistant Secretary Police Association
INDUSTRIAL
Ground-breaking EA outcomes
The South Australia Police Enterprise Agreement 2021 was ratified on March 23 for three years commencing from the first full pay period on or after January 1, 2021
Negotiations for a subsequent agreement will commence no earlier than three months before the nominal expiry date
The outcomes of the agreement, particularly given the COVID-19 pandemic, were ground-breaking. Police officers around the nation have, during the pandemic, had to operate under the most extreme demands Nonetheless, other police unions’ negotiations are still progressing
In New South Wales, the enterprise agreement expired in June 2020, when the government announced a pay freeze for public-sector workers Subsequent arbitration led to a 3 per cent pay increase for 12 months
The Police Association of NSW contested the decision and called numerous witnesses to provide evidence in the Industrial Relations Commission.
The NSW IRC decided to award police officers a 1 75 per cent pay increase from July 1, 2020 The variation to the award was lodged in May 2021 This award was for a one-year agreement
The quantum for the July 1, 2021, increase is still subject to negotiation between the PANSW and Commissioner of Police If required, the PANSW will again seek the assistance of the IRC to determine what is fair and reasonable.
In Western Australian, the industrial agreement operated until June 30, 2021 . The WA government has a state wages policy which proposes a $1,000 per
annum cap to salary and commensurate increases to conditions when industrial agreements are re-negotiated
A $1,000 wage increase is on offer for an in-principle agreement by June 15, 2021, for the one-year term
On May 5, the New Zealand government announced a three-year wage freeze for public-sector workers, right when New Zealand Police Association negotiators met New Zealand Police to begin the 2021 negotiations.
Right to disconnect
During the enterprise bargaining process, SA members contacted the Police Association for consideration and clarification of clause 59 of the Victoria Police Enterprise Agreement 2020
The clause is titled Right to disconnect outside of effective working hours for Protective Services Officers, Constables, Senior Constables, Sergeants and Senior Sergeants.
It stipulates that:
• Supervisors and managers must respect employees’ periods of leave and rest days
• Other than in emergency situations or genuine welfare matters, employees must not be contacted outside of the employee’s hours of work unless the employee is in receipt of an availability allowance pursuant to clause 56
• Employees are not required to read or respond to e-mails or phone calls outside their effective working hours. It is important to note that the clause does not have penalty provisions at this time but may be expanded in future enterprise agreements
Managers and supervisors should consider whether contacting an off-duty member is truly time-critical and understand that the member will seek either recall or TOIL remuneration. The overriding aim is to respect members’ personal time.
The Police Association of South Australia has always ensured that members recalled to duty are appropriately remunerated and covered under enterprise agreements and the Police Officers Award
Clause 34 of the South Australia Police Enterprise Agreement 2021 –overtime worked as a result of recall –dictates the Police Officers Award (5 2) entitlements
The association achieved an enhancement to the time-off-in-lieuof-overtime (TOIL) payment in the current enterprise agreement (clause 33). Where overtime is unavoidable and approved owing to operational necessity, the agreed time off in lieu of payment will be calculated at the same rate prescribed at clause 5 2 of the Police Officers Award TOIL is calculated at overtime rate rather than on an hour-for-hour basis
Technological advances have enabled police officers to access their work e-mails on their mobile phones while off duty.
This accessibility has led to managers and supervisors to contact off-duty members
Insignificant one-off contacts which require no significant action are not generally considered recall
But these actions, when taken by management, prevent members from achieving their goal of respite from workload intensification and interfere with personal and family relationships
Dr Rod Pearce
The pain of migraine
Amigraine is a headache which can cause severe throbbing or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound
Migraine attacks can last for hours or even days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities
Migraine is a vascular headache caused by the blood-flow changes and certain chemical changes in the brain leading to a cascade of events. These include constriction of arteries supplying blood to the brain and the release of certain brain chemicals
Vascular headache is one of the four major types of headaches alongside muscle contraction (tension), traction, and inflammatory headache Migraine is the most common type of vascular headache and is more likely to affect women than men
For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura occurs before or with the headache.
An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashes of light, blind spots, or other disturbances such as tingling on one side of the face or in an arm or leg and difficulty speaking
With tingling on the side of the face, or arms or legs, the concern is that the migraine is in the “motor cortex” and is going to lead to a stroke or permanent damage
Some people’s experience begins with a premonition phase, with mood or behaviour changes in the period before the main symptoms begin.
The throbbing pain of the migraine then occurs, often accompanied by additional symptoms such as nausea and
sensitivity to light. As the pain resolves, the resolution phase often involves considerable fatigue, lack of concentration and irritability
The treatment of vascular headaches depends on the specific characteristics of the condition and several factors should be considered These might include:
• Medical and family history
• Frequency and severity of symptoms
• Tolerance for medications.
• Therapies.
• Expected treatment outcomes.
• Personal preferences.
• Lifestyle alterations, particularly in reducing activities with a high level of stress
Prioritizing a healthy diet can make a significant difference in the frequency and severity of vascular headaches
Other treatment options for vascular headache might include:
• Biofeedback training
• Stress reduction
• Nutritional modifications.
• Physical therapy.
• Pressure therapy.
• Cold packs. Sometimes resorting to medication is necessary and there is a range of medications used as prevention
Hydration remains an important physical intervention and sometimes medical treatment with several litres of fluid and analgesia is successful
The first-line treatment options for vascular headaches include analgesic medications, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin.
Many people will be able to avert a migraine with an early taking of basic medication and withdrawing from the world in a dark, quiet room
History and medical review are the best ways to make a diagnosis and, if changes in lifestyle and rapid hydration do not work, there is an array of usually successful medication that can be used.
But, because this is often not possible, medication can be taken every day to prevent the frequency, and anyone who gets two to three migraines a month should be looking at preventive treatment.
Some medications which seem to have benefit are the anti-epileptics such as topiramate (Topamax).
The beta blockers metoprolol, propranolol, and timolol have been shown to be relatively safe prevention drugs
If the migraines appear to be resistant, consideration can be given to two antidepressants, amitriptyline and venlafaxine, or other medication for treatment (triptans)
The triptans were a major advance in migraine treatment because they specifically seemed able to abort a migraine episode.
One of the difficulties has been to manage the vomiting associated with migraines because it exaggerates the dehydration and prolongs the migraine, and any oral medications can’t be used They work directly on serotonin which causes narrowing of blood vessels in the brain
Triptans have now become available in tablet form but also for use intra-nasally and as injections as well as a wafer which can be dissolved under the tongue.
Pizotifen can be taken to prevent migraine and recurrent throbbing headaches. It is also used to treat cluster headaches These are headaches which occur in close succession at certain times of the year, usually lasting six to 12 weeks
Pizotifen is a potent serotonin and tryptamine antagonist which has been used for migraine prevention for many years
Migraines that occur because of oestrogen need to be dealt with according to the usual methods but also sometimes changing oral contraceptives
History and medical review are the best ways to make a diagnosis and, if changes in lifestyle and rapid hydration do not work, there is an array of usually successful medication that can be used
MOTORING
Jim Barnett
Model Ford Puma (compact SUV).
Powertrain 1.0-litre (92kW) EcoBoost turbo three-cylinder petrol engine, FWD, seven-speed DCT
Pricing From $29,990 plus ORC
Options include the $1,500 Park package which adds Adaptive cruise control, lane centring, active parkassist, front parking sensors and blind-spot detection
Safety Five-star (ANCAP), six airbags, rear park sensors, LED running lights, tyre-pressure monitor, reverse camera, autonomous braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure. Economy 6 3 litres/100km (combined test)
Luggage Between 410 and 1,170 litres, storage tray and emergency spare wheel
Warranty Five-year unlimited-kilometre servicing warranty and $299 scheduled servicing first 60,000km
Model Subaru Outback AWD Wagon.
Pricing $39,990 to $47,790 plus ORC.
Powertrain 2 5-litre (138kW/235Nm) Boxer four-cylinder engine, CVT transmission with eight-step manual mode, AWD
Fuel 91-98 RON, 63-litre tank capacity, 7 3 litres/100km (combined test)
Tech USB ports front and rear, 2 x 12-volt sockets, DAB+ radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11 6-inch HD touchscreen
Towing 2,000kg (braked) towing with 200kg maximum ball weight
Warranty/service Five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, 12-month 12,500km capped servicing
Subaru Outback
DESIGN AND FUNCTION
The new sixth-generation Subaru Outback wagon is available in three model variants: Outback AWD, AWD Sport and top-spec AWD Touring Each features a revamped and more powerful 2 5 litre four-cylinder Boxer engine coupled to a revised CVT transmission
Body changes are minimal but there’s plenty of new cladding to give Outback a more purposeful appearance An active grille shutter maintains correct running temperatures and AWD and Touring models feature innovative roof crossbars conveniently stored in their large roof rails
Ford Puma
DESIGN AND FUNCTION
The new European-sourced compact Ford Puma measures up for trendsetters who want a connected urban SUV But its entry price, $29,990 (plus ORC), is at the higher end and makes it more expensive than some rivals.
It has a lot to offer: a bold grille, bulging front guards with bug-eye LED headlights, 17-inch alloys, a sloping roofline and bulging rear tailgate with lip spoiler
Puma’s youthful interior features a stand-alone eight-inch colour touchscreen with voice-controlled sat nav, DAB+ radio, quality reverse camera, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Smart cloth trim with contrasting stitching features on seats and doors. Front seats are comfortable. The top-spec model even scores a massage function.
Puma’s 60/40 rear seat is fairly compact but will fit two adults with sufficient headroom Legroom, however, is tight
The rear tailgate reveals 410 litres of cargo space with a large plastic bin concealed under the floor, perfect for stowing wet gear Folding the rear seat provides up to 1,170 litres of cargo space
Ford has endowed entry Puma with plenty of tech, including wireless smartphone charging, a FordPass modem which provides smartphone access to service history and the like, and a suite of driver-assistance and crash-avoidance technologies, including traffic-sign recognition
DRIVING
Powering Puma is Ford’s awardwinning 1 0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost three-cylinder petrol engine which drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
Surprisingly smooth and quiet, this little engine produces a credible 92kW of power and 170Nm of torque. It never
New Outback is another example of the Subaru ability to craft swish interiors
Swish and roomy
Comfortable front and rear seats offer plenty of legroom and headroom
The driver-focused dash layout is superb. Its new 11 .6-inch high-definition touchscreen is a standout. Fully integrated into the central fascia, this portraitoriented unit controls many of the car’s functions, negating the need for heaps of switchgear
Accessed through a wider tailgate, the cargo bay’s flat floor offers between 522 and 1,267 litres of space Dropping the 60/40 rear seats is by the convenient means of cargo-bay or seat-fitted buttons
All models score a full-size spare wheel
All Outback models have eight airbags and an advanced version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist, driver-attention and collision-avoidance technologies. New features include autonomous emergency steering, lane-centring
For trendsetters
function and lane-keep assistance
And the speed-sign recognition can be linked with the intelligent speedlimiter to comply automatically with displayed speed signs.
DRIVING
All models feature push-button entry and start along with a poweradjustable driver’s seat Ample seat and steering-wheel adjustment deliver a good driving position with good visibility
Drivers are kept fully informed with a central multi-function display (between the gauges) which provides essential information including a digital speed readout.
The new central touchscreen features easy-to-use menus for numerous functions including audio, sat nav (where fitted), climate control,
feels stressed and will do anything demanded of it
Puma’s steering feels good and the spot-on suspension tune provides an excellent combination of supple ride along with confident cornering
The small thick steering wheel has buttons for cruise control, steering assistance and trip computer
A 4 2-inch TFT display between the gauges offers a host of information including a digital speedo and speed-sign recognition. Auto enginestop (designed to save fuel when stationary) can be overridden by a button on the console
Five selectable drive modes (Normal, Sport, Eco, Slippery and Trail) are available at the push of a button But Puma is FWD only, so Slippery and Trail are really about avoiding wheel spin on slippery roads as opposed to giving it off-road ability
X-Mode (off-road) settings, service information, auto engine stop and safety settings Once adjusted, these can be saved for individual drivers. The revamped Boxer engine delivers smooth, quiet and efficient power in most circumstances with engine noise only evident at high revs. Its CVT transmission (one of the better CVTs tested) goes about its business with a minimum of fuss and delivers drivers an eight-speed manual mode via convenient paddle shifters
With a lower centre of gravity than an SUV and its AWD system, Outback provides confident cornering along with a comfortable ride and superior rough-road performance.
Paul Modra Executive Manager Member Value and Distribution Police Credit Union
Federal budget and its impact on the average Aussie
There’s been a lot of hype about the federal budget delivered by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on May 11, 2021 It comes after a tough year for our economy because of the global pandemic and market uncertainty But what does it all mean for the average Australian?
The federal budget included several important changes which are likely to impact on plenty of Australians –especially when it comes to their superannuation nest egg.
The proposed superannuation changes include a repeal of the current work test, a reduction in minimum age for downsizer contributions and changes to the self-managed superannuation funds residency rules
Low- and middle-income earners are also set to benefit owing to proposed tax offset changes and plans to make childcare and first-property purchases more affordable.
Personal income tax
The budget confirms the federal government’s plan to retain the low- and middle-income tax offset for the FY21-22 income year, which will provide further targeted tax relief for earners who fall into those wage brackets
You don’t need to complete a section in your tax return to get these tax offsets If you are entitled to any offset, it will be calculated and added when you lodge your return.
You will see the amount on your notice of assessment as the offset will be factored into your final refund estimate
Low- and middle-income earners are also set to benefit owing to proposed tax offset changes and plans to make childcare and first-property purchases more affordable.
Childcare and pre-schools
Starting on July 1, 2022, the federal government has announced $1 7 billion over five years (and $671 2 million per year ongoing) to increase childcare subsidies for families with more than one child aged five and under in childcare
For a family with more than one child in childcare, the subsidy will increase by 30 per cent to a maximum subsidy of 95 per cent of fees paid for their second child and subsequent children. Removal of the $10,560 cap on the childcare subsidy will also occur
Increase in support for first home buyers
Despite the low-interest-rate environment, first home buyers are still finding it tough to purchase their first property, especially with the recent spike in house pricing.
In a bid to help more young Australians buy their first homes sooner, as of July 1, 2022, the maximum amount of voluntary contributions which can be released under the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) will increase from $30,000 to $50,000
The FHSS was introduced in the 2017-18 federal budget to reduce pressure on housing affordability, by allowing first home buyers to make voluntary contributions toward their superannuation fund.
This scheme allows first home buyers to save money faster inside their own super fund and then benefit from lower tax rates
As of July 1, 2022, eligible individuals will be able to release up to $50,000 under the scheme to assist in the purchase of their first homes Voluntary contributions made from July 1, 2017, can count toward the total amount released
Superannuation – repealing the work test for voluntary superannuation contributions
Currently, anyone aged between 67 and 74 can make voluntary concessional and non-concessional contributions to their superannuation or receive contributions from their spouse if they work at least 40 hours over a 30-day period in the relevant financial year
The budget proposes that those in this age bracket will be able to make or receive non-concessional contributions or salary-sacrifice superannuation contributions without having to meet the work test.
Removing the work test requirement will provide greater flexibility for the many older Australians who want to save for retirement through superannuation
Older Australians will still need to meet the test if they want to make personal deductible contributions and will continue to be subject to existing contribution caps The federal government expects to have required legislation passed to achieve a start date of July 1, 2022 .
Free Legal Service for Police Association Members, Their Families & Retired Members.
Leading Adelaide law firm, Tindall Gask Bentley is the preferred legal service provider of the Police Association, offering 30 minutes of free initial advice and a 10% fee discount.
DISCIPLINARY & ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
• ICAC
• Coroner's Court
• Criminal Law
INJURY COMPENSATION
• Motor accident injury compensation
• Workers compensation
• Police Complaints
• Equity & diversity
• Public liability
• Superannuation claims (TPD)
FAMILY & DIVORCE
Matrimonial, De Facto & Same Sex Relationships
• Children’s Issues
• Child Support matters
BUSINESS & PROPERTY
• General business advice
• Real estate & property advice
• Property Settlements
• “Pre Nuptial” style Agreements
• Business transactions
• Commercial disputes & dispute resolution
To arrange a preliminary in-person or phone appointment contact PASA on (08) 8212 3055
WILLS & ESTATES
• Wills & Testamentary Trusts
• Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Advance Care Directive
• Advice to executors of deceased estates
• Obtaining Grants of Probate
• Estate disputes
Rosemary Caruso Michael Arras
Adelaide • Reynella • Salisbury • Mt Barker • Murray Bridge Gawler
Pt Lincoln • Whyalla • Perth (WA) • Darwin (NT)
Gary Allison Amber Sprague
Sam Joyce Luke Officer
Wendy Barry Dina Paspaliaris
John Caruso Giles Kahl
LEGAL L
Amber Sprague Partner
Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
Spare your family the heartache
Ihave spent the last 21 years practising almost exclusively in the workers compensation jurisdiction Initially, that was under the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act and in the Workers Compensation Tribunal and, since July 1, 2015, under the Return to Work Act and in the South Australian Employment Tribunal
I spend a lot of my time assisting police officers injured both physically and psychologically in the course of their employment in:
• Completing claim forms.
• Submitting claim forms to SAPOL .
• Navigating through the claimsdetermination process
• Advising on rights and entitlements post claims being accepted
• Engaging in disputation at the SA Employment Tribunal if a claim is rejected
Sometimes there are disappointing outcomes, sometimes there are good outcomes and sometimes there are great outcomes.
I could give you 400 or so words of advice on claims and possible entitlements but, instead, I want to tell you about being a responsible, organized adult
Now, my husband and children tell me I’m the queen of nagging but, if that’s what it takes to save you and your loved ones from extra heartache and distress, I’m happy to be a nagger
You see, my sister-in-law, who is not that much older than me, is dying She was diagnosed about four years ago with bowel cancer.
After countless chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, the cancer has spread to her bones. It is terminal and she is in immense pain
It is awfully distressing to see her this way. While she is being kept as comfortable as possible in the circumstances, it is only a matter of time until she lapses fully into unconsciousness and ultimately passes away
This is a horrible situation, one which I am sure many of you have experienced However, it is made worse by the fact that she only has a will (but at least she has that).
She does not have an enduringpower-of-attorney document allowing her husband or adult children to act on her behalf to manage her affairs. Nor does she have an advance care directive setting out her medical wishes for treatment
It is too late for her to sign those documents now, when they are desperately needed, as she does not have the legal capacity to do so She can’t write and can barely communicate Accordingly, her husband and children are left powerless to act on her behalf because they do not have the legal authority to do so.
Even more frustrating is that, before she became unable to write and speak, she did not write down all the necessary passwords and log-on information for banking, insurances, her iPhone and so on to enable the family and their business to operate without her
Even more frustrating is that, around five years ago, she and I discussed how important it was to make sure that our affairs were in order by having these documents prepared. We were dealing with our mother-in-law who also had none of these documents and was becoming incapacitated
Please save your family members the distress and heartache of not being able to manage your affairs when you are incapable of doing so.
And write down all your passwords somewhere safe.
We half-joked at the time that it was “better to be safe than sorry” and swore that we would both action them straightaway I did, and I’m all sorted if the unimaginable happens, but she sadly didn’t She just kept putting it off as one of those things we know we need to do, but never quite get around to because we are all just so busy And then it’s too late
So, my nagging message? Please save your family members the distress and heartache of not being able to manage your affairs when you are incapable of doing so. Please make sure that you have all necessary estate planning documents, including wills but also enduring powers of attorney and advance care directives And write down all your passwords somewhere safe
Also a good idea is to keep a list of details that will be important for your family to know:
• Assets (real estate, bank accounts –including online-only accounts, shares, investments, digital assets (currency)).
• Liabilities.
• Utility providers (electricity, gas, telephone, internet, mobile)
• Insurance (house, contents, car, life, TPD, etc)
• Streaming and other regularly paid services
• Anyone else they should contact or know about (Police Association, Dependants Fund)
It will generally be only a page long, but it can save a lot of time and worry
In a perfect world, these documents will not be needed in the near future for any of us, but at least they will be there ready for when they are.
The Family Doctor
Debra Oswald Allen & Unwin, $32 99
Paula is a dedicated suburban GP devastated by the murder of a friend and her children by their estranged husband and father.
Stacey and her children had been staying with her after fleeing his control, and Paula is haunted by the thought that she couldn’t protect them when they most needed it
How had she missed the warning signs? How had she failed to keep them safe?
Not long after, a patient with suspicious injuries brings her anxious young son into Paula’s surgery The woman admits that her husband hurts her, but she’s terrified to leave for fear of escalating the violence and defeated by the constant failures of the law to help her
Can Paula go against everything she believes to make sure one woman is saved, one child spared? She isn’t motivated by revenge She’s desperately trying to prevent a tragedy
Win a book or in-season movie pass!
For your chance to win one of the books or an in-season pass to one of these films (courtesy of Wallis Cinemas) featured in this issue, send your name, location, phone number and despatch code, along with the book and/or film of your choice to giveaways@pj.asn.au
Something to Hide
Fleur McDonald Allen & Unwin, $29 99
With the sickening realization that his cover has been blown, Detective Dave Burrows knows his family is in serious danger from vicious stock thieves and murderers, Bulldust and his brother Scotty.
Bent on revenge, Bulldust and Scotty are hiding out close to Dave and Mel’s old hometown of Barrabine When devastating news brings Dave back there, he has to question his determination to stay in the police force
How could he live with himself if anything happened to Mel and the kids?
This is the fourth rural suspense novel featuring the young detective Dave Burrows from bestselling Voice of the Outback author Fleur McDonald Sooley
John Grisham
Hodder & Stoughton, $32 99
In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder
Jane Monckton-Smith Bloomsbury, $29
99
For 35 years, Professor Jane Monckton-Smith has been investigating one of the most pervasive problems women face around the world
As a former police officer, she observed at first hand the ways in which women were assessed and judged, both as victims and as professionals
Speaking with her colleagues about how coercive control should be dealt with provided a brutal education in sexual politics and sparked her decision to understand the ways violence is continually justified.
In Control details the Eight Stage Homicide Timeline Monckton-Smith created that challenges the “crime of passion” argument used for decades as a way of explaining intimate partner murder
She examined over 400 cases of intimate partner homicide in order to build pictures of killers and what motivates them to murder their wives, partners and even children.
One man One hope One chance to become a legend.
One man. Samuel Sooleyman, 17, comes from war-torn South Sudan His great love is basketball His prodigious leap and lightning speed make him an exceptional player And he has been noticed by a coach taking a youth team to the US
One hope. If he gets through the tournament, Samuel’s life will change beyond recognition But his talent is raw and uncoached and there are hundreds of better-known players ahead of him And he must leave his family behind, at least at the beginning
One chance. As American success beckons, devastating news reaches Samuel from home. Caught between his dream and the nightmare unfolding thousands of miles away, Sooley must make hard choices about his future This quiet, dedicated boy must become a legend in 12 short months
The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions
Kerry Greenwood Allen & Unwin, $29.99
The Honourable Phryne Fisher – she of the Lulu bob, Cupid’s bow lips, diamante garters and pearlhandled pistol – is the 1920s’ most elegant and irrepressible sleuth
Miss Phryne Fisher is up to her stunning green eyes in intriguing crime. With the ever-loyal Dot, the ingenious Mr Butler and all of Phryne’s friends and household, the action is as fast as Phryne’s wit and logic.
Free Guy
August 12
Love and Mud Pies
Janet Smith Self-published
Laura suffered three misfortunes in her life:
• The loneliest of childhoods, with just one human friend – a boy who would play mud pies with her at the back of her mother’s shop in Glenbloom, but then stopped coming around
• Her parents’ divorce when she was just 12, followed by the untimely deaths of both mother and father
• A toxic relationship with a man who took her wealth, health and beauty after she met him at the height of her modelling career. He carried her lifeless body to a Paris hospital as though it was rubbish being thrown in the trash can
Laura returns to Glenbloom in 1985 and so begins an intriguing love story with a twist
Signed copies available from the author at $15 each. authorjanetsmith@gmail.com janetsmithauthor.com
A bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story –one he rewrites himself
Now, in a world in which there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way, before it’s too late.
Cast: Ryan Reynolds (Guy), Jodie Comer (Millie), Lil Rel Howery (Buddy), Joe Keery (Keys), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Mouser), Taika Waititi (Antoine), Aaron Reed (Dude), Britne Oldford (Missy) and Camille Kostek (Bombshell)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
September 2
In Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
Cast: Simu Liu (ShangChi), Tony Leung (Wenwu), Awkwafina (Shang-Chi’s friend, Katy) and Michelle Yeoh (Jiang Nan)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
September 16
Eddie Brock, also known as the lethal protector, Venom, is one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters
He tries to reignite his journalism career by interviewing Cletus Kasady, a serial killer Kasady becomes the host of an alien symbiote similar to Venom named Carnage.
Cast: Tom Hardy (Eddie Brock), Woody Harrelson (Cletus Kasady/ Carnage), Michelle Williams (Anne Weying) and Naomie Harris (Shriek)
Dear Evan Hansen
September 23
Dear Evan Hansen is a film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical
An isolated high school senior suffers from a severe social anxiety disorder which leads him to struggle at school.
His journey of self-discovery and acceptance begins following the suicide of a classmate
Cast: Ben Platt (Evan Hansen), Kaitlyn Dever (Zoe Murphy), Julianne Moore (Heidi Hansen) and Amy Adams (Cynthia Murphy)
Course Reunions Day
FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER FROM 4PM THE POLICE CLUB 27 CARRINGTON ST, ADELAIDE
$10 per person for finger food Drinks at bar prices Happy hour 5:30 – 6:30
Gather your course mates and come back home to the Police Club to reminisce on your police cadet glory days.
Members and instructors from all courses are welcome to come together for a relaxed evening of academy throwbacks.
How many of your old course mates can you find?
IF, OWING TO A COVID LOCKDOWN OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS, THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED FULL REFUNDS WILL BE PAYABLE.
Honour our fallen colleagues on Police Remembrance Day
Michael
PATRON SAINT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Post-service luncheon
WEDNESDAY, September 29 | Police Club from 12:30pm
In Australia on this September day each year, the police family comes together to pay personal and professional tribute to its honoured fallen – some of whom served beside us. Join Police Association secretary Bernadette Zimmermann to take part in the tributes taking place around Australia.
$38.50 per person
Rump Steak with garlic potato puree and red wine jus, steamed broccoli or Atlantic Salmon on baby spinach with roast capsicum, red onion, sundried tomatoes and carrot ribbons with a dill, yoghurt and walnut crumble or Vegetable Stack (V). Drinks available at bar prices.
Bookings
www.trybooking.com/BSGQU or phone 8212 2924 for more info.
L The Last Shift
For the full version of The Last Shift, go to PASAweb at www.pasa.asn.au
Constable Natasha Rush
Southern Property
Mark Boileau
Stephen Bradfield
Melanie Burke
Steve Chaplin
Chris Cowdrey
James Davis
Brenton Holmes
Ann Mackie
Brent Mackie
Noel McLean
Michele Micklethwaite
Cathy Ross
Natasha Rush
Graham Smith
Robert Stewart
Warren Warner
David Westover
Carl Whitaker
John Yates
Total years’ service: 663
25 years’ service Last Day: 31.03. 21
Comments…
“Thank you to the association for your efforts in improving working conditions for the members of SAPOL over the last 25 years during my time with the organization
“I spent 24-plus years in the band and my highlights were representing SAPOL, SA and Australia on the world stage with awesome marching displays, including performing for the Queen at her 90th birthday.
“My other highlight from the good old days included spending a few weeks with Mounted Ops, where I was featured playing piccolo on horseback (PH Wistow, RIP) for an Adelaide Tattoo
“Due to COVID-19, I spent the last portion of my time with the amazing team at Southern Property It was a great experience I definitely felt welcomed and appreciated ”
Senior
Sergeant Warren Warner HR Management
35 years’ service Last Day: 01 .07. 21
Comments…
“I sincerely thank the Police Association for its efforts in preserving and maintaining our working conditions
“I have been posted to many areas throughout my career and worked and formed strong bonds with many great people, both sworn and unsworn, who work tirelessly to keep our state safe.
“This career has provided much satisfaction, adventure, comradeship and great memories to ponder during my retirement Keep up the good work ”
Senior Sergeant 1C
David Westover
EMR
43 years’ service Last Day: 18 05 21
Comments…
“I thank all the members of the Police Association, both past and present, for all their unwavering efforts and support over my 43 years of service.
“I leave with no regrets and many wonderful memories ”
Sergeant Chris Cowdrey
Offender Management Section
44 years’ service Last Day: 02 06 21
Comments…
“I retire after accepting a lump-sum payment under schedule 4 (Additional Compensation) of the Police Award. This entitlement was, of course, won through the hard work of the association.
“While SAPOL has made some progress in recent years, the organization in general does not have any idea how to manage a person with a long-term psychological injury
“I think there is a major challenge for the association to help SAPOL improve its processes in the handling of members who are injured at work, especially long-term physical and psychological injuries.
“Thanks for your assistance over the years ”
Detective Senior Sergeant 1C
Mark Boileau
Eastern District CIB
43 years’ service Last Day: 30.06. 21
Comments…
“I leave SAPOL to retire content and proud of my career
“I have served mainly as a detective in many postings, in such areas as country, Crime and, finally, Eastern District CIB
“It has been a pleasure serving the community of South Australia with committed, dedicated and resilient fellow officers
“I commend the efforts of the Police Association over the years for pay and conditions.
“To everyone I have served with through this journey of a career, I thank you and wish you only the best for your safe journey ”
Senior Constable
James Davis
Western District
42 years’ service Last Day: 15 07 21
Comments…
“I thank the Police Association and its members, both past and present, for their hard work and dedication over the years
“I have enjoyed my time with SAPOL and, like most who have served, leave with a treasure chest of memories. I wish everyone the very best for the future. ”
Detective Sergeant Graham Smith
Specialist Technical Support Unit
44 years’ service Last Day: 07.07. 21
Comments…
“I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with some terrific people over 42-plus years Most of them I now consider lifelong friends
“I have worked in both the remote regional and metropolitan areas, mainly within the CIB
“My working life experience has been constantly positive, and I thank all of you who have contributed to it. We have certainly had some laughs and great times along the way.
“I walk away from SAPOL after 42-plus years with no regrets and sensational memories
“I wish the Police Association the best of luck in its endeavours to represent the police workforce and SAPOL in continuing to successfully manage the COVID-19 pandemic
Senior Sergeant Stephen Bradfield
Professional Conduct Section
43 years’ service Last Day: 07 07 21
Comments…
“I thank the Police Association for obtaining the benefits and conditions we now enjoy.
“I wish all members I have worked with and know all the best for the future. ”
Brevet Sergeant John Yates
Berri Intelligence Unit
43 years’ service Last Day: 14.07. 21
Comments…
“I thank all past and present committee members of the Police Association for their ongoing work in providing member benefits while improving the work conditions and renumeration of SAPOL members
“My 43-and-a-half years’ service were everything I sought in a career – challenging, diverse and incredibly rewarding
“My country postings at Marla, Streaky Bay and Roxby Downs were certainly highlights. However, the comradeship and professionalism I enjoyed within the intelligence community for my last 15 years of service were second to none
“For the last 32 years, my wife, Brevet Sergeant Samantha Yates, has been at my side
“We commenced working as partners in Darlington (as it was then) back in 1989 prior to marrying and basically have worked together all over the state until my retirement.
“The unwaning support Samantha provided on so many levels was outstanding.
“I am proud to have a son, daughter and now son-in-law as police officers and following in the footsteps of their parents
“To all my colleagues: thank you for being part of my life ”
LTHE LAST SHIFT
Senior Sergeant 1C
Carl Whitaker
Victor Harbor CIB
38 years’ service Last Day: 14 07 21
Comments…
“I leave with absolutely zero regrets To a job that gave me a nickname, an ID number, a purpose, confidence and ability to problem-solve, I thank you.
“To all who I have worked alongside, I thank you for your support, company and patience
“To those I have influenced or developed, I wish you well in the future and thank you for many memories
“My main philosophy in recent years has been to deal with situations fairly, firmly and decisively
“To the public, I have always tried my best to treat you fairly and respectfully and I thank you for my employ.
“To the Police Association – I thank you strongly for the pay, conditions and support you have provided for me and my colleagues over my journey ”
Brevet Sergeant
Ann Mackie
Limestone Coast Intelligence
19 years’ service Last Day: 28 07 21
Comments…
“Thank you to all members of the association management team for their efforts over the last 19 years. ”
Sergeant Robert “Bob”
Stewart BM, PBM
Netley Police Station
42 years’ service Last Day: 15 07 21
Comments…
“I have had a wonderful journey through SAPOL – metro, country, remote, single-member stations, ACB, IIB, overseas deployment and, finally, the past 14 years at Netley.
“I thank everyone I have worked with over the past 42 years for making it the best job in the world
“Thanks to the association too, for being there when it matters and for doggedly pursuing wage justice (particularly in the 1980s and ’90s) through the EB process
“Thanks for the opportunity to be the association delegate for ORG and Parks police many years ago
“Good luck and goodbye. ”
Brevet Sergeant Brent Mackie
Mount Gambier Police Station
20 years’ service Last Day: 28 07 21
Comments…
“I thank all present and past members of the association management team for their extraordinary efforts to improve and maintain members remuneration and conditions over the years.
“Kind regards and best wishes for the future. ”
Brevet Sergeant
Michele Micklethwaite
Prosecution Support Unit
31 years’ service Last Day: 28 07 21
Comments…
“I thank the Police Association for its assistance when required, and its tireless negotiations in providing the excellent working conditions and wages we are lucky enough to have provided to us.
“I thank all those people I have had the pleasure of working with, both public servants and uniformed members
“May you all stay healthy and safe, as that is what I’ve learnt is the most important thing in life
“I’ve enjoyed my time on the whole and met many characters along the way ”
Detective Brevet Sergeant
Melanie Burke
Serious and Organised Crime Branch
13 years’ service Last Day: 28 07 21
Comments…
“Thank you for negotiating enterprise agreements to ensure that members are looked after financially and providing a service to those who require legal assistance
“After 13 years I have made the decision to return to New Zealand to be closer to family and awardwinning Sauvignon Blanc. ”
Senior Constable 1C
Brenton Holmes
Gladstone Police Station
21 years’ service Last Day: 23.07. 21
Comments…
“The time has come for me to retire and take up a full-time ‘grey nomad’ role
“My time within SAPOL has been a highlight of my adult life and I have enjoyed every minute of it
“May I state that Police Association assistance over the years has been nothing short of outstanding in ensuring a quality working environment and remuneration packages.
“I shall miss my duties but more so my colleagues and numerous friends I have made along the way. ”
Sergeant Cathy Ross
EMR
40 years’ service Last Day: 28.07. 21
Comments…
“Forty years has been a journey The friends I have made along the way have made it worthwhile This comradeship is unique to policing
“From course 76, March 1981, the first recruit course with more women than men In these times, I wonder if that was equitable
“Region B (Adelaide/Hindley St), B21 primary patrol, first female not in a mixed patrol.
“Country postings at Berri and Mount Gambier
“Next, my beloved Communications – I believe one of the most under-recognized sections in SAPOL . I am proud of the expertise and assistance ComCen provides and my 20 years as ComCen sergeant
“I loved my time at SAPES, ANZPES and the World Police & Fire Games
“Thanks to COVID-19, I finished sourcing and distributing all SAPOL PPE requirements
“Oh, the things I have seen, learnt, or didn’t see along the way
“Take care of yourselves and others. ”
Sergeant Steve Chaplin
Gawler Police Station
42 years’ service Last Day: 14 07 21
Comments…
“I thank the Police Association for its diligent and tireless efforts over many years, from the ‘Pay justice for our police’ campaign and the introduction of PDOs, to the conditions we currently enjoy.
“After nearly 42 years, (two years at Fort Largs and 39 years on general duties), I now have time to focus on my ever-expanding family
“I acknowledge members who I have had the privilege to work with over this time
“A big thank you to everyone within Gawler police station, even CIB and Traffic, for your friendship and assistance for the past 13 years
“A special thanks to the former captain of the ship, now retired ‘Lou’ Costello, for his continued friendship and support. ”
Detective Senior Sergeant 1C Noel McLean
Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team
35 years’ service Last Day: 23.07. 21
Comments…
“To look back and think I began policing when there were only manual typewriters but, more important, no computers, mobile phones, digital recorders or taped interviews
“The organization certainly has come a long way
“I thank Supt Phil Hoff for giving me the opportunity to work within the then Sexual Crime Investigation Branch, Jo Martin (AGD) for her outstanding work in child protection legislation and Supt Gail McClure (AFP) for her unequivocal support and leadership to the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET)
“The majority of my CIB career has involved child sex offenders and vulnerable victims It certainly had its challenges but was very rewarding
“To be able to finish the final years of my career supervising and working with the dedicated members of the JACET has been an absolute privilege. ”
1. Nicholas Charlick and Megan McIntosh
2. Daniel Wilson and Patrece Hauswirth
3. Laura Mohan and Ram and Regan Hermanson 4. Kyriaki Karagiannis and Brooke Dimuccio
5. Craig and Allison Patterson
6. Pablo Ligouri and Samantha Chamber
7. Alex Maiorana and Lisa Wright
8. Sharnie Ammann and Eryn Ravesteyn 9. Stacey James and Kathryn Partington
Kristen Harris and Cameron Lang
Sophia and Sam Timms
Jasmine Drake and Mitchell Jenke
Retiring Members’ Dinner
William Magarey Room, Adelaide Oval June 25, 2021
1. Deanna, Simon, Alexandra and Andy Williams, Maryanne Holden and Linda, Steve, Trish and Greg Williams
2. Bernie and Paul Martin and Dave and Jeanette Racz
3. Sam Conroy, Rhiana Dabinett, Angela and Darryn Conroy and Abbey Said
4. Lesley-Ann and Allan Cannon
5. Andrew and Alana McCracken and Sean and Biddy Healy
6. Susan Lucas and Grant Napier
7. Graham Tomkins and Colin Kirkwood
8. Tony Rowe, Julie Rowe and Reg Harmer and Debbie Harmer
9. Brad and Crystel Neman, Natalie, Kerry and Garry Casey, Lydia Cullinan, Aaron Casey, Rebecca Mckay and Travis and Trevor Casey
10. Mary and Angelo Calandro
11. Tracey and Dean Pearce and Mark and Heather Guest
12. Stephen and Andrea Albon and Peter and Debra Kennedy
INDUSTRIAL I
From page 27
In his book, Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement , Kevin Gilmartin identifies that:
“Because the hypervigilance rollercoaster is a biological cycle, it will actually self-correct if left alone. For example, after approximately eighteen to twenty-four hours, the effects of hypervigilance will be alleviated and the person will return to a normal phase of social interaction, emotion, and perception ”
Members should consider the harm of hypervigilance when accessing work e-mails while off duty and whether the e-mail access is actually necessary. Managers and supervisors should consider whether contacting an off-duty member is truly time-critical and understand that the member will seek either recall or TOIL remuneration
The overriding aim is to respect members’ personal time
BANKING B
From page 33
Reducing the eligibility age for downsizer contributions
The eligibility age to make downsizer contributions into superannuation will be reduced from 65 to 60 years old and is also expected to be in place from July 1, 2022
The downsizer contribution allows people who have sold their homes to use the proceeds to make a one-off, post-tax contribution into their superannuation of up to $300,000 per person or $600,000 per couple – without impacting non-concessional contribution caps
This is sure to encourage older Australians to downsize to a home that better suits their changing needs and deliver larger homes to the market for younger families.
Relaxed residency requirements for self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs)
Relaxed residency requirements for SMSFs and small APRA-regulated funds are expected to be ready for July 1, 2022 Changes will mean SMSF and small APRA fund (SAF) members can make superannuation contributions even if they are temporarily overseas while working or studying for up to five years
Although Police Credit Union can’t help you with lodging your tax return, we can help with your banking The Police Credit Union Platinum package offers free and exclusive benefits including $0 package fees on any home, investment or car loans1
If you’re looking for a new car, considering buying your first home or need assistance to refinance your existing home loan, consider speaking to one of our dedicated Platinum relationship managers . Glenn and Ryan look after our SA Police members and can be reached via email at platinum@policecu.com.au.
For those considering life after work, Police Credit Union is proud to offer GO SiXTY PLUS, a specific product package for those considering their financial goals in retirement GO SiXTY PLUS relationship manager Linda Ginever is available for free no-obligation chats to help you find the best products to suit your lifestyle needs. Call 0438 859 797 to book .
To find out more about any Police Credit Union products, head to policecu.com.au or call 1 300 131 844. For detailed taxation information, head to www.ato.gov.au
Police Credit Union Ltd (PCU) ABN 30 087 651 205 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238991. Terms, conditions, fees, charges, lending and membership criteria apply. Full details upon request. All information correct as at 01/07/2021 and subject to change. PCU reserves the right to withdraw or amend product features at any time. 1Excludes Business Banking &/or Commercial Loans and loans to a Trust or Self-Managed Super Fund. No further discounts apply. The information provided herein does not take into account your personal needs, objective and financial circumstances. Please consider your circumstances before deciding if the product is right for you.
Graduation: Course 44/2020
Police Academy June 23, 2021
1. Brad Moore, Susan Rosenzweig, Stacey James and Robyn Carter
2. Ryan Towns, Daniel Wilson, Cameron Lang and Tom Drogemuller
3. Sam Timms
4. Alyssa Deavin, Sharnie Ammann (background) and Stacey James
5. Tom Drogemuller and Nick Charlick
6. Graduates line up on the parade ground
7. Academic Award winner Chantal Pellizzer with Police Association president Mark Carroll
8. Brooke Dimuccio embraces a coursemate
9. Lisa Wright embraces a coursemate
Graduates’ Dinner: Course
Fenwick Function Centre
July 16, 2021
1. Rachel Head, Gillian Kennedy and Emma Hodgson
2. Silvina Muino, Esteban Anderson and Renee Smirnios
3. Stacey Irrgang and Daniel Stratton
4. Steven and Charis Button
5. Cory Riccio and Erin Hossen
6. Rebecca and Sagan North
7. Fiona, William and Michael O’Neill
8. Samuel Bryan and Jessica Scambi
9. Ehlana Mackay and Jacob Adolph
10. Sarah Hall, Daniel Willis and Kirsty Kingshott
11. Celia, Alex and Paul Cooper
12. Kristina Fletcher and Jessica Ludwig
Jobs you never forget
It was around 2am one Christmas Day in the mid-1990s when my partner and I went to a Christie Downs address with a death message. We had to inform a family that their 20-year-old son had been involved in a motorcycle accident on Anzac Highway and was deceased There was also a request to convey the parents to the city mortuary to conduct the ID Knocking on someone’s door to deliver such news is always difficult and I knew it was going to destroy Christmas for that family for the rest of their lives A couple of days later, The Advertiser ran an article about road safety The author referred to the crash and wrote: “Imagine being the police officer having to deliver such news to a family on Christmas day. ”
One job I dealt with involved a family whose lives had spiralled out of control. An unknown offender had taken out a series of loans in the name of the wife. And now, bailiffs were knocking on the door seeking repayments for loans the family knew nothing about. After a lengthy investigation, a suspect was identified and turned out to be the best friend of the victim The accused had even rung the victim and, in an American accent, offered her services as a lawyer to sue the banks That was in addition to claiming that one of the banks had agreed to pay $100,000 in compensation Of course, when the family attended to collect the cheque there was nothing there It was a complex web of lies and deceit and the offender received a custodial sentence.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT STEVE ATKINSON (Southern District CIB)
At home one Sunday morning I received a phone call from Executive Support Branch asking what my plans were for the coming week. A prisoner needed to be escorted to his home port I asked was it Sydney or Melbourne and was told: “No Athens!” A man had arrived at Adelaide Airport and, when asked his reason for coming to Australia, said: “To get married ” When asked for details, he said he had not yet met his bride-to-be, which wasn’t a reasonable answer for the Department of Home Affairs . We collected him from the Remand Centre, boarded a flight to Singapore and, from there, flew to Athens . Once there, we gave him his passport and waved him goodbye We couldn’t just board a return flight and so had a three-night stopover in Athens
“… I knew it was going to destroy Christmas for that family for the rest of their lives.”
