01
Victoria Police’s Shrine Guard is entrusted to continue a deeply symbolic duty. In the year of the Anzac Centenary they remain in high demand to perform memorial services and protect valuable monuments. For 80 years, the Shrine Guard has upheld the tradition of guarding and performing ceremonial duties at Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance, a monument built to honour soldiers killed in war and peace-keeping missions. The first Shrine Guard positions were only open to police but as time passed the responsibility was handed to Victoria Police’s Protective Services Unit (PSU). The PSU’s Inspector Michael Glinski spoke of a rise in demand for Shrine Guard services due to Anzac Centenary commemorations. “In addition to major events including Anzac Day and National Police Remembrance Day, we have a significant number of local events to commemorate 100 years since the Gallipoli landing,” he said. “There are also our daily duties, which include flag-raising, special tree ceremonies and a 24-hour security service for the Shrine.
28
POLICE LIFE | SPRING 2015
YEAR TRADITION “In many circumstances, the attendance of the Shrine Guard formalises an event. For example, our guards performed an important ceremonial role at Mansfield to honour the restoration of gravesites for police murdered by the Kelly Gang.” The Shrine Guard has also been involved in overseas events, including a contingent of guards visiting France and Belgium last year to commemorate police killed during the Battle of Fromelles. To help keep up with demand for their services, eight Shrine Guards were recently recruited and graduated after completing a two-week course at the Surrey Hills Army Reserve Base in June. The course covers military foot and rifle drill training, marching, flag protocol and history. Protective Services Officer (PSO) senior supervisor Christopher Jeffery said the ceremonial drill work required a high standard of skill that was difficult to achieve. “All actions need to be quick and accurate,” he said. “When gripping the rifle the hand must be a certain height, when marching their elbow needs to be at 90 degrees.
“Timing is critical, especially when performing something like the rest-on-arms-reverse, which is a complex drill movement lasting approximately 40 seconds. During this time the guards can’t see each other.” The military component of Shrine Guard performance has had a positive impact and been a drawcard. Tourists have flocked to the Shrine over the years and shown great interest in the Shrine Guard, especially their traditional uniform, inspired by the original Light Horse Infantry uniform worn in World War I. PSO Jeffery said he recently spoke to a Shrine Guard who was recognised while holidaying in outback Queensland. “He turned up at a caravan park in the middle of nowhere and was speaking to a man who recognised him,” he said. “The next thing he knew the man’s wife ran into their house and grabbed a photo from the mantelpiece and there was a photo of him in his Shrine Guard uniform next to the guy. There would be millions of mantelpieces around the world with Shrine Guards on them.”