BADGE AND BEYOND
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02 Images Police service 01 B ill and Eric Cooke celebrate their 90-year milestone and police service accolade. 02 T he brothers served in the Royal Australian Air Force during WWII.
BROTHERS IN ARMS It has been a year of milestones for retired Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Eric Cooke and Inspector Bill Cooke. The identical twins were the proud recipients of the National Police Service Medal (NPSM) and celebrated their 90th birthday in October.
“They never found her and I always wondered what happened. It was unfinished business,” he said.
With a combined 53 years of service both agreed they were very proud to receive the distinguished award recognising ethical and diligent service.
Eric’s son is retired Chief Inspector Ron Cooke and his grandson is Frankston Police Station’s Sergeant Brett Cooke.
“I really enjoyed my 26 years on the job, it was something I wanted to do and I worked with a lot of good blokes,” Bill said. The brothers share many parallels in their careers including their time as apprentice coopers at Carlton and United Breweries and service in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. They later joined Victoria Police after losing their coopers apprenticeships due to a company restructure and worked together as young police officers in the Russell Street bicycle squad. “There are a lot of funny stories, my wife used to say I should write a book,” Bill said.
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Eric said he had many memories from his time as a detective but the case of a 12-year-old Moorabbin girl who went missing from her home always stuck with him.
POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2016
In retirement, Eric keeps busy with his family, which has grown from four children to 11 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
Bill worked for more than eight years as a funeral director.
SERVICE HISTORY ERIC COOKE 1957–62 Appointed constable and
worked at Russell Street. 1962–69 Appointed detective senior
constable and worked at Russell Street and Oakleigh Criminal Investigation Bureaus (CIB). 1969–84 Appointed sergeant and worked at Brighton, also worked at St Kilda, Moorabbin and Hampton CIBs. 1984 Retired. WILLIAM 'BILL' COOKE 1956–61 Appointed constable and
Harry (Hal) Basham, aged 96, is the oldest police officer at Victoria’s Retired Police Association. He was awarded the National Police Service Medal and Victoria Police Service Medal this year. Mr Basham worked at Russell Street, Yarra Junction, Healesville, Warburton, police stations and more. He was an officer for 42 years and was presented with his medals in front of family and friends this year. Editorial: Jane McCubbin Photography: Andrew Henshaw
worked at Russell Street and Town Hall Traffic Duty. 1961–66 Appointed senior constable at Town Hall Traffic Duty. 1966–74 Appointed sergeant at Town Hall Traffic Duty and later worked at Russell Street and Mentone. 1974–77 Appointed senior sergeant at Russell Street and worked at Bourke Street West and U District in Highett. 1977 Appointed inspector at Russell Street and Z District in Frankston. 1982 Retired.