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A 30-year-old letter to the Victoria Police Air Wing has reminded Haydn Blake how lucky he is to fulfil his dream every day. “My name is Haydn Blake. I am 13 years old and I’m really interested in the police Air Wing,” starts a young boy’s letter, detailing his dream of flying helicopters for a living.
As a tactical flight officer, Sen Const Blake participates in search and rescues across the state, conducts surveillance from the air, assists police to locate offenders from the air and more.
Now 40, that boy fulfils his ambition every day after joining Victoria Police’s Air Wing as a tactical flight officer and senior constable.
Sen Const Blake managed to keep his childhood awe of the Air Wing quiet until recently, when one of his colleagues discovered his letter at the Victoria Police Museum.
Sen Const Blake’s yellowing letter addressed to the officer in charge in 1987 finished with “this is my biggest wish in life” and was the start of something great. He, his brother and Dad were given a tour of the Air Wing, which cemented his passion, and he later did work experience there, spending a week with helicopter engineers and watching pilots and flight officers at work.
“As soon as he showed it to me and I saw the handwriting I knew what it was.”
“It’s everything I imagined it to be,” he said.
“I worked in general duties for a number of years and at crime investigation units before I found this base as my home,” Sen Const Blake said.
Since realising his dream, Sen Const Blake has become passionate about helping children with brain cancer realise theirs. He is a distance runner and takes part in fundraising for a group that runs dream days, where children dress up as their dream career.
“After much persistence, I’m happy to say it’s paid off.”
POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2017
Watch Sen Const Blake talk about how he achieved his dream at https://youtu.be/hE1lZ63fjpE
Sen Const Blake said life in the Air Wing was fantastic.
At 20 years of age, he joined the Victoria Police Academy and after about 10 years of applying to join the squad, was finally able to mix his passion for policing with flying.
“I knew that was where I wanted to go and kept at it.
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“He was digging through boxes looking for information for the Air Wing anniversary function when he found it and recognised the name,” Sen Const Blake said.
“Seeing the world around me from a different perspective is what I really enjoy.”
“You can achieve whatever you want in life,” Sen Const Blake said. “I did.”
Find out how you can join Victoria Police at policecareer.vic.gov.au
Images Now and then 01 Sen Const Blake is now a member of Victoria Police's Air Wing after dreaming about it for years. 02 H is childhood letter to the Air Wing found its way back to Sen Const Blake many years later. Editorial: Maria Carnovale Photography: John Pallot