REMEMBERING JASON .01 The Bond family attended what would have been their son Jason’s graduation day. They are glad his memory will live on.
VICTORIA POLICE IS RAMPING UP ITS SUMMER ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR THE ORGANISATION WAS TOUCHED BY THE ROAD TOLL, WHEN A RECRUIT WAS KILLED IN A COLLISION.
VALUING OUR PEOPLE EDITORIAL BLUE TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW HENSHAW
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SUMMER 2012 POLICELIFE
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ecruit Jason Bond wanted nothing more than to be a policeman. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, he began his training at the Victoria Police Academy with Squad 28 on 7 February. It seemed his dream would soon become a reality, but less than a month later, that dream would be taken from him. On 4 March, Recruit Bond was driving from the Academy to his home in Ararat when he was killed in a collision on the Western Highway, in Windermere. The news of his death rippled through the Victoria Police community within hours. He was the first Victoria Police recruit to be killed.
While Recruit Bond’s older brother, St Kilda police station’s Constable Brad Bond and his family dealt with the enormity of their loss, his squad mates and leaders offered each other support and comfort. They attended his funeral, along with many other Victoria Police members and hierarchy. After his funeral, Squad 28 and their coach Sergeant Mandy Finegan set about organising a memorial seat and maple tree to be erected at the Victoria Police Academy, overlooking the parade ground, in his honour. “Jason was a truly inspiring young man,” Sgt Finegan said. “His death has deeply affected us all, so we knew we had to do something to remember him as part of the Victoria Police family. “This tree and bench will be a way for him to live on and for everyone, today and in the future, to remember him by.” Recruit Bond should have graduated on 30 September, but instead, it was the day the memorial seat and tree was unveiled. His brother and family attended the Academy to join Recruit Bond’s squad for their graduation, but also to say farewell to their brother and son. “Today has been absolutely incredible,” Const Bond said. “My family and I are obviously devastated because we know we should be here to celebrate Jason’s graduation, but it has been fantastic to see how much his squad and everyone at Victoria Police cares. “It’s truly amazing. Everyone has been so supportive and has made everything just a little bit easier for us to deal with. Jason would be so proud.”