WAPU Police News March 2019

MARCH 2019

Vale Senior Constable Dave Curtis

1966 to 2019.

Blue and pink families support Grant

Cancer experience leads to fundraiser to help others.

“That’s why I Ride Alongside” Police officers, including Senior Constable Tara Brown, are riding 500km to raise awareness of mental health.

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MAR 2019

POLICE NEWS THE MAGAZINE FOR THE WA POLICE UNION

CONTENTS

10

Blue and pink families support Grant Sergeant Grant Edgar travelled to the Sydney Cricket Ground to represent his late wife and her Breast Care Nurse.

16

“That’s why I Ride Alongside” Officers are putting their feet to the pedal when they ride 500km across the Great Southern for mental health awareness in May.

18

Rest in peace DC President Harry Arnott reflects on the passing of Director Dave Curtis.

4 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

22

Police widows band together More than 30 police widows came together for the Police Widows Guild meeting last month and continue to grow and support new widows.

28

06 WAPU DIRECTORS AND STAFF 08 P RESIDENT’S REPORT 20 INDUSTRIAL LIFTOUT 24 DIRECTOR OPINION 27 F IELD REPORT 30 H EALTH 33 LEGAL 34 MEMBER BENEFITS

Music and sport key to scholarship wins

37 R ETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS AND VALE

Sophie Allison, 16, and Lily Murphy, 13, were awarded the WAPU Scholarships for 2019.

38 MOTORING 39 FROM THE ARCHIVES

31

Police families invited to free Expo

The WA Police Force is hosting a free Expo to showcase the capabilities of the Agency.

WA

POLICE UNION

639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 P (08) 9321 2155 F (08) 9321 2177 E admin@wapu.org.au OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday 7am-4pm AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY DIRECTOR 0438 080 930 www.wapu.org.au Follow us facebook.com/WAPoliceUnion Twitter @WAPoliceUnion PUBLISHED BY WA Police Union 639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 (08) 9321 2155 ADVERTISING WA Police Union (08) 9321 2155 DISCLAIMER WAPU (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are the sole discretion of the WA Police Union and the magazine is offered for information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publishers, its Directors or employees.

COPYRIGHT All materials in this publication are subject to copyright and written authorisation from WAPU is required prior to reproduction in any form.

ADVERTISING Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to the advertiser. All advertising is undertaken in good faith and WAPU takes no responsibility for information contained in advertisements.

COVER Sergeant Grant Edgar.

ABOVE Rob Seaman, Detective Sergeant Jason Barnes and Senior Constable Tara Brown are getting ready to pedal for mental health.

Pictures: Jody D’Arcy.

WA

POLICE UNION

Board of Directors 24/7 EMERGENCY DIRECTOR

HARRY ARNOTT President 0407 989 008

MICK KELLY Senior Vice President & 24/7 Emergency Director 0438 080 930

BRANDON SHORTLAND Vice President 0488 9080 93

WARD ADAMSON Treasurer 0457 603 311

PAUL GALE Director 0403 314 426

JASON GENTILI Director 0437 417 467

MICK GILL Director 0427 097 000

Staff

PAUL HUNT Secretary 6 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

CHRIS VITLER Finance Manager

STEVEN GLOVER JESSICA PORTER Media Officer Media Officer

KATRINA MASON KATRINA TAYLOR Industrial Industrial Officer Officer

MATTHEW PAYNE Research Officer

DEAN GIACOMINI Field Officer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

DEBRA HUTCHINSON Director 0414 935 498

MARK JOHNSON Director 0488 352 525

CARL GROSSETTI CARL STEWART Field Officer Field Officer

JASON MORA Director 0410 927 445

TARRYN SMITH Finance Officer

HARRY RUSSELL Director 0412 585 429

PENNY BROWN Member Services Officer

GEORGE TILBURY Director 0409 105 898

CLINT WHALLEY Director 0409 118 381

WENDY ROUTHAN DEBORAH THOMAS Executive Administration Personal Assistant Officer

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7 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

HARRY ARNOTT President

Vale Dave Curtis THE POLICE FAMILY AND OUR UNION WAS ROCKED by the passing of our beloved Eastern Region Director Dave Curtis last month.

Dave was a great man, amazing police officer and a selfless Union Director.

Around the board table, he always provided a considered, highly-valued opinion. A man of few words, when he spoke, people listened and he was a strong voice for regional policing.

Personally, he was my confidant, sounding board, voice of reason and, most of all, my mate.

We are going to miss him immensely.

Please go to page 18 to read more about Dave and his contribution to policing and our Union.

MEETING WITH THE PREMIER Recently, Senior Vice President Mick Kelly and I met with Premier Mark McGowan to discuss three key issues affecting Members. The discussions around police compensation, criminal injuries compensation and GROH rent were very positive.

The Premier admitted that he was looking forward to a fresh start in his relationship with the Union and Mick and I are looking forward to a positive working relationship with the Premier and his Government.

In addition to meeting with the Premier, I am also meeting with every Member of Parliament in the coming weeks to push these three key issues for the benefit of all Members.

GROH RENT FREEZE REQUIRED As mentioned, a key issue we have been discussing with the Premier and politicians of all varieties is the need to freeze Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) rents immediately.

Increases of $30 per week in 2017 and 2018 means that police officers have been forced to pay another $1,560 per year for their GROH rents, and only received $1,000 pay rise per annum. A nett loss of $560 per year.

Enough is enough and it is time that the State Government stops slugging police in regional communities with further planned annual increases. Regional coppers have paid their dues when it comes to rental increases, in many locations, the increases have occurred against the trend as rental prices are generally decreasing.

It is time the McGowan Government shows regional communities and regional coppers that it is not a Perth Parliament and cancels the planned GROH rent increases.

If the Government decides it cannot do this, then it faces the very real possibility that police will leave the bush in droves.

Let us hope common sense prevails and we see this Government support regional communities and their police officers.

GESB

Enough is enough and it is time that the State Government stops slugging police in regional communities with further planned annual increases.

8

WAPU has been meeting with GESB to discuss our concerns that the Salary Continuance Insurance (SCI) attached to GESB Super and West State Super is not currently meeting the needs of our Members, particularly police officers.

This is owing to the commencement of the two-year maximum benefit period commencing on the date of the incident, rather than when our Members lose the income they might otherwise expect to receive from the WA Police Force.

Our Members should be able to expect that when they are promised a maximum SCI benefit of two years that the benefit is actually available to them.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Dave was a great man, amazing police officer and a selfless Union Director.

A man of few words, when he spoke, people listened and he was a strong voice for regional policing.

When our Members are incapacitated, they usually receive an income from the WA Police Force. This might be income from work if partially incapacitated, or sick leave when totally incapacitated, or for periods a mix of the two.

It is usually not until a Member ceases employment that their income ceases. It is then that they are in dire need of an SCI benefit.

We have asked GESB to consider that the SCI benefit period should not commence until a Member's income from the WA Police Force actually ceases, which might be years after their first medical certificate in relation to the injury, and is usually when separation from the WA Police Force occurs.

This March edition is our first for 2019 and following that the other editions for this year will be released in June, September and December.

The decision to reduce the number of magazines was not made lightly but the positives outweighed the negatives.

By making this decision, we have made a significant saving in Member funds and it will allow us to focus on creating content for our website, mobile phone app and this thing called social media, you may have heard of it.

Last month, we launched our Instagram account, so if you are on that platform, make sure you follow us!

Additionally, if you no longer wish to receive a hard copy of Police News, you can opt out by contacting us via admin@wapu.org.au.

CHANGES TO PUBLICATION OF POLICE NEWS The Board of Directors recently took the decision to change the publication of Police News from a bi-monthly cycle to quarterly.

Kind regards, H

9

10 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

Blue and pink families support Grant

BY STEVEN GLOVER

On January 1 last year, Sergeant Grant Edgar lost his wife Beth, aged 62, to cancer.

Beth was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, received treatment and given the all clear, before a secondary cancer was discovered in her liver in September 2017.

When first diagnosed, Beth had no family history of breast cancer and had been having regular mammograms.

“She just felt a lump in her breast,” Grant said.

“She had a mammogram six months before, there was nothing.

She always use to get a few lumps and bumps as she was going through menopause but she just found a lump that didn’t go away, because normally the menopause lumps go away after a couple of days. This one hung around for about a week and she thought she would go and get it checked.

“The doctor had a look, put her in, had a biopsy done and it came back as cancerous. She had an operation within 10 days of being diagnosed. It had got into four lymph nodes and that is within that six month period so, it can go very quickly.”

During her initial battle with breast cancer, Beth was allocated a McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurse.

McGrath Breast Care Nurses help individuals and their families experiencing breast cancer by providing physical, psychological

and emotional support from the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment and access to this service is available through self-referral.

In a practical sense, McGrath Breast Care Nurses can coordinate medical care and attend appointments with people diagnosed with breast cancer to ensure they can answer questions and reiterate treatment options at what can be an overwhelming time.

There are currently 14 McGrath Breast Care Nurses available in WA, supporting more than 7,000 West Australian families.

For Beth and Grant, their nurse was phenomenal.

“Beth’s nurses gave her so much support and comfort. We’d go to the doctor and he would tell us all these big long words, what she had and we’d go what does that all really mean?

“We’d go home, ring the nurse and she would come around, tell us and put our minds at ease. It was phenomenally important to have that support.

“I was still working and couldn’t be at home the whole time while she was in her treatment and recovery phases. The nurse used to come around and visit her on a regular basis. At any time, day or night, Beth could ring her and say I’m feeling this, that or the other and she would be able to say this is what’s happening. ▷

11

POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

01

01 Grant Edgar. 02 Grant was presented with a signed cricket bat. 03 Grant and his Fremantle District Cricket Club colleagues at the high tea.

04 The ground announcer at the SCG interviewed Grant for the big screen.

12 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

“She was just really comforting for Beth during the whole process, all the way through.

“Without her, Beth’s journey would have been a lot, lot harder and mine. A lot of the time, I was there as well so we would be able to chat and discuss not only how Beth was going but how I was going.”

When the secondary cancer appeared, Beth decided she wanted to do something to assist the McGrath Foundation.

The support Beth received from her Breast Care Nurse was the catalyst for her wanting to help the foundation raise vital funds so others could receive the same support she did.

The McGrath Foundation relies heavily on donations and fundraising to provide nurses to people around the country. Its major fundraisers are the Pink Test held in January each year as well as Pink Stumps Day, which is a grass roots initiative run by community clubs to support the foundation.

The natural fit for Beth and Grant was a Pink Stumps Day at the Fremantle District Cricket Club.

Grant played more than 500 games across all the grades. He started as a junior in 1969, retired in 2016, scoring a century in his final match and is currently serving his tenth year as vice president.

“She was obviously sitting at home not doing a lot and she said let’s get involved in the McGrath Foundation fundraising while I’m sick and I can sit at home and do a few bits and pieces and make it a day for the club this year.”

Unfortunately, Beth didn’t get to see the results of her hard work, passing away only months prior to the event.

Grant took up the challenge and set about making it a great day in memory of Beth, the club and the McGrath Foundation.

More than 50 people attended the event, raising $5,000.

Following the success of the 2018 event, Grant and Fremantle District Cricket Club decided to host another Pink Stumps Day this year.

While filling in the registration form, Grant was asked to explain in 100 words why he should win the ultimate Pink Stumps Day experience?

He wrote about Beth, her breast cancer nurse and the care and support she received, never expecting to hear anything back.

“I was actually at the first day of the test match at Perth Stadium and I got this call from Sydney. I thought it was just a cold call so I just went ‘delete’.

“Then when I got home, I checked my emails there was one from the McGrath Foundation, ‘You’ve Won’ was the heading and I’m going what have I won? Probably an extra set of stumps or something and I opened it up and I just sat there for five or 10 minutes just reading it back and forth, going you are joking,” he said.

The next day, Grant headed down to the cricket club, told his fellow members that he had won a Pink Test experience for him and three others in Sydney.

“I said ‘listen guys, three of you can come with me, I’m not going to make the decision, so you sort out who is going to come with me. Just let me know by Monday’. I had a lot of friends that day and that is why I wanted them to make the decision.”

Grant and three friends from the cricket club travelled to Sydney for the Pink Test between Australia and India. Every year since 2009, the SCG test match turns pink to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation and day three is the major day.

The McGrath Foundation said Grant’s touching story about the passing of Beth resonated deeply with its team and Fremantle District Cricket Club was an exemplary example of how a community can rally around an individual and honour a legacy.

As part of the experience, Grant got to walk onto the SCG before play and unfurl the McGrath Foundation flag.

Just 12 months prior, Grant was coming to grips with losing his wife, watching the 2018 edition of the Pink Test.

On one particular day, the sons of Grant’s former Fremantle teammate, WA cricket legend Geoff Marsh, scored hundreds for Australia against England.

“Shaun and Mitch Marsh are from Fremantle Cricket Club, both wore black arm bands. I can remember the TV commentators saying that the Marsh boys have both got black arm bands on and they wondered who that is for, and I am watching going I know!” Grant said.

“So that was a very poignant experience for me. The Pink Test will always hold a pretty special place in my heart. It was great that the boys could do that for me and Beth.”

02

Attending the Pink Test was on Grant and Beth’s bucket list, so while he was there this year, he had the opportunity to share and compare experiences with other people who had also been touched by breast cancer.

While he was waiting to enter the hallowed turf of the SCG, Grant struck up a conservation with a young woman standing next to him.

“She had a bald head so I said: ‘Are you recovering at the moment?’ and she said: ‘Yes, I got diagnosed six months ago, I’ve got two small kids under the age of three, my mum got breast cancer at the same stage of her life and she’s just got secondary (cancer), 20 years down the track.

“The same lady actually gave a speech at the high tea straight after the flag ceremony and she had the place in tears. Just going through her story and how she is going to tell her kids and she is only six months into her treatment. I know what she has got coming. It was just really sad.”

Grant said attending the Pink Test was a bittersweet experience.

“It was a very privileged and humble day but tinged with a lot of sadness as well. I was very privileged and honoured that I could represent Beth and her nurse,” he said.

“It was terribly emotional for me knowing why I was there but it also hit home to me that I’m not the only one. There are lots of people and families that are dealing with this as well but when you are actually mingling with a lot of others at the same time, it sort of brings you back to think that you are not suffering this in silence, there are people out there doing it as hard as you are.

“That week was going to be tough but it (the experience) certainly helped me to get through that and being able to be with other people suffering from the same sort of situation and being able to talk to them and advise them on what I’ve been through.”

During the high tea, President of the McGrath Foundation Glenn McGrath made a special effort to seek out Grant and his three colleagues from Fremantle. ▷

“It was terribly emotional for me knowing why I was there but it also hit home to me that I’m not the only one.”

03 04

13 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

05 Grant wears Beth's wedding ring on his little finger. It's a perfect fit.

05

Glenn told Grant he had been involved in selecting him for the experience out of some 200 entries.

“He said the story was very poignant and it almost fell on the anniversary of Beth’s passing. She died on New Year’s Day 2018 and the Pink Day was January 5, 2019. It was always going to be a pretty emotional few days for me anyway just remembering back 12 months on. It was actually good to have won that and do things and keep my mind active,” Grant said.

“Glenn and I just chatted and he has been through something similar to me, so we compared stories and he said he knew what I was going through and you knew it wasn’t just lip service, it was a real good talk, from the heart from him.”

In addition to the support he had from his cricket family at Fremantle, Grant also received tremendous support from the Police Family.

Grant said it was a challenge juggling shift work and supporting his wife but his colleagues were only too happy to assist him whenever he needed help.

“They were really good here (Forensic Division), they put me onto pretty much a day shift job because Beth really struggled at night time with her treatments. Night time was a very difficult time for her not being able to sleep, she got really nervous at night time so, it was important for me to be home at night with her,” he said.

“Everyone on the floor knew what was going on so if I needed a shift change, there were people bending over backwards to help us.”

Another important piece of support came from Chaplain Keith Carmody who visited Beth and Grant towards the end of Beth’s fight. Keith actually married Grant and Beth in 2008 and his visit was very important.

“He came and visited Beth and I when Beth was in the hospice towards the end. I know Beth, even though she was 14 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

“The Police Family certainly is a big part of being able to get on with life, recover and be somewhat normal.”

in and out of consciousness, at that time she woke up when he came, spoke to him and she really appreciated the support.”

Grant was also overwhelmed with the messages and displays of support from his fellow police officers.

“The amount of emails and texts that you get from people who you haven’t seen for a long time simply saying ‘thinking of you’. I had people come down from Broome for the funeral, people who I’d worked with which was fantastic.

“The Police Family certainly is a big part of being able to get on with life, recover and be somewhat normal.”

Grant also received support from the WA Police Union’s Death Levy Fund which pays specified amounts on the death of a Member, the death of a Member’s partner and his/her children under 18 years.

“We went to the funeral director two or three days after Beth passed away and the bill came to quite a bit, funerals aren’t cheap. I got home, got the call from the Union saying well this is available for you and I nearly fell off the chair as it was nearly three quarters of the bill,” he said.

“The $10,000 donation from the Union that I didn’t know was coming certainly helped a lot. There are a lot of coppers out there that don’t know that the benefit exists.”

Grant still has his good and bad days.

“It has certainly been a challenge going from a house where we did everything together and every non-work moment was us,” Grant said.

“The kids have been really good. My son gets married in a couple of weeks’ time so that has been a bit of a distraction.

“Beth’s daughter is actually expecting now and they know it’s a girl so they are going to name her Beth which is pretty special.”

Grant’s advice for his fellow police officers, listen to your body.

“Early detection is probably the best means of defence.

Ladies and blokes out there, because blokes can get breast cancer as well, early detection, checking and getting your mammograms all that sort of thing particularly, if you have a family history.

“Beth never had any history in her family, it just came out of the blue. So it doesn’t matter if you’ve had history of it in your family or not, just make sure that you get it checked.

“Everyone knows their own body, just any little thing that you just don’t feel is right just go and get it checked. It might be a mole that is growing a different colour or whatever just go and get it checked because I think with most cancers, if you can get it early, your chances of survival are a lot higher.

“Don’t go she’ll be right, I’ll leave it a month, if I’m not feeling better in a month I’ll go and see the doctor.

“Don’t take the risk.”

To support the Fremantle District Cricket Club and Grant’s Pink Stumps Day fundraiser visit fundraise.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/fundraisers/grantedgar/pink-stumps-day.

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“That’s why I Ride Al Ten years ago, Senior Constable Tara Brown was putting the final touches on a nursery for a new baby girl about to join the world.

RIDE ALONGSIDE 2019 ITINERARY Monday May 6 Bunbury Police Station to Boyup Brook via Donnybrook.

Tuesday May 7 Boyup Brook to Kojonup, via Lake Towerrinning, Moddiarrup and Albany Highway.

Wednesday May 8 Kojonup to Katanning, then onto Gnowangerup via Broomehill.

Thursday May 9 Gnowangerup via Tambellup to Cranbrook.

Friday May 10 Cranbrook to Mount Barker, then to the official finish at Denmark Police Station.

 Follow Ride Alongside on Facebook and Instagram @ridealongside.org.au 16 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

The new cot was built, tiny baby clothes were washed and a blanket was ready to wrap the child when she was finally in her mother’s arms.

The parents-to-be, Tara and Todd, were so excited to meet their first daughter and bring her back to the nursery they lovingly created.

But tragically, that day would never come.

Tara was 9 days overdue before doctors decided to induce her, she explained. On the day Tara was meant to deliver her daughter, doctors decided to wait one more night.

Sadly that night, Tara’s baby died in utero.

It was on Tara’s 33rd birthday that she had to deliver baby Polly, who was stillborn.

“So instead of having a baby the next morning, I was planning a funeral,” Tara recalls.

The tremendous grief that Tara felt after losing baby Polly was immeasurable. She said the grief was so powerful, it took her breath away.

“It was intense, absolutely earthshattering,” she said.

“It was completely devastating. Losing a child is one of life’s greatest tragedies.”

It took Tara three months before she was ready to return to work at Mandurah Police Station.

“My colleagues were incredible at that time, they supported me throughout that time and continue to do so.

My Supervisors were hugely supportive. I couldn’t thank them enough. We hear about how the Agency works in various ways to support their people, in my experience, they were very understanding,” Tara said.

Tara’s return to work helped her return to some sense of normalcy. She also turned to physical exercise to help her cope with the emotions that came with grief and loss.

“I’ve always been active, but probably after Polly died, I needed to re-frame my attitude and I started to become more active then because it gave me a reason to get out of bed,” she said.

“For me, it was about small steps. After that trauma, I gave myself permission to feel sad, and in that process I made sure that I backed it up with something that was positive. I never shied away from allowing myself to feel sad about my loss

but I just had to manage it so that I could look after myself.

So exercise helped to provide that positive activity to help me feel emotionally stronger and eventually physically stronger and able to control my environment a little bit.”

In the 10 years since Polly died, Tara went on to have two more children but it has been this milestone year of Polly’s passing that was the catalyst for Tara to become involved in Ride Alongside.

Tara said she wanted to do something positive in Polly’s memory and also to speak to others about the importance of looking after your mental health, particularly though physical activity.

“My experience of grief is part of the fabric of who I am.

It impacts on how I live my life and how I do my job. I accept that. I choose for it be as positive an influence as possible.

I acknowledge that processing grief and trauma is different for everyone,” she said.

Ride Director and President of Ride Alongside Rob Seaman, who is a former WA police officer, said he hoped the 2019 ride would emulate the large success they had in 2017.

“We spoke to about 60 to 70 officers along the way, plus we spoke to members of the community, local council, volunteer firefighters and ambulance officers about mental health,” he said.

This year’s ride has a number of new challenges, including those which come with the good problem of having double the number of participants.

There will now be a minimum of two support vehicles to usher them on their 500km journey and riders will be camping roadside.

“The riders are giving up quite a lot but they are also really passionate about the cause we are doing it for. If they haven’t been touched by mental health issues in their workplace or personally, they will have known someone. They really want to go out make a difference,” he said.

“I escaped WA Police after 30 years alive. You have your shitty weeks and days but I think I'm fairly level but I have worked with people who have really struggled. People who were quite close to me, I’ve had to counsel them from time to time and visit them when times have been tough.”

Ride Alongside Secretary and Ride Captain Detective Sergeant Jason Barnes said Ride Alongside was a unique way to raise awareness of the importance of keeping mentally healthy.

“Rob and I have both worked in country stations. You live and breathe with the guys you work with and you take a lot of that home and sometimes you can feel a bit isolated,” Jason said.

longside”

BY JESSICA PORTER

“My experience of grief is part of the fabric of who I am.

It impacts on how I live my life and how I do my job.

I accept that.”

“So I thought this was a great opportunity to get involved, plus I love cycling. I like keeping fit as a way to address any bad days as well so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to combine the two.”

Jason said the ride was not about raising money or aligning to any particular service or charity.

“We’re not raising funds. We are here to say it’s ok to speak up, it’s ok to have problems, and it’s ok to talk about it, but we also want to direct people to places where they can seek help.”

Getting back on the bike, both metaphorically and physically, is a challenge Tara has taken up with strong determination.

“Most of my training is done around school hours and shift work. I generally train from 4am when the kids are in bed on the indoor bike. Then I also try to get outside on the bike where I can,” she said.

“I’m a very determined woman, so what I lack in ability, I will make up in determination.”

But Tara won’t have to worry about being left behind or not keeping up on the ride.

Jason said the group rides at the pace of their slowest rider and support each other.

“It’s not a race, everyone rides together and that’s true about our policing background; we stick together,” Jason said.

“We leave together, we ride together and we support each other. No one gets left behind.”

And it is that camaraderie that the Ride Alongside team is all about when it comes to mental health.

“We’re a big family, so we all need to look out for each other,” Jason said.

01 Senior Constable Tara Brown, who has a background in social work, is riding in memory of Polly. 02 Team Ride Alongside includes Tara, Jason, Rob and Mascot Garry the Giraffe.

01 02

17 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

Rest in peace DC

BY PRESIDENT HARRY ARNOTT

The Blue Family lost a great man when Eastern Region Director, Senior Constable Dave Curtis passed away on Wednesday January 30, 2019, aged 53.

Dave died tragically at his home in Kalgoorlie, survived by wife Kerrie and a large, diverse extended family.

Hundreds of people gathered in Kalgoorlie to mourn his loss, many travelling from across WA and interstate for their mate Dave. It was a true mark of the effect he had on policing, the community of WA and the people he had touched.

Dave first joined the WA Police Force as a cadet back in November 1982 before becoming a sworn officer in 1985.

As a police officer, Dave served with distinction, primarily in the bush, and he made a big impact on the communities of Newman and Kalgoorlie. He also served in Kambalda, Mount Magnet and Perth.

Dave was stationed at Newman when the town was rocked by the air crash which took the lives of four police officers. The incident had a great effect on Dave, he worked around the clock to ensure his fallen brothers, fellow officers and the community were looked after.

He was selfless and courageous in a time of immense sadness and tragedy.

He became a WAPU Branch Official while stationed in Newman and he continued that work when he transferred to Kalgoorlie in 2013.

18 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

In 2015, Dave became our Eastern Region Director, looking after the needs of Members in the GoldfieldsEsperance District.

He was kind, considerate and always put our Members before any of his own interests. He was driven by making sure others were looked after and he did a superb job representing the Members.

He genuinely cared for the welfare of his fellow officers and always touched base with Members who had been assaulted or were going through a tough time.

Around the board table, he always provided a considered, highly-valued opinion. A man of few words, when he spoke, people listened and he was a strong, passionate voice for regional coppers.

I want to acknowledge the good work of the WA Police Force and Commissioner Chris Dawson in ensuring that our Members affected by Dave’s passing were looked after and provided the support they needed.

To Dave’s family, we know this is a tough time and that he will leave a massive hole in your lives. We are there for you and will continue to look after you because he looked after all of us.

We are hurting because we have not only lost a great police officer and union man, we’ve lost a great mate.

He was kind, considerate and always put our Members before any of his own interests.

RE LIF FE T-O RE U NC T E

GUIDE TO

Part time employment To assist Members with rostering, overtime and part time arrangement negotiations, we have provided the following guide.

Yes

Who needs a part time arrangement?

Do you work less than 40 hours a week?

You need a part time arrangement.

No You do not need a part time arrangement, however if you have commitments that prevent you from working a 24/7 rotational roster, you may need a flexible work option.

I need to temporarily reduce my hours, do I need a part time arrangement?

Yes – All officers working less than 40 hours per week should have a part time arrangement in place.

The term or time period can be as short as a few weeks or months, and once completed you can either return to full time, renegotiate a permanent part time arrangement, or negotiate a longer temporary part time arrangement.

How many hours I can work?

When negotiating your part time arrangement, considerations of your circumstances/availability and the needs of your work area are made. Details of your agreed hours such as days, shift lengths and start times are then included in your part time arrangement.

How long will my shifts be?

Part time officers are rostered on a pro rata basis. This means that, by agreement, they may be rostered for less than eight hours a day.

How will I be rostered?

Your part time arrangement, once finalised, will stipulate what days, hours and times you may be rostered on duty.

Can I work part time and remain in my current role?

While some work areas may not be able to accommodate part time employment, most of the WA Police Force should, with some negotiation, be able to accommodate your needs. If you are having difficulty negotiating a part time arrangement, please contact the WAPU Industrial Team.

For further information contact the WAPU Industrial Team on 9321 2155.

WA

POLICE UNION

How do I apply for a part time arrangement?

1 Discuss your desire to transition to part time with your OIC. 2 Seek advice from the WAPU Industrial Team, Employee Relations Division or your District’s HR Business Partner before making your application.

3 Download a part time arrangement application form from the COPS Manual (refer to HR-09.01 Part-Time Employment).

4 Submit your application.

$

How long does a part time arrangement application take?

The WA Police Force advises that an employee should be notified of the outcome of their application within three weeks of submission with the whole process taking up to five weeks from application to implementation.

When does a part time arrangement expire?

Part time arrangements are limited to a maximum term of 12 months.

When should a part time arrangement be reviewed?

All part time arrangement should be reviewed six weeks prior to their expiry however, the employee or work area may request a review due to a change in circumstances at any time.

I have been transferred, will this affect my part time arrangement?

Yes, even if the transfer was not at your request, your part time arrangement will need to be renegotiated if you are transferred to a new work area.

Can part time officers work overtime?

Yes, part time officers may be needed to work either additional hours or overtime.

Additional Hours Overtime Additional hours worked when the officer Additional rostered hours has not consented or has no right of refusal. that the officer where the officer has agreed/consented Examples: to work.

• Court overruns where the officer is required to remain in court for the duration of the trial/hearing.

Example: • Court appearances which were not included • Any additional hours on the posted roster for the period. worked by mutual • Continuous duty overtime where the officer agreement or consent had no option but to remain on duty.

• All hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week.

What affect does part time have on my entitlements?

All entitlements, such as salary, shift allowances, additional allowances, long service leave and all other provisions will be accrued or paid on a pro rata basis.

FLEXIBLE WORK OPTIONS OR FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENT Some officers may have personal commitments that may restrict their ability to work a 24/7 rotational roster. Examples of such commitments are childcare, other family commitments, religious ceremonies or sporting commitments. We recommend that all Members with any personal commitments which would prevent them from working a 24/7 rotational roster have a flexible working arrangement in place. These are similar to a part time arrangement whereby an agreement is reached between the officer and the WA Police Force detailing the days, hours and lengths of shifts the officer may be rostered for.

Flexible work arrangements have the same application procedure, term and review periods as a part time arrangement.

Please contact the WAPU Industrial Team if you have any queries or need assistance with a flexible working arrangement.

01

Police widows band together From humble beginnings in a small room of the old Police Union building on Adelaide Terrace, the Police Widows Guild has grown from group of 15 to nearly 100 members.

01 More than 30 members of the Guild attended the February meeting.

02 Widows Guild Committee members Helen Williams, Nonie Browner and Nola Pense. 03 The 1973 edition of Police News featured an article on the Police Widows Guild.

22 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

The idea to create a support group for women actually came from a serving police officer; Sergeant Ray Browner.

In the early ʻ70s, Sgt Browner’s colleague Constable Terrence O’Sullivan 3893 was tragically killed in a traffic crash in Wembley. At that time, there was no formal support for widows of police officers so Ray told his wife Nonie, he wanted to lend a hand.

Ray organised his colleagues to attend to the O’Sullivan family home to tidy gardens and complete any odd jobs around the house.

Unfortunately, before Ray could put a formal support group together, he tragically died.

Mrs Browner said it took her some time to process the death of her husband before she took the helm to help her fellow widows and support them in their time of need.

“I went and saw Athol Wedd who was the Commissioner at the time,” Mrs Browner said. “Athol was very supportive and so was the Police Union Assistant Secretary Grace Hewitt.”

BY JESSICA PORTER

Through the WA Police Union, all known widows of police officers, both serving and retired, were contacted through a hand-typed letter.

April 1972 was the beginning of many life-long friendships for the members of the Police Widows Guild. Nearly 50 years later, Mrs Browner still resides on the Committee as a founding member.

Mrs Browner is joined on the Committee by President Helen Williams and Secretary Nola Pense.

Mrs Williams joined the Guild in 1995 after her husband Chief Inspector Bruce Williams 3112 died and Mrs Pense joined about seven years ago after the death of her husband Chief Inspector Bob Pense 3503.

“I got a letter from Helen,” Mrs Pense said. “And I had known Helen before, so I responded. But another widow whose husband had died 10 months before also contacted me. She said she hadn’t joined the Guild because she didn’t know anybody, but she rang and said if I go will you go, so we came.”

The Police Widows Guild offers members, who can join for only $20 per year, the opportunity to meet other likeminded women and support each other after the passing of their loved one.

“It’s for moral support,” Mrs Pense said.

“We are all in the same boat. We can’t change our situation but you can build on it.

“It’s people that you’ve known through the journey with your husband, that you catch up with again, new friendships are formed and it’s just good to keep in touch.”

Mrs Williams said the Guild contacts widows upon hearing their police officer partner has died.

“But you’re still grieving, so sometimes you just put it aside and unless you get that prompt again, you just let it go,” she said.

“But we want to let new police officers know that if something happens to them, their wives will read this and know there is something there for widows of police officers.

There is support out there.”

The support the Guild offers has been immeasurable for the trio.

They are able to share stories about life with their police officer husbands, both the good and the bad.

Mrs Browner remembers accompanying her husband to a country posting in Three Springs.

A black and white TV was strapped to their VW as they made their way to the Mid West town.

Mrs Browner remembers the journey well.

“I cried all the way to Three Springs,” she said.

Although, Mrs Browner was equally as sad leaving the country town.

“And then I cried all the way back home again!”

She also remembers back when officers were allowed to man a station one-up.

“You became the second police person of a one-man station. I used to tell everyone I was the second policeman, I used to stop fights in Kununurra!” she said.

“You weren’t only the wife either,” Mrs Pense added.

“You were the housekeeper, you were the cleaning lady of the police station, and you fed the prisoners.”

The wives said they all used to make meals for the prisoners in custody and would be paid two shilling sixpence (about 25c) for their troubles.

Mrs Pense said she also would be called on to act in her husband’s absence.

“You took some of those dreadful calls and people would sometimes knock on your door when there was nobody at the police station as they had been called out. You took the abuse, you took everything.”

Along with their second-man duties, cleaning and homemaking tasks, the trio said they were also there to support their husbands when they experienced some of the lows of the job.

“Bob came home one day and I had a roast lamb on and he just said ‘get rid of it, get rid of it’. He had been out at a fire where someone had been burned. He couldn’t even come into the house because of the smell of the roast lamb,” she said.

“Another time out at Vic Park, he went to a domestic and looked straight down a shotgun, in those situations, there was no counselling, no support.”

02

03

“But we want to let new police officers know that if something happens to them, their wives will read this and know there is something there for widows of police officers.

There is support out there.”

Nowadays, there is support for both the officers and their families, including widows.

Patricia Kelly, mother of WAPU Senior Vice President Mick Kelly, attends the Guild for support and friendship after her husband Thomas died in 2005.

“The women are very supportive. It’s like a family because we all understand each other. It’s been a great benefit to me,” she said.

WA Police Widows Guild Patron and WA Police Legacy Manager Jill Willoughby told the Guild at their last meeting that the group was invaluable as many life-long friendships have been formed.

“There are real bonds here that can’t be measured,” she said.

WANT TO JOIN THE POLICE WIDOWS GUILD? The Police Widows Guild meet on the first Friday of every month at the RSL Club, Level 3, 66 St George's Terrace, Perth from 11am followed by lunch. Anyone wishing to join can contact Secretary Nola Pense by email: pense@iinet.net.au 23 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

MICK KELLY

Senior Vice President WA Police Union

The unseen toll of illegal computer access laid bare SINCE TAKING OVER THE ROLE OF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT after Annual Conference, I have been exposed to the legal and welfare needs of our Members.

The amount of WAPU and WA Police Force resources used to investigate, charge, prosecute and defend these charges in my opinion is excessive and we can all do our bit to reduce this.

24 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

The welfare needs of our Members is without doubt a growth area and we will continue to work with the WA Police Force to ensure all Members are properly cared for across the State.

If you have been injured on duty, you will hear from one of our Directors or Field Officers in the days following your incident to check on your welfare. If you need anything, please ask as we are only too happy to help.

We have made a few changes to our business, while some aspects will remain the same.

I will continue to serve as the Emergency Director and will be the first port of call for all critical incidents involving police officers. It is important that if you or a fellow Member is involved in a critical incident that you ring the on call mobile 0438 080 930.

One minor change is that instead of our Field Officers attending critical incidents, either President Harry Arnott or myself will endeavour to attend to assist Members with their legal and welfare needs. For the critical incidents where legal assistance is required, Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers will continue to send a lawyer to help Members and make sure their rights are preserved.

Having been in the role for little over four months, it is very clear the type of matters which arise and require WAPU legal assistance. The majority of cases that we consider for legal assistance include: • Illegal computer access; • Excessive force during arrests; • Alcohol-related off duty incidents; and • Evade police incidents.

I am not speaking out of school when I say WAPU and the WA Police Force share a certain degree of frustration when it comes to the number of Members being investigated and charged for illegal computer access. Mainly because it is preventable.

The amount of WAPU and WA Police Force resources used to investigate, charge, prosecute and defend these charges in my opinion is excessive and we can all do our bit to reduce this.

With the blessing of one of our Members and the Professional Standards Division, I would like to share with you an experience of a Member who recently was charged with illegal computer access.

I still remember October 5, 2017, this was the day my life changed.

On that day, I received a telephone call from a detective attached to the Internal Affairs Unit requesting my attendance to participate in a criminal interview.

I had accessed a family member’s details on IMS to check for expiry dates of vehicles in breach of the WA Police Force Computer Policy along with the consideration of section 440 Criminal Code.

I was one of the ‘lucky ones’ to be dealt with through the disciplinary process only and not court.

As a senior police officer with a number of years’ experience I should have known better. The process involved a wait of almost eight months before I was ordered to appear before the Acting Assistant Commissioner, Professional Standards in the Disciplinary Defaulter Parade.

During this time my health and both my work and social life were heavily impacted as I was worried about losing my job, my credibility and my reputation.

I was lucky to have my wife and immediate supervisor to help me through this time by providing support and understanding of the process that I was involved in. I believe that the three per cent fine that was imposed totalling $3,470 was fair given the circumstances and could have resulted in a much different outcome.

Today, I think before every time that I enter a restricted system – ‘Is my access strictly related to my work duties?’ If you have a doubt about any access, consult with your supervisor, do not risk the consequences of acting inappropriately or criminally.

If in doubt, ask your supervisor before accessing any computer databases.

Remember, you may be called to account for your access to any computerised record. You will be caught and you may be charged with a criminal offence or be subject to disciplinary action or the Commissioner's Loss of Confidence process.

I have approached the Union to promote my situation to prevent a similar situation arising with other Members.

It is not something that I am proud of and will be paying the fine for the next three years as a reminder.

I ask all Members to strongly consider why they are accessing certain databases to ensure you stay on the right side of the law and you must expect that if you do not access the database correctly, you will be subject to investigation and potential charges.

As evidenced by this personal account, internal investigations for illegal computer use can be prolonged and

the stress and anxiety caused by this protracted process can have a negative affect not only on you, but also your family, friends and colleagues.

2018 saw an increase in the number of files containing information security allegations, from 103 in 2017 to 132 last year. There were 1,561 allegations against 134 employees up from 433 allegations against 140 employees in 2017.

Of the 42 employees sanctioned in 2018, 39 were police officers whose outcomes ranged from verbal guidance to criminal charges. The previous year saw 28 police officers sanctioned out of 38 employees.

We can all do our bit to reduce the amount of investigations and charges for illegal computer access.

If in doubt, ask your supervisor before accessing any computer databases.

EMERGENCY 24/7 DIRECTOR

0438 080 930 639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 PH: (08) 9321 2155 F: (08) 9321 2177

www.wapu.org.au admin@wapu.org.au

Mick Kelly

EMERGENCY DIRECTOR

WAPU POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

WA medically retired Police Redress scheme

Were you retired under Section 8 for a work-related illness or injury?

For more information and to apply: wamrpoliceredress.wa.gov.au 08 6229 5868 info@wamrpoliceredress.wa.gov.au

CARL STEWART

FIELD REPORT

Field Officer

Talk, Ask, Listen, Refer I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO you all today about the elephant in the room, or more specifically the black dog.

In my short time as a Field Officer with the WA Police Union there have two suicides of police officers.

We are subject to the same human frailties as everyone else, and unfortunately, the nature of the job means we get to see the darker side of humanity all too frequently.

That’s two too many.

When we lose a brother or sister from our Blue Family it hurts, when we lose them to suicide it hurts even more.

I have found myself asking how I didn’t know, what could I have done, and what did I miss. Many of you may have asked yourselves the same things. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers to those questions.

What I can say is this is an occupation that can be quite damaging to the psyche of even the toughest people.

At some point during your career you will see terrible things, be part of horrific investigations, or may even be a subject officer in an investigation.

Now, these things and innumerable others that you will be bombarded with through the course of your police career will have the ability to take you to some seriously dark places. That doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you are human.

To quote William Shakespeare: “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” We are subject to the same human frailties as everyone else, and unfortunately, the nature of the job means we get to see the darker side of humanity all too frequently. But that doesn’t mean we should accept our fate, and allow ourselves to go to a place of no return.

I recently at tended a shor t presentation by the WA Prison Officers Union, which had some valuable content, part of which I will share with you all now.

They used an acronym to help their officers get help when they need it.

It was TALR (taller), and it stands for: T – Talk A – Ask L – Listen R – Refer You may not need it but I’m going to explain what each point means.

If you are feeling depressed, anxious, have insomnia etc. talk to someone.

Get it off your chest and let it out. Don’t bottle these things up because they will fester and affect your long term mental wellbeing. It doesn’t matter who you talk to, a mate, your boss, a GP or one of the many dedicated people at Health Welfare & Safety Unit. Just do it, so you don’t end up compounding your troubles.

Second is ask, and this one is really simple. If you see one of your mates is not right ask them if they’re OK. Now, what I mean by that is if you see anything out of the ordinary, if they’re withdrawn, drinking too much or just acting out of character. It may be that there’s nothing wrong, but it won’t hurt anyone to ask.

Thirdly is listen, and for the blokes this one will be the hard one. Blokes like to solve problems, and so do coppers, but sometimes all that is needed is to listen. If someone comes to you and needs to have a difficult conversation about the state of their mental health, it’s probably one of the hardest things they’ve ever had to do, and it most likely means that they’re placing a huge amount of trust in you. Just listen. It’s probably not a problem you can solve anyway.

But at the end of the conversation there is something you can do for them and that is to refer them to someone who is qualified to start solving the problem. It can be a GP, a psychologist, EAP, or one of the services Health Welfare & Safety provide.

In closing, we are the big Blue Family, and families take care of each other. If you or someone you know is struggling, it’s not something that you should do on your own, just remember that we’re all in this together.

Take care, stay safe, and look after yourselves and each other.

REACH OUT AND CALL SOMEONE EAP: 1300 OUR EAP (1300 687 327) On-call Psychologist: 0409 119 056 Police Chaplain: 6229 5633 Peer Support: 6229 5615 WAPU 24/7 Emergency Director: 0438 080 930

27 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

01

MUSIC AND S SPORT KEY TO SCHOLARSHIP WINS

BY JESSICA PORTER

Two teenagers with shared passions for music and sport have taken out the top honours in WAPU’s Scholarship awards.

01 Lily Murphy and Sophie Allison were awarded their Scholarship certificates

by President Harry Arnott at a function at WAPU HQ on February 13.

28 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

ophie Allison, 16, and Lily Murphy, 13, were awarded the scholarships in a presentation held at WAPU HQ in February.

Sophie, who enters year 11 this year is the daughter of Senior Constable Ross Allison and was awarded the Scholarship for the metropolitan region.

Sergeant Gerard Murphy is the father of the regional winner, Lily Murphy, who enters year 9 this year.

Both students play the clarinet and are keen sports enthusiasts. Along with academic achievements, the duo also give back to the community through a range of activities.

Over the course of high school, Sophie received 33 out of a possible 40 A grades and was commended by her Humanities and Social Sciences teacher Emily Donders for her excellent achievements.

“Among her peers, Sophie is well respected and recognised as an empathetic and inclusive student who goes the extra mile to support and connect with others. Furthermore, Sophie extended herself in 2018 by undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh, an international award that encompasses skill development in physical, academic, personal and civic achievements,” Ms Donders said.

Sophie serves the community through her local Surf Lifesaving Club and represents her school as a leader of the school’s most prestigious music ensemble; Wind Orchestra One.

The scholarships were introduced in 1997 as a way of giving back to Members’ families and to help assist with the cost of education.

Sophie’s mother Naomi and her father Ross said they were very proud of Sophie’s achievements.

“She’s a good all-rounder,” Naomi said.

Sophie said she would use the WAPU Scholarship money to pay for her Surf Lifesaving rescue certificates, the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Level Award expenses, piano exams and year 12 books.

Regional winner Lily also enjoys solid academic achievement after her first year in high school, being placed in extension classes for Maths, English, Science and Humanities.

Lily balances her time between music practice, volunteering and playing hockey. Lily plays both winter and summer hockey and this season, took on the role of assistant manager for her brother’s hockey team.

Lily has been commended for her assistance with the Police Remembrance Ceremony at her local station and volunteering her time with Relay for Life. Her Humanities teacher David Phillips said Lily had a mature approach to her studies and has achieved outstanding results.

“Lily is blessed with a positive, constructive demeanour and is well regarded by her peers and teachers alike. She

is always willing to assist with any tasks that arise and works particularly well in group situations where her ability to collaborate with others is most evident,” Mr Phillips said.

Gerard said this was the third time Lily had applied for the Scholarship and he was very proud to see her succeed.

“We’ve always encouraged Lily to give it a go. This was the third time she had applied and Lily focused on her involvement with activities outside of school work such as Relay for Life,” Gerard said.

Lily said the Scholarship money would assist her to complete a student exchange program in year 11 for Italian, if she is selected.

The scholarships were introduced in 1997 as a way of giving back to Members’ families and to help assist with the cost of education.

The value of the scholarships depends on the school year and will continue annually, subject to the students’ satisfactory attendance, conduct, academic progress and the Member’s continued membership of WAPU. Applications for the 2020 scholarships will open at the end of this year.

* WAPU SCHOOL HOLIDAY BALLOT APPLICATION APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ON THIS FORM, It can be faxed, emailed or posted to the Union office.

Complete and return by Friday, 12 April 2019 to: WA Police Union 639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 Fax: 9321 2177 Email: admin@wapu.org.au Results to be advised by Thursday, 18 April 2019

WEEK 4 11.01.20 – 18.01.20

WEEK 5 18.01.20 – 25.01.20

WEEK 6 25.01.20 – 01.02.20

BUSSELTON VILLA 15 Post Code:

(Home/Mobile):

WEEK 3 04.01.20 – 11.01.20

BUSSELTON VILLA 11

Address (Home):

Phone no. (Work):

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

WEEK 2 28.12.19 – 04.01.20

BUSSELTON VILLA 4

Reg No:

Email (Home):

WEEK 1 21.12.19 – 28.12.19

ALBANY

Name (Please Print):

Work (Unit/Section):

Only mark the holiday periods and locations you are prepared to accept in numerical order of preference.

Note: Bookings are available from Saturday (2pm) to Saturday (10am) only.

ESPERANCE EXMOUTH KALBARRI UNIT 27 KALBARRI UNIT 71 PORT DENISON YALLINGUP

POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

Bought to you by

POLICE HEALTH

Counting the costs of cancer “CANCER’S GOING TO TOUCH everybody in one way or another,” says breast cancer survivor, Inspector Kylie Walsh.

“I had none of the risk factors for the cancer that I had, so it was a complete bolt out of the blue. You just don’t know when something’s going to happen; I was fit, I was healthy, I don’t drink excessively, I don’t smoke, I have a very good diet, but certainly stress would have played a part with the cancer getting into my lymph nodes, going further than what it should have.”

Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

“At that time, I was working in the Riverland managing a country region, and basically the day I got diagnosed I had to move back to Adelaide to have treatment straight away - mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.”

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Kylie has claimed over $37,000 in benefits from her Police Health cover.

“I had to take 12 months off work to go through all my treatment, and now I’m on anti-cancer medication for at least 10 years. That medication has a massive impact on your life, so you actually need a whole range of health support to go with that too.”

They don’t know the pain, they don’t know the emotional costs, the physical toll it takes on your body, the anxiety that comes with it.

30 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

But instead of being upset at the path her life has taken since the diagnosis, Kylie says she has a new sense of purpose and a passion for helping survivors be as comfortable, well-informed and fully supported as they can be throughout and after treatment.

“I think cancer is one of those experiences that, when you’re a survivor, it makes you really want to give back. I’ve collected a whole heap of books and I’m working with a girlfriend of mine, who also had a diagnosis not long after me, to start a library for the chemotherapy suites.

“Lucky’s not the right word, and ‘wake-up call’ is not the right cliché, but being diagnosed with cancer certainly makes you rethink everything - and sometimes that’s a really good thing.

“Prior to my diagnosis, I would work 10-12 hour days, six days a week.

I never had a public holiday off. Now, I work four days a week. I work smarter not harder. I make sure I go home on time. I don’t check my work emails out of hours,” she says.

“I actually think that’s a learning for everyone. If we all did that then we would all have a far healthier life, and we would all be better people.”

But working less has made Kylie focus on her finances.

“There’s ongoing medical costs all the time, both directly related to the cancer and to mitigate the side effects of the anti-cancer medication you have to take. It’s like this continual revolving door of doctors, medication and medical appointments."

As well as the usual costs of cancer treatment, Kylie says she was incredibly for tunate to have an oncologist who advocated strongly for mixing Eastern and Western philosophies.

This has meant that as well as the usual medication and psychologists, she’s also been seeing a podiatrist, an acupuncturist, having regular massages and is starting to work with an exercise physiologist.

“All to try and manage all the things that are happening in my body because of the anti-cancer medication,” Kylie explains.

“We are so lucky that we’re in Police Health. Everywhere you go, you hand over your card and they say ‘oh you’re so lucky!’ – and I know that we are. They’ve afforded me the very best. I had the best of the best in South Australia, if not Australia, and that’s ongoing,” she says.

“I’m having breast reconstruction surgery in about five weeks’ time, and it’s nerve wracking because it’s a ninehour operation and I’m going to be off work for a couple of months, but it’s also exciting; it’s like rebuilding your life again. And I’ll be with one of the top surgeons in Australia, so we’re just so blessed.”

In the first three quarters of 2018 alone, Police Health paid out almost $536,000 towards specific breast cancer treatment.

Whilst Kylie is doing her best to rebuild her life with a smile, she says many people don’t understand how cancer affects patients in the long term.

HEALTH

“People at work would be thinking ‘Kylie looks perfectly normal so she should be back at work, she should be 100 per cent, she should be full time’, but what they don’t know is that it’s all surface,” she explains.

“They don’t know the pain, they don’t know the emotional costs, the physical toll it takes on your body, the anxiety that comes with it. Or the fact that, it isn’t all me; that I have fake breasts, that it’s a chicken fillet I put in and out of my bra every day and every night.

“No one sees that side of it, so they don’t understand that impact. They just look at me and go, ‘you look normal, you’ve got all your hair back, your skin’s back to a normal colour, you look happy and vibrant, you sound happy and vibrant, so everything must be normal, just get on with it’ sort of thing.

“I think the impacts on families is a really big thing too. A girlfriend that we worked with was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and we actually ran a silent auction and raised money so that she could take her boys to Queensland to do all the different 'Worlds'. I’m so glad we did that because on the flight home, she got really sick and had to be taken to the hospital straight from the plane. She passed away a few weeks later. That trip gave her the opportunity to spend that precious time with her sons, which she would not have been able to afford otherwise.

“Everybody’s going to be touched by cancer at some stage of their life, whether it’s yourself, or someone you know,” she says.

Police families invited to free Expo The WA Police Force is hosting a free Expo on Saturday, March 23 and officers from across the State are invited to attend the event with their family and friends.

The WA Police Force Expo is intended to showcase the capabilities of the Agency and provide an opportunity for members of the community to engage with police officers.

The event will also give you the chance to offer family and friends a closer look at what you do on a daily basis, and what it means to be a WA Police Force officer.

The Expo will be one of the largest displays of police resources in one location, and officers will be able

to highlight their broad range of skills, knowledge, equipment and capabilities. Business units within the Agenc y will par ticipate in demonstrations and displays which will provide the public with a unique opportunity to interact one-on-one with police from a variety of backgrounds.

Your full suppor t is greatly appreciated and will ensure the event’s success in providing an opportunity to fur ther build confidence and trust within our community.

WA POLICE FORCE EXPO The free family friendly Expo will run from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, March 23 at Joondalup Police Academy, located at 81 Lakeside Drive, Joondalup.

31 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

Free legal services for WAPU Members, their families and retired Members.

To arrange a preliminary in-person or phone appointment contact WAPU HQ on (08) 9321 2155

Leading Australian law firm, Tindall Gask Bentley is the preferred legal services provider of the WA Police Union, offering 30 minutes of free initial advice and a 10% fee discount.

PERSONAL INJURY • Motor accident injury compensation

• Public liability

• Workers compensation

• Superannuation claims (TPD) Tim White

Nakkie Le Roux

Wendy Barry

Renee O’Callaghan

Rosemary Caruso

John Pitman

Richard Yates

Paul Sofield

FAMILY AND DIVORCE Matrimonial, De Facto and Same-Sex Relationships • Children’s Issues

• Property Settlements

• Child Support matters

• “Pre-nuptial” Style Agreements

WILLS AND ESTATES • Wills and Testamentary Trusts

• Advice to executors of deceased estates

• Enduring Powers of Attorney

• Obtaining Grants of Probate

• Enduring Guardians

• Estate disputes

CRIMINAL AND DISCIPLINARY • The Corruption and Crime Commission

• Criminal and Disciplinary matters

• Courts of Inquiry

Tindall Gask Bentley is a leading Australian law firm.

We’ve been helping people with injury, family and estate matters for more than 40 years.

With a culture of service and empathy, we are fiercely committed to our clients.

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LEGAL

Partner Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers

Divorce Guilt is a real thing STANDING IN AN ICONIC RED telephone box on a grey London street, I nervously dialled the number of my childhood home in Australia.

My throat was dry, my heart pounding, but it was time to face the music. As my mum answered, I drew a deep breath and asked that she fetch my dad to join the conversation.

… Divorce Guilt can significantly undermine whether a legal process or outcome is fair to both parties and whether the result is right for the children.

I then delivered the news that I had concealed from my family and friends back home – two weeks earlier, on the other side of the world, my marriage had come to an end. I felt many emotions in that little red phone box, including grief and sadness, but also overwhelming shame and guilt.

I felt a responsibility that my decisions around my marriage would cause my family unnecessary anguish, a burden that was already weighing very heavily in relation to the profound upheaval and pain my husband was experiencing.

My shame was so intense that I couldn’t stop apologising. I uttered “I’m so sorry” many times and to many people, but this did not cure the unstoppable shame and guilt. I felt like I was a bad person.

Many years later, and having moved forward with my life, I can see that I was in fact experiencing “Divorce Guilt”, a phenomenon that I now observe in my day-to-day work as a family lawyer.

Divorce Guilt can manifest itself in many ways, including: • Feeling bad for making the decision to end an unhappy marriage; • Believing you are at fault for your spouse not wanting to stay married to you; • Thinking you have failed your children because you have “broken” their family; • Believing you are not a person of your word, because you will not be continuing with a vow made “ ’til death do us part”; • Feeling like a failure; and • Thinking you are worthless.

Within the legal context, I see Divorce Guilt manifest itself when separating couples address their legal issues. This can include:

• A person not asserting their rights for property settlement, and even forgoing significant financial entitlements in an attempt to ease Divorce Guilt; • Not taking a firm stand against the other parent when they make poor parenting decisions; • Feeling so burdened by shame that it impairs their ability to make decisions, and take proactive steps to resolve the legal aspects of divorce, causing the matter to become drawn out; and • Always prioritising the feelings of the other person over self-interest or, sometimes, even over the interests of the children.

Because of this, Divorce Guilt can significantly undermine whether a legal process or outcome is fair to both parties and whether the result is right for the children. It is therefore critical that anyone suffering from Divorce Guilt take active steps to deal with those emotions so the whole family unit can heal and move forward.

Tips for overcoming Divorce Guilt include: • Give yourself permission to be at peace with the end of your relationship. This could include mantras such as, “I am at peace with the decisions I have made” and “I give myself permission to heal from this situation”; • Check-in as to whether you objectively have something to be sorry for, or are you taking responsibility for situations that aren’t yours to shoulder? It might help to talk this through with a counsellor or support person.

If you do feel that you are genuinely remorseful for your

decisions or actions, then forgive yourself and move forward; • Be kind to yourself. Don’t let the negative self-talk take hold, and replace it with a compassionate approach. It also helps to spend time with the people that make you feel good about yourself and avoid people that bring you down; • If you feel that you have failed your children because of your divorce, be careful of guilt-driven parenting which can impact leniency, competitiveness and rapport with the other parent, to name just a few. Often the best thing that we as parents can do for our children is to nurture our own emotional health, and therefore shedding your guilt is in your child’s interests; • Recognise that guilt is a useless emotion. It doesn’t serve anyone or any helpful purpose, so be aware that it doesn’t belong in your life.

You could have a private ceremony where you actively release the guilt in a way that is meaningful to you; and • Seek the support of a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist where necessary as this is likely to improve the fight against Divorce Guilt and help you process your emotions quicker.

Thankfully I no longer shoulder the shame and guilt which I did 15 years ago, and I am at peace with the decisions I made at the time. I strongly urge Members facing divorce to assess their levels of shame and guilt, and take positive steps to become free of this burden.

Doing so will allow you to move forward in your life and be a happier, healthier person and parent.

33 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

SAVE with WAPU Member benefits Visit www.wapu.org.au for details and regular updates on these and other great Member offers.

ADD STORAGE

BICYCLE CENTRE MIDLAND

Members can get 45 per cent off storage prices as well as 24/7 site access at no additional cost.

Bicycle Centre Midland has a great range of bikes for the whole family.

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Everything from kids to road, commuter, BMX and Mountain bikes. They ride and love bikes!

They also understand that, when you enjoy riding your bike, you will ride it more.

WAPU Members get exclusive discounts on storage and monitoring from Add Storage.

No admin and cleaning fee 24/7 access for shift workers Recommended removalist referrals 24hr CCTV and units individually alarmed Online sign up and payments available Full range of packaging supplies Large goods lifts and trolleys Discount truck and trailer hire

1964 Albany Hwy, Maddington, WA, 6109 P: 08 9493 8230

WAPU Members special offer: 10 per cent off bicycles and accessories (excluding sales items) They have a dedicated workshop facility with qualified mechanics who are available for service and repairs.

Visit the friendly team at Bicycle Centre Midland for expert advice on all things cycling.

2/186 Great Eastern Hwy, Midland, WA, 6056 P: 08 9274 8548 E: Midland@bicycle-centre.com.au www.bicycle-centre.com.au/store_locations/Midland-bike-shop

experience the many benefits of massage with the largest provider of qualified massage in Western Australia – massage club • improve energy levels and work performance • aid and accelerate physical recovery • prevent and eliminate injuries • reduce stress and anxiety • enhance metabolism and circulation

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book online using the code wapu to take advantage of the 25% discount offer or call one of our clinics to book an appointment 2/23 Franklin Lane, Joondalup – (08) 9300 1333 3/676 Beeliar Drive, Success – (08) 9499 1113 5/491 Marmion Street, Booragoon – (08) 9317 1113 34 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

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MEMBER BENEFITS

THE CV CHICK

The CV Chick offers all WAPU Members (and their families!) a 10 per cent discount using the code available on the Members Area of the WAPU website.

The CV Chick is just that. A chick that creates CVs (obvious, right?!)

Well – Amber is more than just that.

She has been working in HR and Recruitment for over 10 years and knows exactly what employers are looking for. She is also the proud wife of a serving police officer!

The CV Chick creates professional CVs and cover letters including selection criteria. The CV Chick also offers personalised interview coaching sessions as well as having interview prep packages to download from our website.

Their most popular package is our $99 CV + FREE Cover Letter Package – read our reviews to find out why.

For more info, head to their website www.thecvchick.bigcartel.com or email thecvchick@gmail.com.

HOUSE OF REILLY

$5 off all cuts for WAPU Members!

House of Reilly is a new Barbershop in Bicton with a strong sense of community values and try to support our local people and businesses.

We offer a complimentary beer to enjoy with all services.

We are a Traditional Barbershop offering all the old school services but adding a modern day twist.

We are by appointment only and offer an online booking system so you can see all the available times and book at your convenience 24/7. We also offer a text and/or email reminder if you book 24 hours in advance.

We offer Classic cuts to skin fades and beard trims to hot towel face shaves.

Bookings through our website or House of Reilly Facebook Page, just click the book now box.

2\408 Canning Hwy Bicton WA 6157 P: 6107 2533 www.houseofreilly.com.au E: admin@houseofreilly.com.au Facebook: House of Reilly Instagram: house_of_reilly

Your smile is guaranteed! at

London Court Dental Clinic • •

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30% off any dental treatment No annual limit Convenient location at Perth CBD Available 7:30am to 7:30pm Laser dentistry for gentle, precise dentistry and less drilling 24/7 dental emergency support

*If you do not have private health insurance a capped invoice of $150 may apply for full exam, x-rays, photos and clean (normal value over $350)

Call us today at (08) 9325 4175 or book online at www.lcdc.com.au POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

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RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

VALE

RETIRING MEMBERS 6789 Sandra CHILDE 6898 Trevor DOUGLAS

7007 Ross DURNIN

RESIGNING MEMBERS 8617 Michael FOUNTAIN 8885 Stephanie SMITH 10878 Simon PARRY 11784 Paul SLATTERY 12675 Natalie GRIFFITHS 13015 Sarah TAYLOR 13493 Renee SHERIDAN 13624 Sarah DENNY 14118 Christopher JOHNS 14299 Kylie BREWSTER 14577 Daniel JOHNSON

14631 Scott DENTON 14996 Jocelyn INGHAM 15169 Craig WILLIAMS 15543 Ryan DEASY 15548 Jack McDOUGALL 16355 James GREEN 16472 Jack CARPENTER 51221 Michael KING 51328 Frank JENNINGS 51951 Stephen BATTERSBY

EMERGENCY 24/7 DIRECTOR 0438 080 930

SERVING 6942 Senior Constable DAVID HAROLD CURTIS Aged 53

RETIRED cont.

5201 1/C Constable ROLAND LESLIE BOND Aged 93

RETIRED 2654 Superintendent RONALD BEST GODFREY Aged 91

3086 Inspector ALISTAIR FRANCIS FRASER Aged 87

5939 Sergeant ROBERT CLARENCE BROAD Aged 69 2345 Superintendent ROBERT BRUCE EDWARDS Aged 91

639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 PH: (08) 9321 2155 F: (08) 9321 2177

Mick Kelly

EMERGENCY DIRECTOR

3011 Superintendent FRANK PRIOR Aged 85 4025 Superintendent RAYMOND CHARLES POTTINGER Aged 71

WAPU

wapu.org.au admin@wapu.org.au

37

POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

Bought to you by

MOTORING

FLEET NETWORK

The new Triton gets tougher MITSUBISHI HAS DITCHED what it described as a ‘sporty design’ for the Triton mid-size ute and opted for what it calls a tougher-looking truck for 2019.

A midlife update usually brings some design tweaks to the grille and bumper, but Mitsubishi has gone a few steps beyond this with its MY19 Triton ute that arrives less than four years into the current version’s life cycle.

The company has completely redesigned the front, adding its familiar ‘dynamic shield’ face and making the side-view more buff. It’s prouder, bolder and more macho, which is exactly what ute buyers want.

The passenger cabin remains the same, but all the exterior metal has been replaced with a bolder, boxier design which brings the Triton into line with more modern elements of the Mitsubishi line-up. There are also four new colours, including a pearlescent white, a burnt orange and a flat red.

It’s prouder, bolder and more macho, which is exactly what ute buyers want.

MITSUBISHI’S BEST SELLER Mitsubishi’s Triton ranks third in the new 4x4 sales race behind the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger Australia’s best-selling vehicles in 2018 - which is an impressive result considering competition such as the Holden Colorado, Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-Max and VW Amarok.

Price is core to the appeal of Triton.

Mitsubishi can credit its sales to heavy discounting and great drive-away deals that have always made the Triton a good value-for-money vehicle for both private and fleet buyers, but it’s not a cheap, stripped-out vehicle. It entices practical value-shoppers who’ve long loved the Triton’s price tag and reliability.

INTERIOR SPECS The layout of the cabin isn’t much different, though there is some extra stitching and silver plastic inserts scattered about. Higher grades also get roof-mounted air vents. Plus, rear passengers will be happy with two USB points for the back seat, a new storage area and a B-pillar-mounted grab handle to help you climb up.

The dash is home to a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto. There’s also a neat 360 degree overhead camera like the Navara’s, but with better resolution.

UNDER THE BONNET The engine is familiar, a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel. Power is 133kW at 3500rpm and maximum torque is 420Nm at 2500rpm. The tow rating remains 3.1 tonne.

A major replacement is the axing of the old five-speed automatic gearbox in favour of a new six-speed unit.

Other new tech in the 2019 model includes a suite of driver’s aid technologies such as Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM/AEB), Blind Spot Warning and Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System which cuts engine power if you accidentally move for wards or backwards from standstill towards an object and don’t brake (perhaps engaging R instead of D, for example).

There is also a stop/start system to cut fuel use and improve emissions.

TIME FOR A NEW SET OF WHEELS? If you are interested in learning more about the new 2019 Mitsubishi Triton or any other vehicles, the team at Fleet Network have extensive experience in negotiating, procuring and salary packaging vehicles across Australia.

Speak to one of Fleet Network’s expert consultants for an obligation-free quote on a novated lease today. Let us show you how to best use your pre-tax salary and save thousands on your next new car. It’s one of the benefits of being a WAPU Member. Call Fleet Network on 1300 738 601 or visit www.fleetnetwork.com.au/wapu 38 POLICE NEWS MARCH 2019

FROM THE ARCHIVES

FEBRUARY 2005 STATE ELECTION LOOMS The February 2005 edition of Police News previewed the upcoming State election with articles outlining what all parties were offering police officers.

President Michael Dean urged Members to read and listen to what the parties had to say right up to election day. “The more informed you are, the better choice you should be able to make when you cast your ballot,” Mr Dean said.

THE PROMISES The Gallop Government committed to an additional 350 police officers and 160 staff if elected. Additionally, the Gallop Government had a fully funded capital works program in place including the construction of 14 police stations and promised to deliver those projects and committed to building more if it won another term of government.

The Liberal Par ty said if it won government, it would close down the loopholes in the Three Strikes Home Burglary laws; conduct a complete review of all administrative requirement s undertaken by police with a view to removing unnecessary ones; introduce mandatory prison for serious assaults against police officers; and recognise the danger police officers put themselves in on a daily basis and provide better legislative protections.

POLICE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM 2005/06 Police News highlighted the big project and improvements State-wide including the commencement of construction of the new Albany Police Station, an update of the new station at Laverton, artist’s impressions for Newman Police Station and plans for a new Wanneroo Police Station.

A new station at Canning Vale was planned for completion in early 2006 and there was to be a redevelopment of the old Midland workshops to house Forensic Branch.

Police News also raised question as to whether the days were finally numbered for the police facility on Wellington Street.

We give you freedom to

choose!

Choose your preferred hospital, doctor or any other service provider, such as your physiotherapist and dentist, as long as the provider is recognised with us.

1800 603 603

policehealth.com.au

P O L I CE H E ALT H L I M I T ED. A B N 8 6 1 3 5 2 2 1 5 1 9 . A R E G IST ER ED, N OT-F O R-P R O FI T, R E ST R I C T ED AC CE S S P R I VAT E H E ALT H I NSU R ER .