01 Shane Gray’s actor in the Today Tonight Highway to Hell episode Credit: Channel 7 Today Tonight. 02 Allan and Shirley Irwin during their interview with Today Tonight. 03 Sgt Shane Gray. 04 Jon Groves and Shane Gray before they are about to present the handcuffs to the Irwins. 05 The handcuffs and a photo of Shane now have a special place at the Irwin’s home in Victoria.
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“My kids are like her grandkids, so that’s really special for them, and my wife Mandy speaks to Shirl almost every day.” Recently, Mr Groves and Sgt Gray travelled to Victoria to surprise Mr and Mrs Irwin and present them with a symbolic gift. Approval was granted through Commander Regional WA Murray Smallpage to gift Sgt Gray’s handcuffs from that day to the Irwins. The handcuffs represent the strong ties between the WA Police family and the Irwins, one cuff for each of the sisters and also the fact that they never needed to be used on Watkins. “It was great to surprise Shirl with them,” Mr Groves said. “There was just heaps of hugs, she wouldn’t let us go.” While it has been more than eight years since the shooting, Sgt Gray said he has had only one instance where the shooting has negatively affected him. He cited an unsupportive senior officer which caused Sgt Gray to have a breakdown and take stress leave from the job. This matter is currently in the hands of a WAPU lawyer. However, he has used the shooting as an example of what to do in a similar instance when he speaks with cadets and students. Mr Groves also hopes officers will be reminded of the difficult and challenging nature of this ever-changing job. “Most people have totally forgotten that this incident happened just near Karratha,” he said. “Karratha has turned into a much bigger town with a lot more shady customers. But they still forget that travelling those roads are some dangerous people and I think it’s reawakened that you have to be careful. Because with Watkins, for all intents and purposes, started out as very friendly and very compliant… then he just snapped.”
The handcuffs represent the strong ties between the WA Police family and the Irwins, one cuff for each of the sisters …
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SHACKLES OF LOVE By Tony Russell Dawsom It stands up proud those silver locks A gift to them of the hardest knocks A symbol of two families linked by affray One cuff Irwin …the other Gray
And where they’ve been it matters more On the side of his belt his body torn No matter what that coward did Would never break the shackles on his belt that hid
They’re displayed in their home now for respect An honour the Irwin’s never did expect A symbol of two families forever tied Beauty of love and dignity applied
They stand up proud those silver cuffs A gift to them, that have survived it tough A symbol of two families linked by affray One cuff Irwin …the other Gray.
13 Police News OCTOBER 2014