This year’s Police Officer of the Year Awards was special and indeed very special for members of the Rotary Club of Liverpool West. Congratulations to June Young for organising yet another superb event that was thoroughly enjoyed by 250 persons in attendance.
The Combined Rotary Clubs of Liverpool commenced their annual Police Officer of the Year awards in 1999. We were the second Rotary Club to introduce the awards after it was commenced by Fairfield Rotary in 1998, with the Fairfield Commander Supt. Robert McMahon describing the awards he had seen commenced in Darwin, NT.
This year marked our 12th anniversary and the 12th year with June Young as Chair. Following application to council, it was successfully listed as a Liverpool Bicentennial Event.
The event also marked a farewell to Superintendent Gary Worboys as Commander of Liverpool Local Area Command who has been recently replaced by Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police and Acting Commander South West metropolitan Metro Region Peter McErlain. Gary had proved to be very popular amongst command and community personnel alike and will be remembered for his approachability, his high level of interaction with staff and community, his determined approach towards crime and in particular his fight against drugs and anti social behaviour in Liverpool. Gary was most proud to have served at Liverpool and will be missed.
Entertainment included Music from a quartet of the NSW Police Band and an historic welcome from Governor Lachlan Macquarie and Wife, having gotten the job from the Town Crier which probably resulted in tears.
Honorary member of Liverpool West Ted Banks wife Judith celebrated her 70th Birthday.
Jan Still was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for her services over many years to Inner Wheel, Rotary and the community and having spent the last years as a Volunteer in Policing. Honorary Member Les Still is most proud of his wife and afforded the CV that will follow this report. Congratulations to a most worthy recipient on a most fitting evening.
Liz Habib also received a Paul Harris Fellow for her work with Quota and many local charities and support of Rotary. Liz reportedly dedicates an industrious nature to all she takes on, having joined Quota in 2002 and now accepting the role as Lieutenant Governor. Her daughter Cathy reports the pecking order used to be the business, feeding the cats, dogs, birds, goats and other animals then Cathy then Harry. Quota duties have now pushed them a little further down the pecking order. Daughter Cathy and husband Harry have always been and remain very proud of Liz and the Rotary Club of Liverpool West was very proud to put the nomination forward to the Police Officer of the Year committee for presenting the award on behalf of all three Rotary Clubs of Liverpool.
Past President Charles Hili presided over both awards to heroines of the Liverpool Community.
Mayor Wendy Waller then welcomed all to the Bicentennial Event. Liverpool City Council provided a $1,000.00 this year as a platinum sponsor and then a further $3,000.00 grant to assist with entertainment costs to mark the Bicentenary. District Governor Elect David cook than gave an elegant response on behalf of Rotary.
Liverpool West Rotary Member: Chief Superintendent Adam Whyte /Chief of Staff to the Commissioner, was then awarded a Sapphire to his PHF. Adam has been a most valuable member to our club with great support for our programs of Pride of Workmanship, Group Study Exchange, Police Officer of the Year, MC for this event for many of these events and our changeovers and has afforded invaluable assistance to many. A congratulatory note is afforded earlier in this bulletin.
The award for Adam was presided over by a very grateful June Young as Chair for Police Officer of the Year.
We were suitably entertained by comedian Vince Sorrenti who questioned the feasibility of the pen light torch and whistle provided with life jackets on aeroplanes in the event that that passengers ended up floating around in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Most likely they are tools for letting others that are drowning know you are drowning too or maybe to attract sharks.
Last year’s Liverpool Police officer of the Year, Detective Senior Constable Shane Green assured us of his appreciation for the award and ensured us of the appreciation of the police community for our support saying that it was much needed for moral and spoke of how the event of the death of NSW Police Constable William Crews affected them all.
Vice President Police Legacy – Senior Sergeant Helen Beilerter was presented with a cheque for $1,000.00 as a donation to assist with their endeavours to provide emotional and financial support to the partners and children of deceased Police Officers. NSW Police Legacy currently support over 1,300 family members, caring for children as young as two and Widows as old as 102.
We where then informed that other funds raised from this event will go to the Police Youth Camps program currently organised by Laura Wilkinson of the Green Valley Local Area Command.
Commissioner Andrew Scipione addressed us echoing sentiments earlier expressed by Detective Senior Constable Shane Green, thanked police for their efforts and all in the room for their support and assured us of the worth wholeness of a program such as Police Legacy.
Superintendent Gary Worboys as Commander of Liverpool Local Area Command presented the Liverpool LAC Team award to the Liverpool Anti Theft Unit and praised their efforts for providing a positive impact on our community.
Superintendent Mark Szalajko as Commander of Green Valley Local Area command presented the Green Valley LAC Team award to the Green Valley Intelligence Office Unit under the leadership of Senior Sergeant Brendan Hillyard. The Quality of the Intelligence output of the team is up and is having a positive flow on effect throughout the command. Brendan’s efforts are then said to be most inspirational throughout the command.
Police Officers of the Year were then recognised separately for the first time for Liverpool and Green Valley Local Area Commands.
Constable David Arthurson was named Police Officer of the Year for the Green Valley LAC
Detective Sergeant Paul Smith was named Police Officer of the Year for Liverpool LAC
Both names will be added to the original perpetual trophy which will be kept by each command on display for 6 month intervals.
Three Officers of Green Valley LAC were the beneficiaries of a nomination from the community to which Constable David Arthurson was 1 and later singled out to get up for the award. An extract from the nomination is then as follows: Thank you so much. You have changed my life. What ever you do in life, please take with you the countless people you have no doubt changed their lives too – it must be a great feeling. You my not remember me in 20 years but i will remember you for the rest of my life.
Detective Sergeant Paul Smith is said to be a tireless worker who immediately suspected foul play when the family of 18 year old Nona Belomsoff reported her missing after going to meet a person she had met through face book. He identified the person of interest, which led to the arrest of the murderer and the discovery of Nona’s body a short time later. While not the news the family was hoping for, the short turn around in time assisted them with the grieving process. To achieve this outcome is reported to have worked shifts of up to 18 hours and had sleeps as short as 2 hours. Detective Sergeant Paul Smith told us he had been a detective for 21 years and thanked his wife for putting up with him for the last 20 years.
Congratulations is in order for all the winners, including those having received the Team awards and also to all the finalists, many of whom would have been worthy of the award.
Thankyou to my brother in-law Stephen Salamonson who was there on the night to take photos of the precession on behalf of the Police Officer of the Year Committee and we look forward to receiving those. Including 8 from the Liverpool West satellite Club, 3 from Inner Wheel, Liverpool West managed to have 49 persons in attendance on the night, all of whom appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed the night. Thanks to all for support on the evening, and congratulations to June and the Liverpool Catholic Club for putting on a splendid affair.
A special thankyou then to sponsors from and/or organised through Club Members;
Platinum Sponsor: Sydney Blinds and screens, organised and represented by Member Bob Cook
Silver Sponsor: Liverpool Financial Services Centre, Member David Goldston, who also brought guests along John Killick and Peter Cascio
Habib Bros Truck and Car Repairs were notably gold sponsors
Other notable sponsors were then In Fine Print, John Williams Real Estate, Simone Legal, Comfort Inn Hunts Liverpool and the Liverpool City Chamber of Commerce.
Our member Shann O’Connell then represented on the committee and together with John Williams donated a raffle prize.