Enhancing effective relationships - Queensland Police Service

FROM COMMISSIONER ATKINSON 

Enhancing effective relationships 

The Queensland Police Service 

(QPS) is dedicated to enhancing 

effective relationships within 

culturally diverse communities 

throughout Queensland. 

We as a police service are 

committed to policing in diverse 

communities and environments, 

promoting effective relationships 

based on inclusiveness, open 

communication, mutual 

understanding, respect and trust. 

This issue of the Police Bulletin 

focuses on a number of QPS 

initiatives aimed at developing and 

maintaining effective relationships 

with Indigenous and ethnic 

communities. 

Travel to China 

Recently I was fortunate enough to 

be able to travel to China with 

Inspector Mark Plath and Senior 

Sergeant Daniel Bragg from the 

Leadership and Management 

Development Unit, Human 

Resource Development Branch. 

The purpose of the visit was to 

strengthen the existing 

relationships with policing 

agencies in Hong Kong, 

Guangdong and Shanghai. 

Those relationships have 

developed through the attendance 

of representatives of those three 

police agencies at the three-week 

Management Development 

Program, a residential program 

held at the Queensland Police 

Service Academy in Oxley. 

Inspector Plath and Senior 

Sergeant Bragg continued on after 

I returned to Australia to hold 

negotiations in Beijing and Macau 

for the potential future involvement 

of police officers from those cities. 

Since 2002, police officers from 

across the Asia Pacific Region 

have attended the three-week 

residential component of the 

Management Development 

Program. 

The inclusion of external police in 

the program, funded by their own 

organisations, allows the 

development of strong crossagency 

relationships and 

enhances the opportunities for 

information sharing and 

networking. 

Apart from the benefits already 

mentioned, the inclusion of 

external police in the program also 

provides an opportunity for the 

re-investment of tuition fees into 

improvements in the program that 

benefits our members, who are 

destined to be our future senior 

managers. 

New stations and PCYC 

Last month I was able, along with 

Sport and Recreation Minister Tom 

Barton, to attend the Goondiwindi 

Indoor Sports Centre opening 

celebrations. 

Minister Barton was asked to 

officially open the complex, which 

includes the Goondiwindi Police- 

Citizens Youth Club and provides a 

modern facility which offers a 

range of activities for the local 

community. 

This was only one of a number of 

new facilities that were opened 

recently. Others included new 

stations at Tin Can Bay, Sarina 

and Mackay Northern Beaches, 

along with a police beat at 

Seaforth in the Mackay District. 

The Police Service is also 

undertaking a number of 

refurbishments to existing stations 

across the state and exploring the 

purchase or lease of other new 

facilities. 

Mornington Island visit 

Recently I visited Mornington 

Island as part my government 

appointed role as Community 

Champion. 

An article in this issue outlines the 

visit and the meetings we were 

able to have with members of the 

community to discuss local issues 

of concern. 

The article (on page 22) also 

highlights the excellent work being 

undertaken by members of the 

QPS to support the community in 

this remote part of our state. 

That work is being replicated in 

many other Indigenous 

communities in Queensland, often 

under challenging and arduous 

circumstances, and my thanks to 

all involved for their effort, work 

and contribution in this regard. 

PoliceBulletin303 03

QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE 

working together 

Executive Editor 

Leon Bedington 

Editor 

Simon Kelly 

Statement of purpose 

Police Bulletin is a free bi-annual 

public information document intended 

to provide a record of initiatives and 

achievements, an insight into the 

operations of the Queensland Police 

Service and base research to 

interested members of the community. 

Each edition is available from police 

stations, district and regional offices, 

and Police Headquarters, Brisbane. 

Photography 

Unless otherwise indicated 

photographs throughout this 

publication were provided through the 

associated branch or unit, or taken by 

the following members: Sergeant 

Murray Latter and Senior Constable 

Deon Williams from the QPS 

Photographic Section; Inspector John 

Fox from the QPS Cultural Advisory 

Unit; Plain Clothes Sergeant Julie 

Stone from the Asian Specialist Unit; 

Senior Constable Maria Redenius from 

Oxley Scenes of Crime; Simon Kelly, 

Jacqui McClure, Sonia Giovannetti and 

Penny Doust from the QPS Media and 

Public Affairs Branch. 

Police Bulletin is printed externally by 

McDonald Printing Group. 

Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Police Headquarters 

GPO Box 1440 

Brisbane Qld 4001 

Telephone: (07) 3364 6256 

Facsimile: (07) 3364 6268 

Layout and design 

Diana Zivkovic, 

Graphic Designer, 

Graphic Design Services 

Copyright of this publication is 

vested in the Commissioner of Police. 

Reproduction for use other than 

within the Queensland Police Service 

is prohibited and requires the written 

permission of the Commissioner of 

Police (or his delegate) prior to 

re-publication or attribution. 

Contact should be made through 

the Director, Media and Public 

Affairs Branch. 

04 PoliceBulletin303

ENCOURAGING CULTURAL DIVERSITY 

working together 

C O N T E N T S 

Message from Commissioner Atkinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

Message from Deputy Commissioner Conder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 

Cultural Advisory Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 

Police Liaison Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 

Asian Specialist Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Commissioner Community Champion of Mornington Island . . . . . .22 

Homelands Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 

PCYC CAPE program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 

Officer teaches Maori culture at detention centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 

Justice Entry Program graduation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

Officer awarded for services to multiculturalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 

Edinburgh Military Tattoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 

Beat the Streets project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 

National Police Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 

A D V E R T I S E R S I N D E X 

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 

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FROM DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CONDER 

Queensland Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander Police (QATSIP) 

The Queensland Police Service 

(QPS) has been trialling the 

Queensland Aboriginal and Torres 

Strait Islander Police (QATSIP) 

concept in three Indigenous 

communities since 2000. 

The project involves the QPS, 

through the QATSIP program, 

taking responsibility for all policing 

roles in individual Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander 

communities. 

Currently, the function is shared 

between the QPS, and the local 

council (through Community 

Police) using local law and order 

by-laws. 

The project has seen the transfer 

of the community policing function 

from local councils at Woorabinda, 

Yarrabah and Badu Island to 

the QPS. 

It is based on a belief in the value 

of working in partnership with 

Indigenous communities to deliver 

an effective policing service. 

The project was extensively 

evaluated in 2003, finding that the 

trial had been successful and 

resulting in the project concept 

being formalised into a recognised 

program. The program now 

receives continual funding. 

I am grateful for the work of the 

QATSIP officers who have 

contributed to and supported the 

program throughout that time. 

Recently, Senior Sergeant Matt 

Orme and Sergeant Brendon 

McMahon, from Far Northern 

Police Region, in conjunction with 

Human Resources Development 

Branch developed a Law and 

Order By-Laws Training Course. 

The course is designed to provide 

the necessary knowledge and 

skills to enable QATSIP officers 

to examine, understand and 

interpret law. 

The course explains, in detail, 

relevant by-law offences as well as 

the powers available to them in 

exercising their duties. 

The course also includes a police 

operational skills training 

component to assist QATSIP 

officers to use their powers in 

the field. 

It is intended that the course will 

be delivered to QATSIPs in the 

near future, and it will also be of 

great interest to state police 

working on Indigenous 

communities as they share the 

same by-law powers as the 

Community Police. 

The issue of the roles and 

responsibilities of policing 

functions on Aboriginal and Torres 

Strait Islander Communities is 

under review by a Law and Justice 

Chief Executive Officers’ 

Committee project, the Policing 

Indigenous Communities Project. 

The project, which is expected to 

be finalised by 2007, will examine 

all aspects of policing in remote 

communities and aims to identify 

a preferred model for the future 

policing of Indigenous 

communities. 

I believe the result of this review 

will ultimately lead to an enhanced 

policing presence in remote 

communities. 


Understanding, respect, tolerance and 

trust: basis for multicultural 

relationships 

Badu Island QATSIP Solomon Ahmat (right) with Thursday Island staff member Peo Ahmat (second from right). Naseli Tamwoy and Senior Constable Christopher Lee 

are in the background. 

As our multicultural society 

continues to grow, so too does the 

Queensland Police Service (QPS) 

commitment to developing and 

maintaining effective relationships 

with Indigenous and ethnic 

communities. 

This is the mission of the QPS 

Cultural Advisory Unit (CAU), 

which forms part of the Office of 

the Commissioner. 

It also promotes understanding 

within the QPS about cultural 

diversity with input into 

recruitment, education, training, 

policy development and police 

procedures. 

Inspector John Fox, Officer in 

Charge of the CAU, said the unit’s 

foundation for building 

relationships was based on open 

communication, understanding, 

respect, tolerance and trust. 

“Its objectives include ensuring 

QPS policies and programs are 

culturally appropriate and 

equitable, and identifying and 

providing advice on trends and 

emerging issues of concern to 

police, ethnic and Indigenous 

communities. 

“The CAU oversees such 

programs as the Police Liaison 

Officer scheme, Queensland 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander Police (QATSIP) program 

and the Cross Cultural Liaison 

Officer scheme, all of which help 

forge stronger ties between police, 

ethnic and Indigenous 

communities,” Inspector Fox said. 

The unit is based in Brisbane with 

one officer also in Cairns, and it is 

made up of police officers and 

staff members with a broad range 

of experience. This includes 

specialists such as Emmanuel 

Anthony, Senior Advisor to the 

Commissioner on ethnic issues 

and Bill Ivinson, Policy and Liaison 

Officer for Indigenous issues. 

“All officers work on developing 

and maintaining close links with 

peak multicultural and Indigenous 

groups at state and national level, 

government and non-government 

organisations and other police 

services,” Inspector Fox said. 

The unit is responsible for the 

strategic directions for policing 

Indigenous and ethnic 

communities. 

It also oversees the 

implementation of reviews, 

reports, policy documents and 

related ethnic and Indigenous 

issues including the Royal 

Commission into Aboriginal 

Deaths in Custody and the 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander Women's Task Force 

on Violence. 


What is 

a PLO? 

Police Liaison Officers (PLOs) are employed by the Queensland Police 

Service (QPS) to establish and maintain a positive rapport between 

Indigenous and multicultural communities and police. 

Their role is to promote trust 

and understanding by helping the 

community and police to: 

• reduce and prevent crime 

• divert Indigenous and ethnic 

people from the criminal 

justice system 

• advise and inform police 

officers on such things as 

cultural customs, traditions 

and languages 

• improve community knowledge 

about policing services and 

issues of law and order. 

They do not have the powers of 

a police officer and, despite 

wearing the same blue uniform, 

are recognisable by their yellow 

shoulder epaulettes and the 

“Police Liaison Officer” badge 

on their hats. This differs in the 

Torres Strait where the shoulder 

epaulettes are blue/green. 

The concept of PLOs was initiated 

in north Queensland and expanded 

in response to the 

recommendations of the Royal 

Commission into Aboriginal Deaths 

in Custody. 

Initial successes led to an 

expansion to the rest of the state. 

There are currently 140 positions 

for PLOs with approximately 85% of 

them having links to the Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander 

community. Others have links with 

the Chinese, Vietnamese, Pacific 

Islander, Australian South Sea 

Islander, Sudanese, South 

American, Filipino, Eastern 

European, Fijian Indian and Arabic 

speaking communities. 

For further enquiries regarding 

the PLO scheme, contact can be 

made with local PLOs or the 

QPS Cultural Advisory Unit 

on 3364 3934. 


Police Liaison Officers (PLO) 

Johnathan Thurston on the 

attack for the North Queensland 

Cowboys, and (below left) his 

mother PLO Debbie Saunders. 

Photo by David Kapernick, courtesy of The Courier-Mail 

League of 

their own 

By Simon Kelly, Media and 

Public Affairs Branch 

Debbie Saunders, Roy 

Hodges and Malcolm Doyle might 

not be household sporting names, 

but their sons are. 

One is mother to reigning National 

Rugby League (NRL) player of the 

year Johnathan Thurston while the 

others are fathers of State of 

Origin representatives Justin 

Hodges and John Doyle. 

Also forging the Queensland Police 

Service (QPS) link between the 

Indigenous community and elite 

rugby league is PLO Willie 

Morganson and former PLO and 

current police recruit John 

Buttigieg. 

Sitting in the Brisbane City Police 

Beat, PLO Saunders is a world 

away from her son – a rising star 

with last season’s grand finalists 

the North Queensland Cowboys 

and three-time Queensland State 

of Origin representative. 

She is proud of her work with the 

QPS, particularly an initiative to 

divert youths away from chroming 

in the city. 

But her eyes light up even more 

when talk turns to Thurston’s 

2005 Dally M Medal, awarded to 

the NRL’s best player each year. 

“I was very humbled to be 

honest,” she said. 

“I was just over the moon when 

he won it – I couldn’t believe it. 

He deserves it … he gives 110% 

when he’s on the football field.” 

PLO Saunders has worked 

predominantly in Brisbane City 

since taking on the role in 1995. 

“Most of the kids I deal with 

(through patrols and diversion 

away from chroming) have found a 

healthy respect for police,” 

she said. 

“Building bridges and knocking 

down walls – I like to think I’ve 

done that through my role.” 

PLO Hodges has also noticed a 

significant improvement in the 


It took PLO Hodges two years to 

win his trust, but the boy 

eventually turned his life around 

and later approached him for a job 

reference. The boy won the 

position and went on to 

successfully complete his 

apprenticeship. 

PLO Hodges moved from Cairns to 

Brisbane in 1999 to help his son 

adjust to life with the Brisbane 

Broncos. 

Having played rugby league in 

Cairns for 33 years, he also 

coached Justin from a young age. 

“Our family units are very closeknit. 

When someone has to leave 

it’s very hard,” PLO Hodges said. 

Justin is now a regular with the 

Broncos and has played three 

State of Origin games for 

Queensland. 

Justin Hodges breaking a tackle while playing for the Brisbane Broncos, and (left) his 

father PLO Roy Hodges. 

relationship between the QPS and 

Queensland’s Indigenous 

community since he joined the 

Service in 1993. 

Now stationed at the Chermside 

Police Beat in Brisbane’s north, he 

began his career as a PLO in 

Cairns. 

Photo by David Kapernick, courtesy of The Courier-Mail 

“In that time police liaison work 

has made quite a difference,” he 

said. “It has made a difference, 

getting out in the community.” 

One of his success stories was a 

young offender he tried to help 

avoid a life of crime. 

“It’s a great feeling to be part of 

the QPS and to have so many 

people in the job who support me 

and my young bloke,” PLO Hodges 

said. 

“There could be no father prouder 

than I am now.” 

PLO Doyle has gone from 

coaching his son to watching his 

career develop from afar. 

His son John is playing for the 

Sydney Roosters this year after a 

three-year break from the NRL. 

John started his career with the 

Cowboys in 1996 and played three 

State of Origin games for 

Queensland in 2001-02 before 

being forced out with injury. He 

has also played for the Australian 

Aboriginal side. 

“I sat him on the bench a couple 

of times because he didn’t turn 

up to training,” PLO Doyle said of 

coaching John’s North 

Rockhampton State High School 

side. 


PLO Willie Morganson in his playing days. 

Photo courtesy of The Courier-Mail 

Above: John Buttigieg charges into attack for the North Queensland Cowboys before starting a career with the QPS. 

Below: Former Cowboy John Doyle, son of PLO Malcolm Doyle. 

“The other kids weren’t happy 

because he was the main man but 

it was a matter of principle.” 

While PLO Doyle no longer 

coaches, he still does a lot of work 

with local children, particularly 

during school visits. 

He expected becoming a PLO 

would not be a popular decision. 

“But kids have started coming up 

to me and saying they want to be 

PLOs so that’s a positive,” he said. 

PLO Morganson particularly enjoys 

interacting with children as part of 

QPS visits to schools in an around 

Ingham where he is stationed. 

He became a PLO in 1999 after 

returning from a stint in the 

English Super League. Plenty of 

people still remember him from 

his playing days with the Broncos 

from 1991-94 and the Cowboys in 

1995-96. 

Photo by Cameron Laird, courtesy of The Courier-Mail Photo by Cameron Laird, courtesy of The Courier-Mail 

PLO Morganson is planning to 

hang up the boots this year after 

one last season in the Townsville 

district competition with the 

Herbert River Crushers. 

Following nearly two years as a 

PLO in Townsville, John Buttigieg 

entered the Police Academy in 

Townsville as a recruit in February 

this year. 

The former Cowboy, who played 

three State of Origin games for 

Queensland in 2001-02, said 

football was his biggest icebreaker 

when interacting with the 

community. 

“A lot of the Indigenous 

community really relate to rugby 

league,” he said. 

Recruit Buttigieg, whose class is 

due to graduate from the academy 

in September, said school visits to 

Palm Island were among his 

highlights as a PLO. 

“I enjoyed my time as a PLO and 

learnt a lot of new things but after 

seeing what police officers do 

I decided to take that next step.” 


PLO Filipo Luafutu talks with members of the Samoan community Totuvao (Paula) Tuiatua (left) and Tuiatualemavae Kolio (Greg) Tuiatua. 

Chiefs bridge the gap in multicultural 

communities By Jacqui McClure, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Samoan Police Liaison 

Officers (PLOs) Filipo Luafutu and 

Jon Ropati have dedicated their 

roles to encouraging a greater 

understanding between cultures. 

Both are Chiefs in the Samoan 

community; a standing which 

means they are well respected 

and can influence change. 

Nine years ago, Indigenous elders 

approached PLO Luafutu and 

suggested he apply for a PLO 

position to help combat rising 

crime rates in the area. He has 

been working with the Indigenous 

and Samoan communities in 

Ipswich ever since. 

“They could see that a local PLO 

was needed because as the 

community continued to grow, 

violence between the cultures 

increased,” PLO Luafutu said. 

“Our main focus is to educate the 

community. I do a lot of work at 

local schools to teach the youth 

about other cultures, and to plan 

activities that help relieve 

boredom. 

“It is often the boredom that leads 

to kids getting in trouble with 

the law.” 

One significant event PLO Luafutu 

has been helping with is 

encouraging the Samoan and 

Pacific Islander community to visit 

and acknowledge the Indigenous 

elders at their meeting place at 

Purga. 

“We started the initiative about five 

years ago, and it has been running 

each year since then. It is 

important to get the kids back to 

their culture,” PLO Luafutu said. 

In his four years as a PLO in Inala, 

PLO Ropati has been working 

towards educating young people in 

Inala about policing as a career. 

“It is important for these kids to 

know what options are available to 

them. I go into schools and talk 

about Australian laws and what 

they need to do to be successful in 

this community,” PLO Ropati said. 

“I also talk to international 

students and educate them about 

Australian culture and how the 

laws are different to what they are 

used to in the Pacific Islands, 

such as Samoa, Tonga and the 

Cook Islands. 

“It is a very rewarding career. 

Local Samoans are often 

apprehensive about speaking with 

police, so having a PLO gives them 

someone they are comfortable to 

talk to, particularly because of 

language barriers,” PLO 

Ropati said. 

Other Samoan PLOs are Judy 

Pasene in Cairns and Ruby 

Pritchard in Logan. 


Proper person for the job 

By Louise Allen, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Eight years ago Andrea Bak 

was living in a Kenyan refugee 

camp after fleeing from the 

Sudanese government. 

He spent four years in the camp 

and was considered to be a 

community elder. Other refugees 

would go to him when they 

needed help or advice. 

Today he continues to assist his 

people as a Police Liaison Officer 

(PLO) in South Brisbane. 

“When I arrived in Australia in 

1998 I was working as a teacher’s 

aid and understood the problems 

new arrivals were experiencing,” 

PLO Bak said. 

“People come here and are very 

confused and don’t know what to 

do or how to get help. 

“I thought I was the proper person 

to assist with their problems,” 

he said. 

PLO Bak said part of his job was 

to help the Sudanese and other 

African communities understand 

Australian laws, cultures and ways 

of life. 

“Police are very different back 

home. Where I come from 

domestic violence and child issues 

are not police matters. They’re 

considered private family matters 

and police only respond as a last 

resort. 

“It can be very hard to be brought 

up in a certain way of life and 

then have to adapt to completely 

new cultural laws and social codes 

of conduct. 

“I have to explain that the role of 

police is very different here – 

police can help people as well as 

investigate crime,” he said. 

PLO Bak said he also spent his 

time working with other police 

officers educating them on African 

cultures and attitudes. 

“Most Africans who come to 

Australia have very basic English 

which can make it very hard for 

them to communicate. They can 

feel uncomfortable and isolated. 

“Ongoing education will result in 

a better understanding and 

acceptance between African 

communities, the Queensland 

Police Service and the wider 

community. 

“Understanding each other will 

help us all work better together,” 

he said. 

PLO Andrea Bak (left) with Senior Constable Nancy Lee and Sara Charles-Woll. 


PLO builds bridge 

to better life 

By Brett Davis, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Police Liaison Officer (PLO) Kieu 

Oanh Do’s background gives her 

more motivation than most to 

help improve the lives of people 

around her. 

PLO Do, her brother, sister and 

mother arrived in Australia in the 

early 1980s. They were sponsored 

to the country by her father who 

had made the perilous journey 

before them as a refugee from the 

Vietnam War. 

Four years ago, she put a career 

in pharmacy behind her to 

become a PLO at Inala. 

The result is a role which PLO Do 

sees as, most importantly, a 

bridge builder between the police 

and the Australian-Vietnamese 

community. 

Breaking down the language 

barrier was the biggest step, but 

also it was essential to build trust 

within the community for the 

police, she said. 

“People are traditionally afraid of 

authority and don’t normally 

approach the police, and also if 

they have a problem they prefer to 

deal with it within the family to 

save face,” PLO Do said. 

In her time as a PLO she has seen 

a definite improvement in the 

responsiveness of the community 

in approaching police, particularly 

over matters such as domestic 

violence. 

“When I first started not a lot of 

women even knew there was 

anything they could do about it 

because it was considered okay 

back in Vietnam. 

“Now instead of holding back, 

many of these women come to the 

police for help,” PLO Do said. 

She is one of four Vietnamese 

PLOs. The others are Loc Tran, 

who is also based at Inala, Nhi- 

Thuy Vu at Brisbane City Police 

Beat and Tam Tran at Dutton Park 

Police Station. 

In addition to her work as a PLO, 

she also helps to organise many 

community activities including 

celebrations for Vietnamese 

festivals, and English and 

Vietnamese language lessons. 

Several years ago at a Vietnamese 

community festival she was 

teamed with a PLO to act as 

emcees for the event. It made her 

think of the opportunities that 

might exist with a change of 

career as there was little chance 

of her progressing in the 

pharmacy field. 

PLO Do said she drew great 

satisfaction from helping victims of 

crime, liaising with community 

groups and working with various 

QPS units such as the Juvenile Aid 

Bureau and Asian Specialist Unit. 

“It is a very rewarding job and it 

makes you happy when you can 

help someone. 

PLO Kieu Oanh Do. 

‘It is a very rewarding job and it 

makes you happy when you can 

help someone’. 

“I feel very lucky to be able to 

do this job and as a Vietnamese 

person have the opportunity to 

pursue a career that means 

something and helps out the 

people in my community,” 

she said. 


PLO Chi-Kim Wong (right) with Eddie Chen. 

Relationships the focus for PLO 

By Jacqui McClure, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Behind the facade of flashing 

lights and busy streets in 

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley lies a 

very unique cultural experience. 

It is this culture to which Senior 

Police Liaison Officer (PLO) Chi- 

Kim Wong has dedicated his 

career. 

Based at the Fortitude Valley 

Police Beat, PLO Wong uses his 

social work experience to assist 

policing in the Asian community. 

He is one of three PLOs in 

Fortitude Valley along with 

Rebecca Johnson and Weng 

Mun Sum. 

PLO Wong started his career as a 

social worker in Hong Kong before 

becoming a police officer. After 

moving to Australia almost 10 

years ago, he returned to being a 

social worker before joining the 


in 2001. 

It is easy to understand why he 

has been successful in his role as 

a PLO. Walking through the 

Chinatown Mall, almost everyone 

knows him, and more importantly, 

respects him. 

PLO Wong’s culture is very 

important to him. He believes that 

in order to make a difference in 

his local community he must first 

build relationships and gain 

people’s trust. 

“Being a police officer in Hong 

Kong is very different to here in 

Australia. I think my role is more 

to promote an understanding 

between the Asian culture and 

the QPS.” 

PLO Wong’s role has taken him 

beyond his policing duties as he 

continues to develop initiatives for 

the local community. He has 

recently established Brisbane’s 

first Chinese Scout Group, and 

continues to do volunteer social 

work in his own time. He regularly 

speaks to foreign students and 

new immigrants about Brisbane, 

local laws, and issues they may 

face adjusting to Australian 

culture. 

“If I retired tomorrow I think I 

would be satisfied that I have 

made a difference in my 

community. The relationships 

I have developed will hopefully go 

some way to bridging some of the 

cultural gaps that exist in central 

Brisbane,” he said. 


Innovative approach gains 

trust of Asian communities 

By Louise Allen, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Plain Clothes Constable Tin Huynh (left) and Detective Sergeant Stephen 

Illidge from the Asian Specialist Unit with Reverend Yao and Reverend 

Chueh Shan at the Chung Tian Buddhist Temple in Priestdale. 


Policing is not what it used to 

be. With a growing multicultural 

community, it has had to adapt 

and in some cases be 

reinvented. 

Leading the way is the 

Queensland Police Service’s 

(QPS) Asian Specialist Unit 

(ASU), which was created to 

ensure services and resources 

were provided to various groups 

with differing cultural 

experiences and expectations. 

Detective Sergeant Stephen 

Illidge, Officer in Charge of the 

ASU, said the unit focused on 

the Australian Chinese, 

Japanese, Vietnamese and 

Korean communities. 

“Within these communities 

there is widely ingrained distrust 

of law enforcement agencies,” 

he said. 

“Their negative perceptions of 

authority stems from hostile 

experiences in their homelands 

and as such members of 

Australian-Asian communities 

can be reluctant to report crime 

or assist police with their 

investigations,” he said. 

Detective Sergeant Illidge said 

ASU officers through their 

language and cultural skills have 

developed innovative 

approaches to policing 

Australian-Asian communities. 

“To date, conventional policing 

responses have had minimal 

success due to limited 

intelligence gathered from the 

Australian-Asian offenders and 

community members. 

“The ASU is the only unit of its 

kind in Australia that monitors 

local Asian language media as a 

source of intelligence. 

“Our officers use unorthodox 

policing strategies to gain the 

trust of the Australian-Asian 

community and encourage their 

members to report crime. 

“Specialist officers collect 

information on offenders from 

Asian backgrounds, assist with 

the management of witnesses 

and try to identify new 

informants and implement 

strategies to investigate targets 

from Asian backgrounds,” 

he said. 

The unit’s expertise is often 

called on to assist with major 

operations. 

In November and December last 

year, officers from ASU 

conducted a joint drug and 

traffic operation with 

Metropolitan South Police 

Region. 

Operation Delta Peace was 

established when members of 

the Australian-Asian community 

were identified as repeat drink 

drivers and traffic offenders in 

the South Brisbane area. This 

was despite aggressive crime 

prevention and road safety 

media campaigns warning of the 

associated risks. 


the situation was compounded 

by cultural attitudes and 

perceptions acquired overseas, 

where some police agencies do 

not overtly target traffic 

offences. 

Following the operation, details 

were publicised in local Asian 

media outlets, delivering the 

message of the QPS 

commitment to responsible 

driving. A number of drug 

offences were also detected 

during Operation Delta Peace, 

and several search warrants 

have since been executed 

resulting in arrests being made. 

A few years ago the ASU helped 

coordinate Operations Jasmine 

and Lotus, using methods that 

Detective Sergeant Illidge 

described as “pioneering in 

Australian law enforcement”. 

The unit was approached by the 

Office of Fair Trading for 

operational support in targeting 

Asian tourism operators believed 

to be scamming Chinese 

tourists on the Gold Coast. 

Information was received that 

tourism operators were allegedly 

working with duty free shop 

owners and tailoring itineraries 

specifically designed to extract 

as much money as possible 

from the tourists. 

They would collect the tourists 

from the airport, take them to 

hotels which were not close to 

other duty free shops, control 

their freedom so they could not 

see other shops or prices and 

direct them to specific 

restaurants. 

In some cases it is believed the 

tourists, who spoke little or no 

English were being charged 

“environmental taxes” to go to 

the beach or to watch a sunset. 


the operations were established 

to prevent tour operators and 

duty free shop owners from 

monopolising inbound tourists. 

“During the operations buses 

carrying Asian tourists were 

intercepted, and then linguistic 

specialists boarded the buses 

and informed tourists of their 

rights. 

“Information pamphlets were 

handed out to the tourists in 

Chinese and Taiwanese. 

“Some tourists who we spoke to 

were law enforcement officers in 

their own countries. They 

thought it was fantastic that 

police were so proactive in 

warning tourists of potential 

scams,” he said. 


During the operations Chinesespeaking 

police, Fair Trading 

and Immigration officials spoke 

to more than 100 tour guides 

and drivers and informed more 

than 1,100 tourists of their 

consumer rights. 

“Such operations and work 

carried out by Asian Specialist 

Unit help the QPS break down 

cultural barriers and gain the 

much-needed trust of the 

Australian-Asian communities,” 

Detective Sergeant Illidge said. 

Mentors help 

break down the 

cultural barriers 

employees, help identify career 

opportunities and assist in 

retaining staff. 

This would include the opportunity 

for participants to regularly meet 

with their mentor on an informal 

or structured basis. 

Plain Clothes Constable Tin Huynh (left) 

and Plain Clothes Senior Constable 

William Wong. 

Amentoring program has 

been set up to help increase the 

number of people from Asian 

backgrounds who work for the 

Queensland Police Service. 

The workplace mentoring program 

was launched late last year and 

provides culturally appropriate 

support networks to Australian- 

Asian police officers and staff 

members. 

It is being managed by the Career 

Planning Unit in conjunction with 

the Asian Specialist Unit (ASU). 

Detective Sergeant Stephen Illidge, 

Officer in Charge of the ASU, said 

the program would provide 

support for Australian-Asian 

“In the past the recruitment of 

police officers from Asian 

backgrounds has been made more 

difficult by cultural and language 

barriers leading to anxiety issues 

and misunderstandings,” he said. 

“To many Australian-Asian 

community members the family 

unit is the focal point of their lives, 

such that the decision to become 

a police officer can often compete 

with family expectations.” 

Detective Sergeant Illidge said one 

of the main objectives of the 

mentoring program was the 

retention of Australian-Asian staff 

members through the promotion 

of positive workplace experiences, 

and the capacity to voice their 

opinions, concerns and feelings. 

“Australian-Asian employees assist 

to provide a depth of service to 

our culturally diverse state,” 

he said. 


These “Police friend” badges were 

handed out to children during Vietnamese 

New Year celebrations. 

Entertainment at the recent 

Vietnamese New Year festival. 


Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson gets the thumbs up from Mornington Island State School students. 

Police Commissioner a Community Champion 

on Mornington Island By Simon Kelly, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Mornington Island locals 

recently met their Community 

Champion, a newly appointed 

government role for Police 

Commissioner Bob Atkinson. 

The role, which Commissioner 

Atkinson also holds for Wujal 

Wujal, includes developing a 

positive working relationship with 

community leaders and groups; 

becoming familiar with social, 

cultural and historical aspects 

of each community; helping 

communities to develop; and 

establishing trust through 

regular visits to these often 

isolated areas. 

During the three-day visit, 

Commissioner Atkinson met with 

a number of prominent 

community groups including the 

Mornington Shire Council, the 

Junkuri Laka Justice Association, 

the Yuenamanda (elder clan 

women) Aboriginal Corporation 

and the local men’s group, Jigah 

Gubaman Dunga. 

Senior Sergeant Stephen Angus, 

the Officer in Charge of 

Mornington Island Police Station, 

said community members were 

impressed that Commissioner 

Atkinson took the time to visit and 

speak with them. 

“A recurring comment has been 

that he was there for a number 

of days. The fact he stayed and 

didn’t fly in and out on the same 

day was very well received.” 

The elder women’s clan even gave 

Commissioner Atkinson a 

nickname which translates as 

“good man”. 

The visit capitalised on good work 

which local police are doing in the 

Mornington Island community. 

Senior Sergeant Angus said recent 

examples were successful suicide 

prevention and community health 

initiatives which had been 

launched in the past year. 

“The suicide intervention program 

started in February/March 2005 

after a number of young people 

tragically committed suicide in the 

community. 

“We liaise closely with community 

groups and have a strong working 

relationship with them,” Senior 

Sergeant Angus said. 

Local police also worked with 

Education Queensland and 

Queensland Health to establish 

Health Week, a period during 

which young people were 

educated about the importance of 

going to school, hygiene, general 

health and child abuse issues. 


Program provides 

hope for homeless 

By Karmen Turner, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Apolice-led program is 

helping to reduce homelessness 

and alcohol-related problems in the 

Cairns CBD. 

The Homelands Partnerships is 

not only boosting the health and 

welfare of the homeless but 

improving the perception of safety 

in Cairns and protecting the area’s 

$2 billion tourism industry. 

The program seeks to help people 

– primarily from the Cape York and 

Lockhart River areas – who 

become displaced after moving to 

Cairns. It provides them with the 

ability and support they need to 

return to their communities. 

“The program has allowed 

homeless people to be treated with 

dignity and has broken down the 

cycle of alcoholism and 

homelessness in the Central 

Business District of Cairns,” 

Assistant Commissioner Peter 

Barron, from Far Northern Police 

Region, said. 

“The focus is on social change. 

Through the Homelands initiative 

we have been able to turn what 

seemed like an insurmountable 

problem around to achieve great 

results.” 

Since Homelands was introduced in 

July 2004, 28 people have been 

housed in temporary 

accommodation, 17 people have 

entered alcohol rehabilitation and 

138 itinerants have voluntarily 

returned home to their 

communities. 

As many homeless people feel 

trapped in a cycle of mounting 

debt, Homelands has also helped 

more than 280 people pay off 

outstanding fines by assisting them 

in structuring an automatic 


‘The program has allowed 

homeless people to be treated 

with dignity and has broken 

down the cycle of alcoholism 

and homelessness in the Central 

Business District of Cairns’ 

Assistant Commissioner Peter Barron, Far Northern Police Region. 

payment from their fortnightly 

pension. 

Cairns City Police Beat initiated 

the Homelands Partnerships to 

identify the reasons behind a 

person being homeless. 

Police officers, police liaison 

officers and government 

representatives spoke with 

homeless people and identified 

that the majority were Indigenous 

and many had arrived in Cairns 

from surrounding communities for 

medical treatment or had been 

released after serving prison 

sentences in Cairns. 

Many wanted to return to their 

communities but did not have the 

knowledge or provisions to 

organise a trip home. 

Sergeant Owen Kennedy, Officer in 

Charge of Cairns City Police Beat, 

said many homeless people were 

circulating through the criminal 

justice system. 

“It was important to tackle the 

issue at street-level, to break the 

cycle and bring about long-term 

change.” 

A number of related issues had 

to be considered such as poor 

mental or physical health due to 

alcoholism, communicable 

diseases or substance abuse. 

In coming up with solutions to 

help people return home, police 

enlisted help from the Department 

of Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander Policy, Centrelink, 

Queensland Health, Department 

of Communities and Cairns 

City Council. 

Community organisations and 

local businesses also played a key 

role in providing support including 

reduced airfares and transport, 

temporary accommodation, food 

and clothing assistance and 

medical services. 

The Homelands Partnerships was 

recognised as a finalist in the 

2005 Premier’s Awards for 

Excellence in Public Sector 

Management for the Focusing On 

Our People Award. 

The initiative also received the 

gold award in the 2005 

Queensland Police Service Awards 

for Excellence in Problem-Oriented 

and Partnership Policing. 


Devotion pays off in 

Cape communities 

By Jacqui McClure, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Early indications are that 

youth crime has dropped by 

almost 70% in two Cape York 

communities following the 

introduction of PCYC Community 

Activity Programs through 

Education (CAPE). 

The program is an initiative of 

Senior Sergeant David Bird and 

Police Liaison Officer Jennifer 

Lively, who have devoted most of 

their careers to helping the youth 

of Cape York. 

The PCYC CAPE Program aims to 

reduce juvenile crime and suicide 

by introducing community 

activities in Wujal Wujal and 

Hope Vale. 

It was developed after similar 

activities were successful in other 

north Queensland communities. 

Since 1996, Senior Sergeant Bird, 

the Crime Prevention Coordinator 

for Far Northern Police Region, 

and PLO Lively have been working 

closely with locals to introduce 

activities that lower the incidence 

of crime by reducing boredom. 

Youth clubs were established in 

the larger towns such as Yarrabah, 

Mornington Island and Palm 

Island, and after seeing their 

positive impact on local youth, the 

pair approached then Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander Policy 

Minister Judy Spence for 

Senior Sergeant David Bird in the 

Queen’s Baton Relay. 

help to extend the initiative to 

smaller communities in the region. 

Senior Sergeant Bird said it was at 

this point, late in 2000, that they 

began to develop the CAPE model. 


“The program is about developing 

community capacity through the 

Police-Citizens Youth Club so local 

people have the skills and 

knowledge to run the activities 

themselves. We train sport and 

recreation officers to be able to 

manage the activities, supervise 

youth and maintain buildings,” 

he said. 

“A range of activities are held each 

night in town buildings that we 

have resurrected. From 3pm to 

8.30pm youth can participate in 

arts and crafts, discos, and a wide 

range of sporting activities 

including Australian rules, netball, 

soccer and hockey. 

“The program not only benefits 

youth, but also the wider 

community. We are working on all 

aspects of the community 

including helping the elderly, better 

childcare and domestic violence 

issues.” 

The program has been very 

successful both at local and 

national levels. 

“It has been heavily acknowledged 

by a number of national crime 

prevention awards. But more 

importantly for us, is how the 

locals have embraced the 

program,” Senior Sergeant 

Bird said. 

“We work very closely with local 

councils and when we visit towns, 

local people always have us stay 

with them at their homes.” 

The communities showed their 

appreciation for Senior Sergeant 

Bird’s work by nominating him to 

run in the Commonwealth Games 

Queen’s Baton Relay during its 

recent journey through 

Queensland. 

Future plans for the program 

include an expansion to Aurukun 

and Napranum, and a website is 

being developed so support 

organisations that travel to the 

Cape area have a platform from 

which to work together. 

Senior Sergeant Bird said it was 

important to note the help they 

had along the way. 

“A lot of people have been 

involved in developing these 

programs, but of particular note I 

would like to acknowledge the 

assistance of Assistant 

Commissioner Peter Barron (from 

Far Northern Police Region). We 

couldn’t have gotten it off the 

ground without him.” 

As Senior Sergeant Bird and PLO 

Lively head off on another fivehour 

drive from Cairns to Wujal 

Wujal, where they will hold training 

and plan activities, it is hard not to 

be in awe of their dedication to the 

local people. 

PLO Lively spends three out of 

every four weeks away from home 

in Cape communities and she 

recently turned down a promotion 

so she could stay with the 

program. 

“It is important for us to keep 

going. We live in the area and we 

know the people,” Senior Sergeant 

Bird said. 

“You can’t expect to change a 

community’s way of life overnight, 

but if we could at least better 

educate primary school children, 

I’d think we had achieved 

something significant.” 


Cultural classes earn 

positive report card 

for police 

By Brett Davis, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Constable 

Brenda Cookson 

in teaching mode. 


For the past two years 

Constable Brenda Cookson from 

Moorooka Police Station has 

been working with inmates at the 

Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, 

passing on the intricacies of 

Maori culture. 

The program, called Takahia 

Whakamua Puutahi – literally 

meaning “stepping forward from 

the crossroads” – teaches 

participants the Maori language, 

traditional Maori values and 

cultural activities such as the 

Haka and other action songs. 

“I love my culture and I think it 

has so much to offer,” Constable 

Cookson said. “There is a lot to 

share and the culture is very 

family orientated, very 

respectful.” 

People from all different ethnic 

backgrounds take part in the 

course. In the last group there 

were inmates from Greek, 

Chinese and Islander 

backgrounds, and even some 

staff members of the centre 

graduated the course. 

“For the Maori kids, they are 

able to learn a lot more about 

their culture because some of 

them have really lost touch 

with it. 

“This is important because you 

can’t begin your future until you 

know your past,” she said. 

Constable Cookson is one of two 

tutors from Maori cultural 

organisation Te Kohanga Reo o 

te Whenua Hou to teach the 16- 

week course to inmates. 

The aim is to use a cultural 

context to empower people 

through a sense of belonging 

and develop confidence and 

maturity. In turn it is hoped 

these traits can help young 

offenders cope with detention. 

“Some of the kids do find it very 

difficult because they are away 

from their family and friends and 

they can feel lonely and isolated, 

and they can lose those 

connections to other people and 

how to relate to them.” 

The program is based on the 

principles of whanau (family 

grouping) based learning and 

tuakana teina (older members 

helping younger members). 

The idea is to provide a trusting 

and respectful atmosphere 

where students can learn. 

Kaumatua, or Maori elders, are 

also invited to attend classes 

and workshops to impart their 

special knowledge. 

It has proven to be one of the 

most popular programs at the 

Youth Detention Centre, with the 

number of people wanting to 

take part far exceeding the 

available places. 

“The kids are different when 

they are in the course, very 

respectful,” Constable 

Cookson said. 

The general duties officer said 

she did not initially tell the 

members of the class she was a 

police officer, but when she did 

they were shocked. 

“One boy who I had developed 

a good bond with was really 

shocked and he just walked out 

on the course, because the one 

person he felt comfortable with 

and trusted was a police officer 

and the whole attitude he had 

developed all his life was to be 

anti-cop. 

“But he came back the next 

weekend and apologised and 

ended up completing the course. 

“You really get another insight 

into what they are like when you 

take them out of a bad 

environment. 

“They often were involved in 

drugs or alcohol or bad family 

situations, but you can see at 

heart they are really good kids.” 


Indigenous trainees a step closer 

to police careers 

By Penny Doust, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

Matthew Lancaster is a 

step closer to fulfilling his longterm 

goal of becoming a police 

officer after completing the Justice 

Entry Program (JEP). 

JEP was initiated three years ago 

as a more successful way of 

introducing Aboriginal and Torres 

Strait Islander people to potential 

careers with the Queensland 

Police Service (QPS). 

It aims to recognise job-related 

experience, formal training and 

other life experiences for trainees 

who may not have completed 

enough school education to apply 

for entry as a police recruit. 

Mr Lancaster, 23, from Yeppoon, 

was one of 10 Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander trainees to 

graduate from JEP in January. 

He and eight other graduates 

have since been accepted into 

the Police Recruit Operational 

Vocational Education program as 

police recruits. 

Mr Lancaster said he had tried 

tertiary study but it had not been 

for him. JEP was better as 

participants became part of one 

big happy family. 

Although it was hard to be away 

from family, the police officers 

involved were extremely helpful 

and showed a lot of compassion 

when problems arose, he said. 

“All the trainees formed a strong 

bond and we all encouraged each 

other with the academic work as 

The recent Justice Entry Program graduating class. 

well as the physical challenges. 

It made me physically fit and got 

my brain working again.” 

Mr Lancaster said he had always 

wanted to be a police officer and 

follow in the footsteps of his uncle, 

an officer in Victoria. 

JEP is a six-month full-time course 

at the Queensland Police Academy 

in Oxley. 

Participants in the most recent 

program ranged in age from 21 to 

40 and came from areas including 

Cairns, Townsville, Maryborough, 

the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and 

northern New South Wales. 

Senior Sergeant Rob Richards, 

the Program Coordinator, said it 

was the third year JEP had been 

offered, resulting in more than 

20 trainees going on to become 

police officers. 

Trainees who successfully 

complete the program attain a 

Certificate IV in Justice (Aboriginal 

People and Torres Strait Islander 

People), which is an Australian 

National Training Authority 

endorsed qualification. 

Core units of the course include 

preparing court documents, 

analysing and presenting research 

information and a senior first aid 

certificate. 

In 2004, the QPS Justice Entry 

Program was recognised as one 

of Australia’s three best training 

initiatives through being a finalist 

in the Australian Training Initiative 

Award category of the Australian 

Training Awards. 


Officer helps make refugees 

feel right at home 


‘the refugees 

I deal with love 

Australia because 

of its friendly 

people and safer 

communities’ 

“I can associate with some of the 

problems that African immigrants 

are having because my father 

spoke German and my mother 

was Swiss,” he said. 

Sergeant Karl Grundgeiger explains the Indigenous Licensing Program to Mohamed Kesselly from Liberia (left) and Fabrice Jabo 

from Rwanda (right). 

The winner of a prestigious 

multicultural award was drawn to 

cross cultural policing by his own 

migrant background. 

Sergeant Karl Grundgeiger recently 

received an Australasian Police 

Multicultural Advisory Bureau 

Award for his work with African 

refugees on Brisbane’s northside. 

The work was done through his 

role as the Cross Cultural Liaison 

Officer for Metropolitan North 

Police Region. 

Sergeant Grundgeiger said he 

had strong feelings and an interest 

in multiculturalism because his 

parents emigrated from Europe 

in the 1950s and experienced 

difficulties such as the language 

barrier. 

But just as Sergeant Grundgeiger’s 

parents settled into their new life 

so will the hundreds of African 

families he works with from 

countries such as Sudan, Eritrea, 

Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda 

and Burundi. 

Until recently the majority of 

African refugees arriving in 

Queensland were settled in 

Brisbane’s southern suburbs, but 

they are now being settled on 

Brisbane’s northside. This has 

made it one of the fastest growing 

refugee populations in the state, 

creating a need to approach and 

promote service providers in 

he area. 


As a result, Sergeant Grundgeiger 

has been responsible for police 

participation in Family, Culture 

and the Law information sessions 

for members of the Australian 

Sudanese community at the 

Zillmere Police-Citizens Youth 

Club (PCYC). 

“Many African refugees are 

reluctant to approach police 

officers because of negative 

experiences they have had in their 

homeland. There’s a general 

mistrust or fear of police,” 

Sergeant Grundgeiger said. 

“Encouraging migrants and 

refugees to use PCYCs not only 

gives them a space for cultural 

pursuits but will help break down 

the barriers with police because 

officers run PCYCs. 

Fabrice Jabo spends time behind the wheel while Mohamed Kesselly and Sergeant Karl Grundgeiger look on. 

“PCYCs have already been 

successfully used in a trial project 

to help refugees get their driver’s 

licence through the Indigenous 

Licensing Program as many 

refugees have driven without ever 

having a licence,” he said. 

The Australasian Police 

Multicultural Advisory Bureau 

Awards were set up to recognise 

people who have contributed 

significantly to the development 

and advancement of partnerships 

between police and Australia’s 

culturally diverse communities. 

Sergeant Grundgeiger said he was 

surprised and honoured to have 

won the award as many good 

projects were happening around 

the state. 

“The best part is knowing that the 

refugees I deal with love Australia 

because of its friendly people and 

safer communities,” he said. 

Police career beckons 

after scholarship 

A week-long work experience stint 

could turn into a life-time career 

choice for 16-year-old Shane-Lee 

Walker. 

The Year 12 student at Peace 

Lutheran College in Cairns recently 

did work experience with the 


in her hometown of Hope Vale. 

“She couldn’t believe it (that she 

had the chance to do work 

experience),” Shane-Lee’s 

grandmother Alice Walker said. 

“She really enjoyed it.” 

The work experience was 

sponsored by the Department of 

the Premier and Cabinet through 

the Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander Education to Employment 

Scholarship Scheme. 

Under the watchful eyes of 

Sergeant Andrew Luhrs and Senior 

Constable Brendan Poustie, Shane- 

Lee was shown around the 

community, enabling her to 

see firsthand what it was like 

to be a police officer in 

regional Queensland. 

Shane-Lee Walker on work experience. 

Shane-Lee had already wanted to 

pursue a career as a police officer, 

and her experience at Hope Vale 

Police Station reinforced her plans. 

She is aiming to start tertiary 

studies next year and will 

eventually apply to become a 

police recruit. 


The Queensland Police Pipes & Drums. 

Police Service represents Australia at 

Edinburgh Military Tattoo 

By Karmen Turner, Media and Public Affairs Branch 

The Queensland Police Pipes & 

Drums (QPPD) will be Australia’s 

sole representatives at this year’s 

prestigious Edinburgh Military 

Tattoo. 

In August, they will perform for a 

sold-out crowd of 208,000 at 

Edinburgh Castle and a worldwide 

television audience of 100 million. 

The invitation to perform follows a 

successful appearance at the 

Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s “A 

Salute to Australia” in Sydney last 

year. 

“This invitation is a great honour 

and recognises the band’s 

standing within the international 

community,” Senior Sergeant Peter 

Flexman, Officer in Charge and 

Drum Major, said. 

“We’re very excited as it represents 

a fantastic opportunity to elevate 

the Queensland Police Service 

(QPS) and the Pipes & Drums on 

to a global stage.” 

The Pipes & Drums last performed 

in Edinburgh at the 1975 tattoo. 

The 2006 event marks the 57th 

year of the tattoo and runs from 

August 4 to 26, featuring 24 

scheduled performances. 

Twenty-three members of the 

QPPD, comprising 13 pipers, nine 

drummers and a drum major, will 

travel to Scotland at the end of July 

to attend a three-day rehearsal 

with other members of the 

massed band. 

“There’s plenty of planning 

involved in a trip of this magnitude, 

but everyone’s on a high and just 

can’t wait to get there,” Senior 

Sergeant Flexman said. 

“We’ve been putting all our efforts 

into getting there and making our 

performance a success. For some 

of us, this may be a once-in-alifetime 

opportunity.” 

Founded in 1958, the Queensland 

Police Pipes & Drums has won 

many state, national and 

international championships. 

They perform at a variety of official 

engagements and serve the 

community by entertaining at 

charity events, festivals and shows 

across Queensland. 

They established the Kops in Kilts 

program for schools and the aged 

care program, performing at 

nursing homes and hospitals, 

incorporating a blend of traditional, 

modern and popular children’s 

music. 

Members also instruct and mentor 

the Queensland Police Juvenile 

Pipes & Drums whose 28 

members, ranging from seven to 

19 years of age, have won acclaim 

in numerous national and regional 

competitions. 

The Queensland Police Pipes & 

Drums is generously assisted by 

the Queensland Police Pipes & 

Drums Supporters Association, 

along with a number of other 

organisations including Anglicoal, 

Singapore Airlines and Stanwell 

Power Corporation. 

To help fund their appearance at 

the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the 

Queensland Police Pipes & Drums 

will hold two concerts, Echoes of 

Edinburgh, at Brisbane City Hall on 

Friday May 26 at 2pm and 

7.30pm. The cost is $20. The 

shows will also feature the 

Australian Army Band Brisbane, 

Scottish and Irish dancers, Irish 

folk band The Jar and guest 

vocalists and musicians. 


Drum beats 

the rhythm 

of hope for 

street kids 


Beat the Streets project managers 

Constable Greg Newman (left) and 

Senior Constable Darryn Fry. 

Street kids are turning to 

drums instead of drugs as part of 

project which saw them march 

along side police in the recent 

Brisbane Australia Day parade. 

The Beat the Streets project began 

in November last year and 

encourages disadvantaged young 

people to play drums instead of 

engaging in substance misuse and 

anti-social behaviour. 

It is already succeeding, with many 

of the street kids who take part in 


Both officers are passionate 

drummers, with Constable 

Newman playing in several bands 

including Band of Blue and Celtic 

rock band Kilkenny. 

The officers researched the 

therapeutic value of drumming and 

looked at the success of similar 

projects overseas before launching 

Beat the Streets. 

The Salvation Army Youth Outreach 

Service (SAYOS) in Fortitude Valley 

has also helped by providing a 

venue for the weekly workshops. 

Constable Newman said as the 

months progressed it was 

suggested that the kids march in 

the recent Australia Day parade at 

South Bank to show off their newfound 

talents, and they agreed. 

the project saying they no longer 

sniff paint. 

They look forward to the 

drumming workshops each week 

and say the project has changed 

their attitude to police, with their 

experiences being ones of positive 

communication rather than 

conflict. 

The success of the Beat the 

Streets project is largely due to the 

dedication and enthusiasm of 

Senior Constable Darryn Fry and 

Constable Greg Newman from the 

Brisbane City Trail Bike Squad. 

Their duties patrolling the parks in 

and around Brisbane’s Central 

Business District put them in direct 

contact, and sometimes conflict, 

with youths engaged in paint sniffing 

and the subsequent behavioural 

problems that result. 

Constable Newman said boredom 

was a reason street kids gave for 

their involvement in substance 

abuse, prompting the idea to provide 

them with an interest or hobby. 

The project involves three-hour 

workshops on Friday afternoons 

during which the kids learn to play 

snare drums, hand drums and a 

drum kit. Due to the popularity of 

the project a second weekly 

workshop is now being offered. 

Senior Constable Fry said the kids 

were wary at first because police 

ran the project, but it did not take 

long before there were more kids 

than there were drums for them 

to play. 

Supporters of the project include 

Col Gillies Drummers Warehouse 

and the Australian Academy of 

Music who have supplied 

professional industry people and 

generous deals on instruments. 

“The parade was a complete 

triumph and the kids would have 

kept marching and playing all the 

way to Toowoomba because they 

were having so much fun,” he said. 

Since the march, an anonymous 

Queensland resident has donated 

more than $1,800 to the kids 

through SAYOS and a Brisbane 

businessman has purchased 

$700 worth of drum pads for 

them to use. 


Families, officers to march at National 

Police Memorial dedication 

Hundreds of current and 

former police officers from 

throughout Australia are preparing 

to march together in memory of 

their fallen colleagues. 

The march – including a massed 

band and mounted escort – will be 

held before the twilight dedication 

of the National Police Memorial in 

Canberra on September 29. 

Family members of fallen police 

are also expected to take part in 

the 1.6km march from Old 

Parliament House to the memorial, 

which is being built on the northern 

shores of Lake Burley Griffin. 

The $2.4 million memorial will 

commemorate the more than 730 

officers, including 134 from 

Queensland, who have been killed 

on duty or have died as a result of 

their duties since policing began in 

Australia. 

The date of the march and 

dedication will coincide with 

National Police Remembrance Day. 

National Capital Authority Chief 

Executive Annabelle Pegrum said 

the memorial would recognise the 

importance of the police 

contribution to the Australian 

community. 

“The winning design (submitted by 

Brisbane firm Fairweather Proberts 

Architects) was felt by the jury to 

incorporate elements of individual 

contribution, loss and community 

service which policing is known 

for,” Ms Pegrum said. 

The memorial wall, featuring 

touchstones with officers’ names, 

will complement the random 

placement of quotes from police 

and family members. 

Anyone planning to visit Canberra 

for the ceremony is urged to make 

bookings soon as it coincides with 

school holidays and a number of 

other major events in the area. 

The event has been registered as a 

conference with Qantas. Anyone 

planning to fly with them can quote 

event profile number 283770 when 

they ring to make a booking, and 

Qantas will make its best fare 

available. 

Anyone who is planning to attend 

the ceremony in a private capacity 

and is interested in marching is 

asked to email Inspector Paul Fogg 

on fogg.paulh@police.qld.gov.au. 

For information on accommodation 

and associated events, contact 

Australian Capital Tourism on 

1300 554 114 or visit the website 

visitcanberra.com.au. 

Further information about the 

National Police Memorial is 

available at www.npm.org.au.

Enhancing effective relationships - Queensland Police Service

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