October edition - The Police Association Victoria

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ook Giveaway An investigator’s account of a never‐ending toll Road Kill "It has been 11 years since I investigated a fatal accident and dealt with grieving relatives. It has taken me 11 years to have the strength to write about it, to put pen to paper and record what has caused me so much grief and anguish." So writes Craig Hodge, one of Victoria Police’s leading investigators of fatal road accidents. A police officer for 20 years, seven of which he spent with the Accident Investigation Section (now the Major Collision Investigation Unit), Hodge attended the horrific scenes of more than 350 accidents that resulted in deaths and serious injuries. In Road Kill, Hodge recounts harrowing investigations and details the processes involved in finding out the causes of such tragedies, which often led to prosecutions. His story is a cautionary tale in which responsible driving messages loom large. Above: Author and ex-member Craig Hodge. Q&A with the author After 20 years in the job did you always plan to write a book about your experiences as a road accident investigator? No, not at all. I loved the job and enjoyed what I did immensely. I was always of the thought "who would want to read about a copper who loved his job?" What sort of impact do you think the title will have on readers? I hope it hits them right between the eyes to be honest. I didn’t set out to write a book about road safety but as it progressed it was obvious that the book contained a very strong message. I’ve always thought that people seem to tune out when you mention road safety or road trauma, so the title of the book had to make it really stand out. You recount some pretty horrible tales for not just the victims who lost their lives in road accidents but the victims that were left behind, what was it like reliving those experiences for this book? At times, very difficult. When I first started it about 10 years ago, I couldn’t do it. It was just too hard reliving the events I had seen. Five 30 Protect Represent Support. www.tpav.org.au years ago, same thing. But then late last year and into 2011 I felt strong enough to write a few chapters, I had people read it who told me that is was good and that spurred me on to keep going. Why did you feel it was important to get these stories out there? These events have had such a lasting impact on me. I thought by sharing them (instead of keeping them bottled up inside) I could educate others on the dangers on the road, make them see what I had seen, in the hope that this would cause them to make smarter choices when driving. If by reading my book, one person slows down or doesn’t get drunk and decide to drive his kids home, then I will have made a difference. You are quite critical of the welfare support that was offered to you as an investigator by Victoria Police, what did you do to help you get through the rough days? Like most police, I just got on with it. Personally I would confide in my dog, which I share in the book. I’d spend a day or two in the garden and just talk to the dog. I didn’t dare show weakness to my workmates, that wasn’t the "done" thing. In the end though it caught up with me so I guess I didn’t handle it as well as I should have. In the book you are very honest about dealing with the stress and depression that was triggered by the work you faced on a daily basis. What advice would you give to other members are facing similar stresses in the job now? There are 2 issues with stress like mine in the job. First is admitting to yourself there is a problem, second is admitting to someone else. Both are difficult. By all means talk to friends and family but for the most part, none of them can understand the complexities of the job let alone the stresses surrounding it. My advice for members is to go and see the force psychologist on a regular basis. Once or twice a year and make it a habit. You said that in the early years you were very critical of weaknesses in the legal system regarding penalties for culpable driving. How do you feel about the changes that have been implemented over the past decade? We complained for a long time and now the maximum penalty is 20 years for culpable and there is the stop gap offence of Dangerous Driving Causing Death, so I shouldn’t complain. But the courts don’t seem to reflect public opinion on sentencing and although sentences in some instances have been more severe, they hardly reflect the increase in the maximum. So in one regard I’m pleased, in the other I’m not. TAC and road safety campaigns have had a huge presence in the media over recent years, what impact do you think that are having? The TAC put an enormous effort into these commercials. They have certainly become more graphic over time. But it’s the same message and I think the public are becoming a little bit hardened so to that their effectiveness has dropped a little. What is the most important road safety message that you personally want to get out to other members and the wider public? There are so many things every driver can learn and do that will help them survive on the road. I tell people to never expect that other drivers will do the right thing, always drive defensively. Road Kill will be released in stores October 1 and The Police Association has copies to give away. Simply write down the title and author of the book, your name and registered number and send it to The Police Association ‘October Book Giveaway’, PO Box 76, Carlton South 3053. The first, neatest and correct entries will be the winners. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
Trivia Quiz Test your brain and win in-season passes to see Brad Pitt's new movie Moneyball How is your general knowledge? Try and answer the 20 questions and test the knowledge of your colleagues around the mess room table without peeking at the answers printed at the bottom of the page. And if you think you know the answer to the ‘Who Am I?’ question, send your answer to the Association and go into the draw to win in-season passes to Brad Pitt’s new movie Moneyball. Based on a true story and from the producers of "The Social Network", Moneyball is the movie for anybody who has ever dreamed of taking on the system. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, who is forced to reinvent his baseball team on a very tight budget. He teams with a young recent graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players and trying to outsmart the richer club. At the movies November 10. 1 Clint Eastwood’s final on-screen role was in which 2008 movie? 2 What is the most lucrative horserace run at Moonee Valley racecourse every year? 3 Who is Australia’s ‘first bloke’? 4 Harry Kewell has signed to play for which A-League club this season? 5 Newly appointed AFL coaches Brendan McCartney and Mark Neeld have previously coached which Bellarine Peninsula-based football club? 6 Who is the federal Opposition’s spokesperson on immigration matters? 7 Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton are the founders of which internationally-renowned Australian fashion label? 8 Which of the three coloured traffic lights is positioned on the top? 9 Which Bon Jovi hit had Tommy work ‘on the docks’ and Gina ‘work the diner all day’? 11 The ABC’s Four Corners program is this year celebrating what milestone? 12 What Christian name was given to the first-born child of Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark? 13 Australian journalist Stephen Mayne founded which controversial online news service? 14 Which Australian brewing giant was last month sold to UK brewer SABMiller for $10 billion? 15 As at the commencement of this year’s spring racing carnival, what is the undefeated winning streak of champion sprinter Black Caviar? 16 According to the Zodiac people born in October belong to one of which two star signs? 17 Which Japanese city beginning with ‘O’ is one of Melbourne’s sister cities? 18 In which year of last century was a referendum held on the question of Australia becoming a republic? Correctly Answer Who Am I? for a chance to win Who am I? 1. I am an iconic Australian police television drama 2. I was made by Crawford Productions 3. 510 episodes were made and shown between 1964 and 1977 4. Each episode dealt with an investigation by Victoria Police Force detectives. 5. I was also famous for the ‘four-door slam’ shown during each episode at the end of the opening theme. Last month’s Who Am I? Answer − Barcelona 10 Which is the older iconic structure, Paris’ Eiffel Tower or New York City’s Empire State building? 19 What is Australia’s longest-running TV soap opera? 20 Which AFL team finished fifth in 2011? Quiz answers: 1. Gran Torino 2. The Cox Plate 3. Tim Mathieson 4. Melbourne Victory 5. The Ocean Grove Football Club 6. Scott Morrison 7. Sass & Bide 8. Red 9. Livin’ on a Prayer 10. The Eiffel Tower (1889). ESB built in 1931 11. It’s 50 th year 12. Christian 13. Crikey 14. Foster’s 15. 13 16. Libra or Scorpio 17. Osaka 18. 1999 19. Neighbours 20. Carlton To enter the prize draw all you have to do is answer the ‘Who Am I?’ question send your entry along with your contact details to ‘Who Am I?’, The Police Association, PO Box 76, Carlton South 3053. The completed ‘Who Am I?’ must arrive by Friday, 28 October to be eligible for the prize draw. The first neatest correct entry will be the winner. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Police Association Victoria Journal October 2011 31
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