EMERGENCY REPORT
Dubbo’s top cop glassed
WHAT is the world coming to?
Local police boss superintendent Peter Mckenna was allegedly glassed by a former cop at the Commercial Hotel last Friday night after attending the funeral of a former police officer. Here’s the official spiel:
“A man has been charged after an off-duty police officer was injured in Dubbo...
“Just after 11pm (Friday, June 18), emergency services attended a licensed premises on Brisbane Street, following reports a man had been glassed in the face.
“The injured man was treated at the scene before he was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital where he received surgery for a facial laceration.
“A 45-year-old man was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station, where he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
“The alleged ‘glasser’ was refused bail and appeared in Dubbo Local Court on June 19 – he’ll reappear in court on June 30.”
I’m so annoyed at this incident in so many ways, but had better not comment for everyone’s sake, including my own.
But I’m glad to see Peter Mckenna was back at work and preparing to take on his new promotion role as an assistant commissioner for the Northern Region.
ALP speed camera fight
I’M not a fan of the speed cameras without signs, they’re pretty much a blatant revenue-raiser for the state government.
Yes, I understand perfectly well that if you don’t speed, you have nothing to worry about, but it’s not that simple.
Try cruise control over the Blue Mountains with 4053 different and nonsensical changes in speed limits?
I don’t have cruise control in my late-90s ute, so it’s so distracting trying to make sure you don’t miss all the new speed signs while dodging hundreds of fools trying to share more than their fair share of the road with me – the only saving grace is that most people drive better cars than me so are obviously somewhat fearful that I wouldn’t care if they dinged me.
So, it’s welcome to see new state opposition leader Chris Minns taking a stand on this issue – here’s his take on it from a few days ago:
“As I was coming from work last night, I came across a hidden speed camera.
“We know that hidden speed cameras don’t stop drivers from speeding, signs warning them about these cameras do.
“If we really want to make our roads safer, we would be increasing the number of speed camera warning signs, not removing them.
“That’s why I am calling for an end to hidden speed cameras.
“Removing speed camera warning signs has not worked.
“It has made families and tradies poorer, but it hasn’t made our roads any safer.
“If we really wanted to make roads safer, we would end the use of secret speed cameras, and ramp up high visibility policing.
“That is exactly what a Labor Government will do,” Mr Minns said.
I couldn’t agree more, so here’s hoping this issue gets some traction
coming into the next state election, with parliament already balanced on a knife-edge, and Dubbo the last electorate that was won to deliver the Coalition a oneseat majority.
Wafer-thin majorities should result in better decisions being made for the people.
Dubbo crime spree, four teens charged
FOUR teenagers have faced court on 73 charges following an investigation into multiple property offences in the Dubbo area.
Between 4.30pm on June 16 and 6am on June 17, four businesses were broken into and several more – including vehicles – were damaged throughout the Dubbo township which included slashed tyres and broken windows.
Police hooked into this job and commenced patrols of the CBD following reports of a break and enter being committed at a business on Macquarie Street, observing four teenagers flee the scene on pushbikes.
The cops located the alleged culprits a short time later on Alfred Street and arrested three boys, aged 13 and 14, with a fourth fleeing the scene. During a person search, police allegedly located and seized various items – including push bikes – believed to be proceeds of crime.
The three boys were taken to Dubbo Police Station and at about 9am the same day, the fourth teen – aged 13 – attended Dubbo Police Station where he too was arrested.
The four boys were charged with a total of 73 offences including the following:
z Larceny;
z Destroy or damage property;
z Aggravated break and enter in company;
z Face blackened/disguised with intent to commit indictable offence;
z Possess housebreaking implements;
z Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen.
All four boys were bail refused to appear before a children’s court.
Missing Eastern Suburbs woman may be in Wello
POLICE are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from Sydney’s east, but who may have travelled to the Wellington area.
Elizabeth Samuels, aged 41, was last seen on June 8 in Randwick and following inquiries police have been told Elizabeth may have travelled to Wellington the following day, however police have been unable to locate her.
Police and Elizabeth’s family hold concerns for her welfare as she has a condition which requires regular medication.
She’s described as being of Maori/pacific islander appearance with a medium build, dark hair and dark eyes.
Anyone who may have information regarding Elizabeth’s whereabouts is urged to contact Maroubra Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Charges after more than 14kg of cannabis seized
POLICE have charged a man with multiple drug-related offences following the execution of a search warrant at a remote property on Johnsons Road, Girilambone, approximately 70km north of Nyngan, shortly after 9.30am on June 17.
Officers will allege three eskies containing approximately 14.3kg of cannabis were found and seized in nearby bushland along with multiple cannabis plants, seven firearms and ammunition.
The man was arrested and taken
to Nyngan Police Station where he was charged with cultivating prohibited plant, supply prohibited drug, supply cannabis – indictable quantity, and possess prohibited drug.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before Nyngan Local Court on June 28.
Central North Police District established Strike Force Progre to investigate the supply and cultivation of prohibited drugs in the Bourke and surrounding areas and Superintendent Andrew Hurst said that investigators have made numerous arrests and seized a significant quantity of prohibited drugs since the inception of Strike Force Progre – drugs which would have otherwise ended up in regional communities.
“Let this be a clear message that police across the Central North Police District will not tolerate members of the community who choose to disregard the law in this manner,” Supt Hurst said.
“The seizure of an indictable quantity of cannabis this week comes off the back of great work conducted by investors who will continue to work to detect and deter the cultivation and supply of prohibited drugs in our region.”
Quad bike stolen
DUBBO police are investigating the theft of machinery from a property on the Quamby Road, Wongarbon between June 15 and 16 when a number of items were stolen including: z A Blue Yamaha Quad Bike SN: 5YHAM10W7GA516441 z A Massey Ferguson Ride-on Mower SN: 1E307H10054
z An Orange Coloured Spray Tank 50L.
If anyone can assist police in relation to this incident, or you believe you know where this equipment is, please contact Dubbo Police Station on 02 6883 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.
Dubbo retained firies in the training line
ON June 19 many of Dubbo’s retained firefighters received training in Flood Rescue and awareness, some of the only firefighters that are trained in Regional NSW.
The firies practiced a number of techniques including rope throwing, inflating a 70mm hose and putting it into practice at the RSL pool for assessments.
Trangie training
DUBBO firies aren’t the only ones kept warm by some intensive training during this cold winter weather – on June 17 Trangie hosted a night with NSW Rural Fire Service crews from Trangie and surrounding crews.
The aim for the evening was to interact with each agency outside of an emergency incident, with participants learning about the different capabilities of each service and how we all fit into the big picture of emergency response in and around Narromine Shire.
Peter Fothergill from NSW RFS Orana Team made the trip out west to show local crews the capabilities of the Cat 6 Tanker which will be housed at the Trangie RFS Shed, a great asset to the community.
New cop training centre in Dubbo
IN big news for Dubbo, construction of a $27.7 million police training centre is expected to begin by the end of the year in the city.
Funded by the state government, the new facility will be located within the emergency services precinct at Dubbo Regional Airport and will provide a safe, purpose-built area for essential firearm and armed offender simulation training.
It will house 54 staff and students at one time, with up to 1200 officers being run through courses each year.
PTSD – food for thought
I’VE long been of the opinion that governments in many nations send their service people off to war and don’t give much of a care about them
when they return home after having done or seen things that humans shouldn’t have to do, or see.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is very real and affects so many of our returned people.
It affects different people in different ways – many vets returned home from World War I as shattered mental shells of their former selves, others were able to lead normal lives, but each individual possessed different character traits and also had different experiences in war.
It’s great to see that after three years working at it, that veterans, their families, ex-service organisations and the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs have worked together to ensure a new sculpture will be placed on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial recognising the sufferings of war and service.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the sculpture would provide a permanent place at the Australian War Memorial in recognition of those who have experienced and witnessed the ongoing traumas that can result from military service.
“I have spoken with many veterans’ families and friends, including those who have lost someone to suicide, about how military service has affected them and how this can be better recognised at the Australian War Memorial,” Mr Chester said.
“This sculpture will be an enduring recognition for those affected by military service and serve as a reminder to us all of the impact of service on some of our personnel and their families, but importantly, provide them with hope and healing.”
Members of the stakeholder committee unanimously selected artist Alex Seton’s proposal, “Every drop shed in anguish”, an artwork which will feature a field of sculpted Australian marble droplets suggesting blood, sweat and tears in the Memorial’s Sculpture Garden.
Veteran and Soldier On ambassador Ben Farinazzo said he was incredibly moved when he saw the sculpture mock-up.
“The concept of unique drops of blood, sweat and tears touches my soul,” he said.
“It reflects the stories and struggles of many of my friends, their families and their loved ones.
“It is an open and accessible space that will provide a powerful sense of place for many veterans and their families.”
Sculpture commission committee member Karen Bird, the mother of the late Jesse Bird who tragically took his own life, said she sincerely believed that Alex Seton would enhance our ability to continue the con
versation we have begun within the walls of the Memorial – this story must be transferable to the national discourse – a truth telling of how war does come home and how accumulative service does have consequences.
“Alex’s vision while speaking to this truth opens the horizon to hope and new promise. The Australian veteran community and most significantly, their families, need to know and feel this hope and new promise,” Mrs Bird said.
It’s not just our military veterans who need recognition and support when it comes to PTSD, it’s a massive issue for our police and other emergency services first responders and as a society we really do make a pretty bad job of it.
In a year where too many local police officers and former cops have thought the only way forward was to take their own lives, we need to look at the vision of a better tomorrow presented by this upcoming sculpture
for veterans and think about how we can better look after the living.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact ADF Allhours Support Line (ASL): 1800628036, Lifeline 131114, Beyond Blue 1300224636 or Mensline Australia 1300789978.
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