Veteran gets police gong

The sergeant who never took a sickie

A POLICEMAN who served 30 years in the force despite suffering debilitating injuries as a young constable on-duty has been awarded one of the state’s most prestigious policing honours.

Former Ocean Grove sergeant Stephen Anset was a young constable a few years out of the police academy in the early 1980s when the divisional van he was a passenger in was struck by an oncoming car.

The van, travelling near Bourke St in Melbourne’s CBD was speared more than twoand-a-half metres into the air and flipped multiple time before landing.

On impact the van struck a tram and a fire hydrant, while flammable liquid spilt throughout the vehicle.

Mr Anset was knocked unconscious and suffered serious injuries to his head and lower body. He spent several days in intensive care and a further six weeks in hospital but he had no doubts about returning to police work.

Mr Anset, who retired in 2011, was recognised with the Victoria Police Star yesterday.

“I don’t have a recollection of the incident,” he said.

“We were sent to an emergency and I was a passenger in a divisional van when we were T-boned at the corner of Bourke St and Exhibition St.

“I’d always wanted to be a police officer.”

For the next 30 years Mr Anset kept his injuries quiet.

He was posted “all over Victoria”, spending time in Flemington and other Melbourne suburbs, as well as Bendigo before being posted to Geelong and the coast.

There he spent much of his time as a sergeant on the Bellarine and at Ocean Grove.

“It was not as hectic, there was more capacity for proactive policing — it was not all re- active but more preventive,” Mr Anset said.

“That’s what I love doing — making a difference.”

The accident may have occurred decades ago, but its impact has been lasting.

“As I got older the accident impacts me more,” Mr Anset said.

“I didn’t tell people because I wanted them to accept me for who I am.”

Mr Anset was medically discharged in 2011 because of his injuries and now spends time collecting old radios. He is learning to forge a life outside of the force but is proud of his time as a police officer.

“It sounds corny, but for me it was about making a difference,” Mr Anset said.

“I was always conscientious and I never took a sickie.”

Police officers from the Western Divisional region were recognised for special projects, achievement and length of service at yesterday’s police awards.