Police pink up for cancer

Wimmera police officers are trading in their navy shirts for a ‘splash of pink’ this month in support of cancer awareness.

Horsham Police station, supporting the Mcgrath Foundations ‘Pink Up Your Town’ for the first time, is also partnering with Horsham and District Relay for Life’s annual ‘Paint the Town Purple.’

The event encourages people to decorate shop windows and building fronts with bold and vibrant hues of purple and pink in support of Cancer Council and breast-cancer awareness.

Horsham officers have gone a step further, organising to wear pink shirts - stitched by community volunteer Helen Hobbs - on duty each Thursday of October.

Inspector Di Thomson said police were also inviting the community to write a ‘tribute’ for anyone affected by or experiencing cancer and stick it on the window outside of Horsham police station.

“We have all that is required for this in the watch house. This is also to try and create a positive reason for people to visit the police station, which is often associated with other trauma or stress,” she said.

“Our involvement is also to help the mental health of members, who can share the worst days with the community.”

Inspector Thomson said despite the ‘serious’ side of the Mcgrath Foundation and policing, officers were also hoping to have some fun as they supported the cancer campaign.

She said Horsham Station featured signs from Bevan Art, as well as banners and decorations in the station’s foyer.

She also said she was excited at the prospect of seeing police members ‘pink up’ for the first time and raise much-needed money and awareness.

“We are all looking forward to pinking up the police in October,” she said.

“Some may have a splash of pink, others a bit more. We have wrist bands available for a gold coin donation and of course please jump onto the Pink Up Your Town website, follow the links to Horsham as a location and make your donation there.”