RECRUITS EAGER TO SERVE US
IT was a proud moment for Mundingburra MP Coralee O’rourke when her niece Tayla Irwin marched onto the parade ground.
After six months of intensive training at the Townsville police academy, Constable Irwin was about to become a fully-fledged police officer.
She was one of the recruits to be sworn in at Townsville Stadium last week.
Tearing up as she talked about her niece’s dream of serving the community, Ms O’ROurke said she was incredibly proud.
“It doesn’t surprise me that she had chosen this path,” she said.
“All she wants to do is serve her community, and that is her through and through.”
Constable Irwin will be stationed in Ayr for her first year, before moving to Mount Isa for another two years.
The 22-year-old studied law at James Cook University in Cairns, but after a few placements decided to change her course.
“My best friend’s dad used to be a police officer, and he said I should definitely give this a go,” Constable Irwin said.
“I was looking at going to social work after that, because, well it sounds really lame, but I actually think that people should be serving the community in what they do.
“Because I am young and able, I think this is the best way I can do that.”
Constable Irwin said that she was eager to get started in Ayr after six months at the academy.
“It is little, and small, but any station you go to has its perks,” she said. “I’ll get more one-on-one time with training officers.”
Ms O’rourke said as of June the Townsville district would have 53 more police recruits.
“That is a lot of police coming into the Townsville district area,” she said.
“We’re experiencing issues around crime, people feeling unsafe, and we know firsthand when people of the community see police, like Tayla, on the ground protecting their community, they have more of a sense of safety and security.
“It is really important to have the graduates come through continually and be able to deliver them into local communities at a time when they are needed.”