“Jimmahl Williams who is the Aboriginal Liaison Officer and I put together a program called Licence to Drive. There’s a lot of kids who really want to drive but with limited literacy skills, sometimes the lack of parental support or interests and a lack of money all make it difficult for them. We identified some kids who are not crooks but could possibly start driving unlicensed or drink drive. We got some funding and we taught them how to pass the test. We took them all for the test and we had 100% percent success rate. Most of those kids now have their drivers licence and none of them have committed crimes at all so it was a bit of a diversion from the criminal justice system, just a different way of doing it. Some of these kids would arrive, heads down, looking like the world is on their shoulders. After a while they are coming up and joking with us. I’m out of that section now but Jimmahl is still involved. We are just looking for some more funding. If anyone has about $1500 to fund the program again, contact Jimmahl at Lismore Police station and I will help him do another one.
We have a boxing program at the PCYC. We have some underprivileged kids who we pick up in the morning, take them to the PCYC where they do some boxing, athletics, even colouring in. We cook them a healthy breakfast, make sure they have a shower and then we take them to school. That way they are fed and ready to go to school. Last week we had about 19. A lot of these kids weren’t going to school and we don’t want them to end up in the criminal justice system or to stop getting an education. This way they are not out there committing crimes and they are just getting on with their lives. We play basketball with them. They come up and muck around with us so it’s breaking down barriers with Police as well.
I love Lismore. The people up here are beautiful. Everyone has a good heart. It’s a bit of country, bit of city. Every one here gives everyone a second chance. It’s a very open community, very friendly and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. We’ll be here forever. Most of the people who end up here say…How good is this place? Not many people leave it. If I get a Sergeants Job, even if I have to go bush, I would certainly try to come back. I really enjoy being in the Police too. It’s certainly not for every body but it’s great if you want a job that’s dynamic and unpredictable.
We really do need more people to join the RFS. Injury is no excuse. We have people working at the airfields, on the radios, catering. I’ve met some of the best people in my life in the RFS without a doubt. You don’t have to fight fires if you don’t want to. I spent the other day fuelling planes. We really need more locals to join because we are all exhausted, absolutely knackered but we still go. I’m off to Canberra on Saturday to fight the big red dragon once again.
I’ve got 11 more years and then I plan to retire up here, grow chillies and spend more time in the RFS. I would like to spend more time helping the kids to get their licences too. Once you get your licence everything changes. You can get the job, you can get to childcare, you can get to TAFE. Without your license, especially in a country town, it’s very hard.
I’m a Senior Constable and I’m hopefully going through the promotion process to get a Sergeants job in the next year or two. I have 5 kids, 24, 24, 21, 21 and 16. My wife and I were both married before and had 2 kids each and we have one together. One’s in the Navy, one’s a Psychologist, one is training to be a Zoologist, one is a Chef’s assistant and one is at school. The son in the Navy was helping out with bushfires too. My wife Barbara and I have been together for over 18 years and she is the love of my life. She’s a good egg. She is my heart and soul, my best mate. We do everything together. “