LAST Friday Robyn Williams retired after 33 years working for Tasmania Police at the Currie Police Station. Commander Debbie Williams and Inspector Anthea Maingay came to the island to thank Robyn for her service and to make presentations on behalf of TasPolice acknowledging her many years of service.
They were joined by Senior Constable Natalie McIntee from Hobart and the local force – Sgt Mark Lopes, Senior Constable Shane Howard and 1st Class Constable Mick Lincoln.
The presentations included a Certificate of Service Department Police, Fire and Emergency Management from the Tasmanian Commissioner of Police and a crystal award recognising her years of service.
Commander Williams read a letter from the Department’s Deputy Secretary Mandy Clarke in which she acknowledged Robyn’s significant contribution to all facets of work within the Currie Police station, as well as across the King Island community.
“The support and assistance you have provided and your wealth of local knowledge has been invaluable to not only the many police officers who have joined the department over the years, but to their families and the community members across the island,” it said.
Robyn joined the department in 1990, managing transport, monetary transactions and providing community service as the Police Public Enquiry Officer.
Inspector Maingay spoke of Robyn’s skills that are not ordinarily part of a station’s office role, but are highly valued, in a remote location, particularly when firearm amnesty came into effect, when Service Tas was part of the station, her assistance in transitioning new and relief officers, taking over the cleaning, and establishing and then maintaining the police station garden.
Inspector Maingay told her that she will always be considered as part of the blue uniform. Robyn spoke briefly and with affection for the department, and of her past and present police colleagues.
Earlier the local constabulary joked and wondered if Robyn would change her mind, as they also spoke of their own future retirement from the force. When asked about her retirement plans, Robyn simply shrugged.
Her colleagues firmly encouraged her to continue maintaining the garden and to always feel welcome in the station, particularly to maintain the iconic large solid timber front desk that she has taken great pride in by making sure, each day, that it always looked it’s best.
Following the presentations, the group adjourned to Oleada for an evening of celebration. Sgt lopes said that Robyn would be missed, but they were in the process of recruiting a new person and hoped to have this finalized in the near future.
In other police news, last week Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that the Police Association of Tasmania has accepted the Government’s wage agreement for the next three years.
“The offer provides a 3.5 per cent increase to wages in the first year, and three per cent each year for the next two years, together with other improved entitlements. “This is a nationally-competitive and financially responsible offer that also meets cost of living pressures in Tasmania.”
Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis said the agreement had been designed to include new increased allowances for frontline police officers based on their shift-work, regional stations, working remotely, and for specialist roles such as detectives, Operational Skills Unit and dog handlers”.
The agreement will apply retrospectively, from the first full pay period on or after December 1, 2022.