During this time I implemented many changes and modernizations that saw our group set a standard that NHW Queensland, NHW Australasia and the Queensland Police Service held for others to aspire to.
The innovations such as an e-mail
database, a website, use of the media/press and social media to highlight local
crime issues and disseminate information were ground-breaking 10 years ago and
led to numerous awards.
…and I shared these new ‘fandangled’
ways and ideas far and wide J I visited many local groups to
teach them how to set up email databases, engage the media, created websites
and social media presences for other NHW groups and helped many get off the
ground too. I also devised and presented several workshops on this topic at NHW
Qld’s request.
My personal journey with
Neighbourhood Watch also saw me represent all Queensland NHW Area Coordinators
at State level for two years, after which I was asked to join the committee of
Neighbourhood Watch Australasia. In this role I helped formulate guidelines for
other groups to follow around IT and the modernization of Neighbourhood Watch
both in Australia and New Zealand.
I have engaged the local and national media,
visited several other groups to raise awareness, written thousands of words in articles for
local publications, built and maintained its website, created graphics for our
advertisers’ ads, attended dozens of Coomera Consultative Committee evenings at
Coomera Police Station, arranged speakers for meetings and notably brought together
council / state candidates and incumbents to attend public pre-election
evenings.
I therefore feel that I have well
and truly achieved way more than I ever set out to do – not only in helping
reduce crime in Oxenford and improve your personal safety here in our gorgeous Oxenford
neighbourhood but in helping Neighbourhood Watch communities Australia wide and
in New Zealand too.
So, I leave with a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart as well as the award of which I am most proud - an Australia Day Award for service to my community.
My thanks to our fantastic PLO
Sr Sgt Andrew Lake, to the wonderful committee members and to the tireless zone
and blockies. It’s been such a pleasure to work with you all and some lifelong
friendships have formed.
Live long and prosper!
Share this post
