The Hills Family of Mt Isa: April 2008

Some time in January 2008 – I found it necessary to read every single page of “The Australian” newspaper. Including the Positions Vacant (or whatever it is called in the intellectual newspapers!). I came across a Position called “Emergency Services Advisor” for a mine site in Mount Isa, North West Queensland.

It immediately caught my attention. Graham had been working hard for the last 10year with WA Pol in the Emergency Management field – but as with most government departments – was not getting any recognition. The Dept would send him on Course after Course – but there came a time when Graham decided he wanted to use the skills and knowledge he had accrued over the years.

The mining industry was hard to get into; for the most part you needed AT LEAST 2yrs mine site experience. This job stated “NO Experience Necessary”. So as far as I was concerned – Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.

Graham sent off his application and for months we had no idea what was happening. Then he has a phone interview – everyone at home had to be vewy vewy qwiet!! Are you kidding me!?? But we were! So then we waited again – then out of the blue he gets a call saying - “Can you come to Mount Isa next week for a site visit and medical?” Does this mean he had the job – No Idea?!

So off he went for a Site Visit – he was wrapped – if nothing else – what a great adventure, fabulous experience and wonderful learning curve. Did he have the job when he got back from Mount Isa – still no idea!!

It was about 2 weeks later – and he was ‘offered’ the job and told a contract is being emailed for your perusal – we hope to hear from you soon.

I am guessing you know what happened next!

So Graham tendered his resignation after 22 years with WA Pol – starting as a Cadet making tea and coffee, and then graduating from the Academy in February 1986. During his time with WA Pol – he worked in Central, Scarborough, Nedlands, Macro Task Force, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Port Hedland, Tambellup and Forrestfield in Perth. He was a great copper, very good at his job and deserved much more credit for what he did and how he did it.

Anyone who can do the same job for 22yrs is amazing – but to be a Police Officer in the Frontline for 22yrs – INCREDIBLE. To spend that amount of time being spat on, pissed on, puked on, shat on (literally), bitten, pushed, punched, verbally abused (not always by offenders either!), threatened with a weapon on some sort, witness horrible crime scenes, handle dead bodies, be the first to arrive at fatal traffic accidents, to tell parents their child has died, to tell husbands or wives their partner has died, get caught up in the middle of a punch up or a domestic dispute and do it all with the utmost decorum and (these days) Excessive Political Correctness is nothing short of a Hero in my books.

On the other hand, he also saved lives, rescued people from sinking boats, crashed vehicles, from jumping off bridges, he has caught many an offender that was ‘locked up’, he has helped to put together all the right information to catch the bad guy, for the most part he single handedly “Served and Protected” a whole town (oh – okay it was not a big town – but still!!), he has marched in many an Anzac Parade, raised the flag at Australia Day services and Anzac services, provided a ‘shoulder’ for those in need or those just wanting to vent, he got to drive fast in cars with lights and sirens and handle a gun and handcuffs, he played with tasers and capsicum spray, he went from wearing khaki to blue and continually adding new weapons/toys to his belt, overall – it was not so bad……………….

Does he miss it? NO – he does not!

Does he love his new job? YES – he does. He is learning everyday, is appreciated in so many ways and most of has a voice and people listen when he talks. What could be better!!

So during April 2008 we got ready to leave Perth and Western Australia and journey to the other side! For Graham – this was a HUGE adventure – he has never lived anywhere other than WA – for me – it was another State/Territory to tick off the list (I only Tasmania left) of where I have lived.

We invited all our family and friends to come and wish us Goodbye at Kings Park on the Anzac weekend. It was a lovely day – we were surprised and very pleased to see some of the faces we had not seen in a while. We then went back to our home in Mount Helena for the last night. We then moved to the Mont Clare Apartments in Perth city (I can highly recommend this place – although I believe they had a guest induced fire on the first floor recently!!) for a few days and on the 2nd of May we arrived in Sunny Dusty Mount Isa!!

and here we have been ever since……………………………….