The Royal New Zealand Police College
5 September 2007
Thirty-eight new police officers will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College this Thursday in Wing 242. The wing's patron is former Silver Ferns Captain and Dancing with the Stars contestant Bernice Mene.
The graduates of Wing 242 come from a wide range of backgrounds ranging from builders and chefs to a former Australian police officer. Also in the mix are recruits with tertiary qualifications in education, sports, commerce, eco-tourism and music performance to name a few. With an average age of 30 years, many have left established careers to go in a new direction with the New Zealand Police.
Three examples are Constables Ginni Chave, James Taylor-Dayus and Gillian Webster. Constable Ginni Chave, who grew up in Wellington's Hutt Valley, ended a promising career in winemaking and a future as a wine judge to follow a childhood dream - to become a police officer. Having worked and travelled extensively through South America since leaving school, Ginni became interested in the wine industry on her way home via Melbourne almost 10 years ago. She completed a post-graduate diploma in viticulture and oenology and honed her skills in vineyards in New Zealand. Ginni was encouraged by friends to renew her old wish to join the New Zealand Police and has enjoyed the 19-week training period, finding any week could throw up new challenges. Constable Chave will be stationed in Lower Hutt.
Formerly with Corrections in the UK, Scottish-born Constable James Taylor-Dayus moved to New Zealand with hopes for a better lifestyle for his young family. Since arriving in this country James has worked as a non-sworn police member in the E-bail initiative in Hamilton, which he says gave him insight into policing and how he could adapt and use his skills from over 20 years in the corrections industry. Being away from his family and focussing on the volume of new information was not easy, but James praises the College staff and 'great help processes' available at the College for assisting him to prioritise study. Constable Taylor-Dayus will be posted to Te Awamutu.
Constable Gillian Webster has spent the last 22 years in the small town of Broome, Western Australia, bringing up her family of five children with her Kiwi husband and working in child care. She has also spent the last six years as a general duties constable with the Western Australia Police. Having now moved to Rotorua to be near family Gillian has re-trained for the NZ Police. During her recent week on duty in Rotorua, Gillian was impressed with the great staff support and enthusiasm among her future colleagues. Previously fully trained in the areas of child interviewing and sexual assault investigation, Constable Webster hopes to be able to use these skills positively in her new posting.
The graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 6 September at 2:00pm and will be attended by Commissioner Broad.
• 38 recruits will graduate - 19 males and 9 females • The average age of wing members is 30 (the youngest is 19 and the oldest is 45)
To find out more about joining the Police phone 0800 NEW COPS (639 2677) or visit www.betterworkstories.co.nz.
District postings:
Northland - Whangarei (1), Kerikeri (1)
Waitematâ -Henderson (4), North Shore Policing Centre (2)
Auckland City - Auckland Central (2), Mt Wellington (1), Balmoral (1), Downtown (1)
Counties Manukau - Manurewa (1), Otahuhu (1), Papakura (1), Pukekohe (1), Howick (1)
Waikato - Hamilton (2), Te Awamutu (1)
Bay of Plenty - Rotorua (1), Tauranga (1),
Eastern -Gisborne (2)
Wellington - Masterton (1), Lower Hutt (1), Wellington (3), Porirua (1)
Tasman - Greymouth (1)
Canterbury - Christchurch (3)
Southern - Dunedin (2), Invercargill (1)
Wing 242 prize winners:
The Minister's Prize for First in Wing will be awarded to Constable Daniel LEE posted to Christchurch. Constable Lee will also be awarded the Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training
The Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing will be awarded to Constable Ross DICKSON posted to Henderson. Constable Dickson will also be awarded the Driver Training Award.
The Patron's Prize for Third in Wing will be awarded to Constable Brooke EVERSON posted to Auckland Central.
The International Police Association Academic Prize for overall academic achievement will be awarded to Constable Richelle GWYNNE posted to Mt Wellington.
The Ericsson Practical Prize for the overall winner for Practical Assessments, File Preparation and Fingerprinting will be awarded to Constable Lisa HUMM posted to Henderson.
The Holden Tactical Skills and Safety Prize for the overall winner in Defensive Tactics, Firearms and Driving will be awarded to Constable Duncan ROWSON posted to Otahuhu.
Constable Rowson will also be awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award
Police Association prizes for section achievement:
This prize is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.
Section One Constable Ginni CHAVE posted to Lower Hutt
Section Two Constable Phillip WOODS posted to Greymouth
Wing Patron: Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene played 78 international netball test matches over her 10 years (1992-2002) with the Silver Ferns. She captained the team for three years and was also captain of her regional team, the 'Southern Sting', from 1999 to 2003.
Her commitment and contribution to New Zealand sport was recognised when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002.
in her sporting career Bernice enjoyed the support of her well-known sporting family. Her father was a decathlete and her mother a javelin thrower; both New Zealand title and record holders for many years, and both represented New Zealand at the 1974 Commonwealth Games. Her two brothers represented New Zealand in discus and basketball respectively.
Bernice believes education is key to helping young people achieve their goals and participate fully in their communities. Before taking up a teaching career she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and German, Diplomas in Teaching and Creative Writing, and a Post-graduate Certificate in Career Counselling for Elite Performers.
Since retiring from netball, Bernice has undertaken a variety of roles including learning to dance for the first series of Dancing with the Stars which raised over $13,000 for Project K, a programme helping 14-15 year olds build self-confidence and learn life skills such as goal setting and teamwork. She is patron of Black Grace dance company, a netball columnist and commentator, and an English tutor for the Pacific Island community.
ENDS
...............................................................................................................
For more information or to attend the graduation please contact:
Katrina Graham, Acting Communications Adviser - 04 238 3572 or 0274 419 216