Probationary constables Williams, Campbell, Vink, Jones and Roberts embark on their first day at work. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
You wouldn’t expect a young man from the Sunshine Coast to be excited about moving to Griffith, but Probationary Constable Isaac Vink is loving his new home.
“I hadn’t really heard of Griffith, but now I’m here I’m really keen to get to know it,” he said.
“After leaving school I was doing casual jobs and was moving around a lot, but I decided I wanted to do something meaningful. I like a fast-paced environment that plays to my strengths … the more regional areas give you more community engagement, which is something I’m excited about.”
Constable Vink is joined by Matthew Roberts, Jack Jones, Declan Williams and Oliver Campbell in starting their careers at Griffith Police Station this week.
The five men have varied backgrounds, with Constable Roberts making the switch from the military.
“I guess it’ll be somewhat similar but also very different. The police force will be better as I’m actively helping people rather than always training,” he said.
“I’d done my time in the army and felt I wanted to do something more meaningful.”
Constable Williams, from Batemans Bay, is continuing a family legacy.
“My dad was a police officer for two decades. I’ve always been inspired by him. He was generally a good person and treated everyone fairly, I wanted to be someone like him,” he said.
“Dad was both happy and upset when I told him I was joining the force. He said it’ll be a big job for me.”
Constable Jones was working as a plumber in Penrith. He has some advice for Year 12 students considering a career in the force: “I’d go get an apprenticeship or get a bit of life experience before joining the force,” he said.
Constable Campbell is the closest to a local, coming from Wagga. He’s driven by a desire to do something meaningful and making a difference.
District Inspector Glenn Smith says the five recruits will get a lot more variety than their counterparts in Sydney.
“If they don’t have to put down a kangaroo in their first few months, I’ll be very surprised,” he said.
“At one stage, we were getting rung every day about brown snakes, they call us as they don’t know who else to call.
“The next day, you might be moving cattle off the road – every day is different.”
