Two Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers were honoured at the Australasian Council of Women and Policing (ACWAP) 2017 Awards for Excellence in Policing dinner this evening in conjunction with the 2017 International Women and Law Enforcement Conference held at the Cairns Convention Centre, Queensland Police say.
In its 19th year, the Awards for Excellence in Policing presented by ACWAP are an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and reward the achievements of women and men who are contributing to improving policing and law enforcement and ensuring policing services are enhanced for women.
Commissioner Ian Stewart said it was an honour to see two of the Service’s female officers awarded in such a high regard.
"I know QPS officers are leaders in their field and it is fantastic to have two of our very own acknowledged for their incredible efforts in an Australasian-wide award ceremony," Commissioner Stewart said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Virginia Gray was presented with the Most Outstanding Female Investigator Award, sponsored by the Queensland Police Union of Employees. Detective Senior Sergeant Gray received the award for her dedication, determination and professionalism demonstrated to achieve convictions for the murders of Barbara McCulkin and her daughters, Barbara ‘Leanne’ and Vicky, 43 years after their disappearance in January 1974.
Detective Sergeant Gray was instrumental in the successful reinvestigation of these murders, coordinating the investigative strategies that gathered never before obtained evidence which led to convictions following separate trails.
Police Credit Union President Ian Leavers, Detective Senior Sergeant Virginia Gray and ACWAP President Debbie Platz
The Most Outstanding Female Practitioner Award, sponsored by the Police Association of New South Wales, was awarded to Senior Constable Kelly Chamberlain. Senior Constable Chamberlain constantly strives to improve the lives of ‘at risk’ young women by breaking down barriers between young people and the police, only to rebuild them with trust, support and sustainable outcomes.
She has demonstrated an outstanding ability to engage with at risk youth and turn their lives around and continues to inspire young people not only within the Cairns District, but further afield as well.
Senior Constable Kelly Chamberlain
Voice 4 Values, a joint QPS and University of Queensland program was recognised with a highly commended award for Excellence in Research on Improving Law Enforcement for Women, sponsored by Tasmania Police.
The Griffith University Women in Policing Scholarship was awarded to Detective Senior Constable Bree Sonter to assist her in obtaining her Master of Terrorism and Security Studies.
Doctor Jacqueline Drew, Senior Constable Bree Sontar and ACWAP President Debbie Platz
Commissioner Stewart and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Mr Mark Ryan MP presented the QPS sponsored Champion for Change Award to Superintendent Brad Eaton from the Australian Federal Police.
This award acknowledges men’s individual and/or collective influence and commitment to improving policing for women as well as the importance of men’s roles in increasing women’s representation in leadership within policing and how policing is delivered to women in the community.
ACWAP President Debbie Platz, Minister Mark Ryan, Australian Federal Police Superintendent Brad Eaton and Commissioner Ian Stewart
The 2017 International Women and Law Enforcement Conference is being hosted by the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) and ACWAP with the support of the QPS and Queensland Government after a successful bid to host the IAWP Training Conference for 2017.
The conference will run from September 17 to September 21 at the Cairns Convention Centre.
Photography by official IWLEC 2017 photographer Ness Kerton, madNESS Photography
