The Limestone Coast Local Service Area commemorated National Police Remembrance Day last Friday with a ceremony held at the Mount Gambier Police Station.
In attendance were SAPOL officers, local government dignatries, representatives of emergency services and various support agencies and family members and friends of fallen SAPOL members.
RSL Blue Lake Pipe Band piper Brodie Fennell played ‘The Haunting’ and Limestone Coast Local Service Area Commander Superintendent Cheryl Brown APM welcomed the crowd.
The Very Reverend Murray Earl delivered the Limestone Coast Local Service Area police chaplain’s address and recited the hymn ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’ and the Police Prayer.
SAPOL Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott delivered an emotional address which reflected on the late Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig who was killed on duty in Senior on November 16, 2023.
Mr Parrott said the loss of Sergeant Doig, who he first worked with on patrol at the Unley Police Station, made the occasion more significant for those in attendance.
“Whenever you have a relationship with someone who is lost, that makes it more relevant to people, more real to people,” he said.
“The privilege of being able to come down here today is that what I spoke about with Jason today, a lot of people would have known about him because they knew him and he knew a few people who were here today as well.
“I think he would be very humbled, I know his family would be very proud of the turnout today and they are in Canberra at the national ceremony but it does make it a much more significant day, particularly the first year around.
“Before the ceremony, during the ceremony and after the ceremony you could just tell there is a lot of reflection, a lot of respect and a lot of sadness of losing Jason from our community.
“I think it was an appropriate acknowledgement of Jason and his career and also acknowledging the other police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty as well.
“The pain and the memory will fade a little bit over the years which is natural but the respect and the reflection and the acknowledgement of his service along with all the other police officers who have lost their lives on duty, will certainly remain very strong.”
Superintendent Brown said while she had not had the privilege of meeting Sergeant Doig the loss has encouraged her to get to know her workforce better.
“I know I can feel it with my workforce. I know that today is very significant for them,” she said.
“I never met Jason, I never had that privilege but I already know so much about him and quite possibly I know more about him now then I might have known about him if he was still alive.
“I like the fact that for me I have been able to get to know him so deeply on that level.
“I should not wait for something like that to happen to get to know our workforce. It is very important for us to get to know our workforce to understand what they need, what resonates with them and what makes them feel they can do their jobs really well.
“It is very important for us, it’s very important for the work force and it is very important for the community to have that ability to acknowledge him but also start that healing process for themselves.
“I think this was a very large crowd and the number of wreaths that were laid is an example of that level of commitment and tribute.”
Wreaths were laid at the Wall of Rememberance while Mr Fennell played ‘The Sleeping Tune’ and Senior Sergeant First Class Richard Errington then recited the Police Ode.
Mount Gambier City Band bugler Tim Frost sounded the ‘Stand Fast’ and the Australian Flag was raised to the musical accompaniment of ‘Flowers of the Forest’ by Mr Fennell.
One minute of silence was observed, The Last Post was played by Mr Frost and a Rememberance Response Prayer was recited by Probationary Constable Riley McBain.
Amazing Grace and the National Anthem were performed by St Martin students Lucy Savage and Katie Leyden.