More than 800 community members braved the wet weather on Saturday to attend Wallan Police Station’s open day and commemorate its new 24/7 schedule.
Diving deep into the support that Victoria’s emergency services provide, attendees spoke with Victoria Police specialist units, Ambulance Victoria, and the CFA while excited children participated in station tours and fun activities such as a scavenger hunt and plaster painting.
While local police have always been on duty around the clock for patrols, crime prevention, and emergency response, the new opening hours will ensure the station’s reception is always open to the public.
Senior Sergeant Heidi Twining said the event piqued the community’s interest.
“We had in approx of 870 community members attend the open day which is epic, and for which we are truly grateful,” she said.
Community organisations on hand to support the event included Mitchell Shire Council (MSC), Nexus Primary Health, The Orange Door, Southern Mitchell Neighbourhood Watch (NHW), and the Firsts Wallan Wallan Scouts.
NHW Secretary Carol van der Ree, along with two of the group’s 15-strong volunteer army, was also on hand to promote crime prevention strategies such as the UV marker pen, which can be used to record an ID on personal property and assist police to recover and return any stolen items to their owners.
The organisation’s monthly newsletter is sent to schools and made available at MSC’s four major libraries and customer service centres.
Ms van der Ree expressed the group’s interest to start a network in Beveridge, and invited interested residents to reach out via their Facebook page.
“We need to start a NHW in Beveridge,” she said.
“They have their own unique issues like theft from building sites. Crime prevention strategies can prevent community members from becoming a victim of home and property thefts.”
In addition to the importance of marking valuable property, NHW also recommended that vehicle owners have a one-way anti-theft screw fitted to their vehicle registration plates to prevent the plates being removed once stolen.
“We don’t report on crime, but we can help you prevent it. We are going to team up with the Kilmore SES open day next year, and we’ll fit the one-way screw for a gold coin donation,” Ms van der Ree said.
Firsts Wallan Wallan Scouts Assistant Group Leader Erin Petrucelli supported recently-appointed Crime Prevention Constable Rose Halse with the attendance photo activity, noting she was familiar with the station.
“We’ve had our joey scouts do a tour though [the police station] which was really fun,” she said.
“We had a number of children who, for various reasons, were scared of people in uniform, and of the building itself. A number overcame their fear by coming which was wonderful, and the officers were so lovely and supportive, and they realised that these people are here to help.”
The Wallan Police Station is located at 100 Watson Street, Wallan.
