Wednesday, 24 August 2005 - 3:00pm |
National News

Blyth Tait's groom and a professional golfer among 63 graduating police officers

2 min read

The 63 new police officers who graduate from Police College tomorrow bring a wealth of life experience to Police.

The recruit wing includes people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and many who have excelled in previous careers. Among them is Constable Fiona Fraser (posted to Papakura) who was formerly head groom for champion equestrian Blyth Tait and has also ridden for New Zealand herself, and Constable Kylie Wilson (posted to Henderson) who has been a New Zealand professional golfer since 2000.

Wing 225 will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua at 2:00pm on Thursday 25 August 2005.

63 recruits will graduate – 47 male and 16 female

The average age of wing members is 30 (the youngest is 20 and the oldest is 41)

Postings:

Northland - Dargaville (1), Whangarei (1)

North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney - Henderson (7), Takapuna (3)

Auckland City - Auckland Central (1)

Counties Manukau - Howick (2), Manurewa (3), Papakura (2), Pukekohe (1),

Waikato - Hamilton (5)

Bay of Plenty - Rotorua (5), Taupo (2), Tauranga (3), Whakatane (1)

Eastern - Gisborne (4), Hastings (1)

Wellington - Masterton (1), Wellington (3), Wellington Traffic Alcohol Group (2)

Canterbury - Christchurch (7), Oamaru (1)

Southern - Dunedin (5), Timaru (1), Invercargill (1)

Wing 225 prize winners:

* Minister’s Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Jonathon HARRIS posted to Christchurch.

Constable HARRIS was also awarded the Ericsson Practical Prize (overall winner for practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting), the Driver Training Award and a Police Association Prize for Section Achievement.

* Commissioner’s Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Vanessa PRATT posted to Henderson.

Constable PRATT was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize (overall winner for academic exams).

* Patron’s Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Cristian GODOY posted to Takapuna.

* HOLDEN Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable Benjamin FILIATA posted to Wellington.

* The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award was awarded to Constable Allies EDGE posted to Wellington.

* The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Dwayne MORGAN posted to Manurewa.

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 Johnathan FREDERICKSEN posted to Rotorua.

Section Two, Constable Jonathon HARRIS posted to Christchurch.

Section Three, Constable Roger WHALE posted to Taupo.

Wing Patron: Colin Meads DCNZM

Colin Meads is New Zealand rugby’s living legend; he personifies rugby as it was in the 1960s, a golden era for the All Blacks. In 1999 he was voted New Zealand Player of the Century at the NZRFU Awards.

He represented the All Blacks from 1957 to 1971, playing 133 first class matches (including 55 tests), considerably more than his contemporaries. After his retirement, he turned to administration and coaching and since stepping down in 1996 he has still remained closely involved with the game. Outside rugby he has been very involved with IHC (a relationship established in his playing days), including serving on the national council.

Colin has received many honours including membership of the International Hall of Fame, the NZ Sporting Hall of Fame, and in the 2001 New Year Honours he was named a Distinguished Companion in the NZ Order of Merit (the equivalent of what was previously a knighthood).

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For more information or to attend graduation please contact:

Toni Barlow, Communications Adviser - 04 238 3413 / 0274 419 216