WORKING TOGETHER: Healesville police sergeant Tony Van Gorp checks the agenda for next week’s Police and Community Consultative Committee (PCCC) meeting with member Beverley Parry.By KATH GANNAWAY
THERE’S more than a hint of truth in the notion that nothing does more for increasing fire brigade volunteers than a big fire.
The same applies to policing according to Healesville resident and Police and Community Consultative Committee (PCCC) member Beverley Parry.
Ms Parry was a founding member of the PCCC about a decade ago when, as she puts it, ‘… there was a lot of pretty bad stuff going on in the town’.
The local police formally enlisted the involvement of the community with the PCCC.
It worked very well, too, according to Ms Parry, until things started to improve.
“We had about 40 or 50 people coming along at one stage but once the boys (local police) started to get on top of things, the numbers just dropped off.
“When nothing was happening, nobody wanted to know about it,” she said.
After a recess of a few years, the PCCC was launched again in April this year in response to community concerns.
While the first two meetings have been moderately well attended and provide a good base to build on, both Healesville police sergeant Tony Van Gorp and Ms Parry are urging members of the public and representatives of community groups to get involved again.
Ms Parry said she finds it surprising that so many people have complaints (about policing) but so few are prepared to go along to a meeting where they can have a say.
“We really need input from every group in the town.
“I would like to think people would be interested enough to come along and support something which is going to benefit them and their children.
“It’s not just about today, it’s about the future,” Ms Parry said.
“We need to make sure Healesville is a place where older people can walk without fear and where parents can know their children are growing up in a safe town.
“It’s only once every three months. Surely something as important as this deserves support.”
The next PCCC meeting is at Healesville Police Station in Ryrie Street at 7.30pm this Thursday, 18 August.
All members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend.
