Sorrow over cop

By Kath Gannaway
“IT DOESN’T get much better than that.”
Healesville’s new top cop Tony Van Gorp, 32, told the Mail in March 1995 in the first of what was to be many official and not-so-official talks with Mountain Views journalists over the years.
The former Lilydale CIB detective had been promoted to officer in charge at Healesville and he had waxed a little lyrical about the town’s unique qualities – its diverse culture and diverse wealth, the world-class wildlife sanctuary, Australia’s best wineries and the “breath-taking mountain ranges”.
He had been in the force for 14 years – half his 30-year career – and was the father of two “gorgeous girls”, two and five.
He was “appalled” – a word he favoured as it turned out – at the number of road deaths and serious accidents in the area, vowed to address all the issues which the community was, and still is, rightfully concerned about.
And, he made clear his intention to have a strong connection with community groups.
He dealt with complex community issues over the next 15 years, but as the volumes of tributes which have flowed over the past week attest, he did forge strong connections and the Healesville community became an integral part of his professional – and his personal– life.
His work with schools, organising police concerts and the Portsea Summer Camp, working with Rotary on the Torque 3777 project for youth and his role during the bushfires are just a snap-shot of those connections.
Tributes appeared in the media last week from Yarra Valley colleagues to the highest police ranks, the Blue Ribbon Foundation, Yarra Ranges’ schools, community members, friends and family.
SES controller Karen Piccone and her volunteers worked closely with him in the worst that their jobs could throw up, and on the occasional social fishing trip. She and her members were devastated by his death.
“He was always focussed on the job, whether it was a search, road crash rescue or just a tree down,” she said.
He was the only man, she said, that she would get up for at 3am to rescue from a bog hole.
Former Healesville colleague Senior Constable John Leck said he was a great boss who stood up for him through the toughest times.
“I am the richer for having served under you,” he said.
Former boss Steve Wood encouraged him to apply for the Healesville job. “He was an asset to the town and the region who did “the real police work”, he wrote on a feed-back site.
Sgt Van Gorp was the Police Aboriginal liaison officer with the local Indigenous community.
Wurrundjeri Ngurungaeta (leader) Murrundindi spoke of his integrity and respect for Healesville’s Aboriginal community saying his loss was a tragedy not only for his people, but for the Healesville community.”
Local MP Ben Hardman noted the loss of Sgt Tony Van Gorp in parliament saying he had the safety and security of the community at heart and had taken a lead role during the Black Saturday bushfires.
Yarra Ranges Ryrie ward representative, Cr Jeanette McRae said she worked with him in a professional capacity and that she regarded him as a friend.
“He was passionate about his job and saw his role there to serve the community,” she said. “He showed great leadership during the fires; it was hard work and an incredible position, with his connections to the community, for him to be in.
For Healesville’s O’Reilly family, whose daughter Tricia was tragically killed in 2001, his support went beyond the call of duty.
He supported the family during and since Tricia’s death and managed a scholarship in her name.
Tricia’s mother Sue O’Reilly said her family was struggling to come to terms with his death.“He did a lot that people would be unaware of,” she said.
Healesville High School principal George Perini said he had been involved with the school in many different ways.
“He was always a fantastic person to work with, open, friendly and had a great rapport with staff and students,” he said.
“We have the highest regard for him.”
The outpouring of loss and grief leaves no doubt that Sgt Tony Van Gorp had a deep connection, and a strong sense of identity around his life and work in the community he saw 15 years ago as about as good as it gets.