Julie (Jules) McAlister

Julie “Jules” McAlister is the second veteran police officer to be given a Police Assistance dog through the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation.

The black Labrador Charlie-Kane has made a major difference to her life. And Julie’s been through a lot; including a PTSD diagnosis, being forced to retire “ill-health”, a suicide attempt and getting accidentally shot with a shotgun at a rifle range. In March 2023, Julie was officially recognised for her service with Victoria Police, given an apology, her badge was given back to her “retired”, and she was handed a certificate of service.

“Fighting the good Fight

Susan McLean

Susan McLean is a cyber-safety expert. Susan spent 27 years in Victoria Police where she was known as” the cyber cop”. She was the first Vic Pol officer appointed to a position involving cyber-safety and young people.

Susan is highly credentialed and trained extensively with Dallas Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and completed the University Certificate in Child Safety on the Internet from the UK’s University of Central Lancashire.

She runs her own company, Cyber Safety Solutions and given expert evidence in government inquiries and in court.

“It was not a job for girls”

Annette in’t Hout

Annette in’t Hout is one of three fulltime Senior Chaplains working with Victoria Police. There’s also about 85 volunteer Chaplains across the state. This year the Victoria Police Chaplaincy commemorates it’s 50-year anniversary of making a difference to the men and women in blue.

Annette grew up in Griffith, NSW with Barbara McKay as her Sunday school teacher. She wanted to pursue a career in textile forensics and found herself working in an industrial textiles factory, being a fulltime Mum and running a lingerie party plan scheme! Her calling began in 2008 at a Baptist Church in Geelong and she’s been working with Victoria Police for the past 18 months.

“Loitering with intent”

Sheree Moore

Sheree Moore still hears the gunshots from the Queen Street shootings involving killer Frank Vitkovic. It’s not something you ever forget, she says.

Sheree was on duty in December 1987 when the Queen Street massacres took place. The former Sergeant and Crime Scene Investigator worked in suburban stations, at Dandenong, and did temp duties at the CIB, AIS and Drug Squad. She set up “Project Clarendon” which was a one stop shop for crime reporting and forensics in property crime. After 37 years “in the job”, Sheree has just retired.

“I can still hear the gunshots”

Lilian Irwin

Former Victoria Police Inspector Lilian Irwin sadly passed away on Saturday night, 17 June 2023. I was lucky to sit with the 96-year-old “Lil” as she was affectionately known, on The Crime Couch, during 2021. This is our interview, republished.

Lil led the way for women in the police force for nearly three decades. When she joined in 1961, she was only one of four women in her squad. Nick-named “The Queen of Fitzroy” and “Legs 11,” Lil was the only female Inspector when she was promoted in 1977 at a time when policewomen thought they’d be lucky to get to Sergeant! Vale Lilian Irwin, registered number 13868.

“The end of an era – VALE Lilian (Lil) Irwin”

Colleen Woolley

Rochelle first met Colleen Woolley at the Retired Police Association (RPA). As a television producer, she’d contact her trying to contact Victoria Police members. The former Senior Sergeant served as a Woman Auxiliary in the South Australian Police Force and represented policewomen in Victoria as the sole Police Association delegate.

Colleen was the first female RPA Secretary, a founding Committee Member of The Past and Present Women Police Association; a Justice of the Peace and also an author.

“Colleen Woolley – An arresting woman”

Wendy Cowling

Wendy Cowling is a former Victoria Police Sergeant with 34 years under her belt. She began at the Russell Street Policewomen’s Division and had mentors like Joan Paffett, Sandy Langlands, Myrene Purcell and Jill Wood.

She was gazetted at Cheltenham General Duties and worked in GD’s throughout Melbourne’s south-east.

Wendy was promoted to Sergeant at the Police Schools program, a member of the Victorian Road Safety Education Reference Group and the State Coordinator of the VPYC program. She’s also a life member of the Past and Present Women Police Association of Victoria.

“We didn’t have the brawn but we used our brain”

Janet Low

Janet Low is a legend inside and outside Victoria Police. When she received her cap badge, she was P/W 79. The former Senior Sergeant spent 20 years in the job, finishing at Prahran.

But Janet is so much more than a veteran police officer. She’s an opera singer, cooking teacher and an invaluable member of Ballarat’s art and theatrical scene, with Board and Presidential roles under her belt. She was also the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal in 2011.

“The singing policewoman – part 1”

Janet Low was the 79th policewoman to join Victoria Police in the 1960’s. In those days, policewomen were restricted in what jobs they did; usually involving only welfare and children.

But Janet cracked the glass ceiling. She spent nearly 20 years at Victoria Police, retiring as a Senior Sergeant at Prahran. She was an opera-singer, cooking teacher and is very involved in Ballarat’s theatrical and arts scene. In 2011, Janet was also the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal.

“The singing policewoman – part 2”

Liz Salmon

Liz Salmon aka “Rousey” was known for never taking a backwards step. The former Victoria Police Sergeant worked in community policing, highway patrol, traffic operations and general duties, but it was her lobbying for women’s equality in the job where she really made a difference.

After nearly 28 years of being a policewoman, Liz is still making a difference to the communities in country Victoria.

“A girls own adventure”

Myrene Purcell

Myrene Purcell is not your typical ex-Victoria Police member. The former Senior Sergeant trained in the Army, was the first female member of the Prison Squad and qualified as a social worker after she left the job.

She was the only policewoman in Seymour before being transferred to the Sexual Offences Squad, in the Crime Squads and inner-city CIB’s before becoming a detective.

Working as an operational police member gave Myrene a strong foundation to continue to work in the family violence space as a social worker.

“Offer your hand – not your judgement”

Kaye Murphy

Former Detective Senior Constable Kaye Murphy paved the way for women in the job. She was the first single Mum to work in Victoria Police and youngest female detective in the CIB.

Kaye also worked in the toughest Crime Squads; the Breakers, Armed Robbery and Consorting Squads and the Homicide Squad.

“She did it her way- part 1”

Kaye Murphy returns to The Crime Couch and remembers the day Russell Street Police Headquarters was bombed. She also recalls when two young Constables Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were gunned down in Walsh Street.

“She did it her way – part 2”