1. SNNEWS SHEPPARTON NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015 3
RUDE
RODNEY
WARNING! All material copyright.
No recording of show by any type
of device
STIFFPensioner Tour
www.rude.com.au
Rodney Rude appearing
in March. Buy tickets for
yourself or as a gift for
Christmas.
Bookings: (03) 5821 9822
223 High St, Shepparton
www.gvhotel.com
130 Hogan St, Tatura
Ph: 5824 1267
Share a sliceShare a slice
of MAGIC thisof MAGIC this
ChristmasChristmas
Gotta love the tasteGotta love the taste
Available in a variety
of sizes
Can cop pay rise
VICTORIA POLICE’S IN-PRINCIPLE WORKPLACE AGREEMENT WELCOMED
ELAINE
COONEY
elaine.cooney@
sheppnews.com.au
Shepparton police have wel-
comed this year’s Victoria Police
in-principle enterprise bargain-
ing agreement, saying it gives
recognition for the work mem-
bers do and enhances recog-
nition of equality.
Shepparton’s Inspector
Haydn Downs said the three per
cent wage increase per year over
four years and penalty rate
increases compensated police
for the unsociable hours they
worked.
He said the 12 per cent
increase was reasonable and he
believed police members would
pass the agreement.
Chief Commissioner Graham
Ashton said the agreement
would be central to ensuring
Victoria Police had the resources
and working arrangements
needed to help keep the com-
munity safe.
He said a number of measures
within the agreement would help
the organisation implement
recommendations made in a
Victorian Equal Opportunity and
Human Rights Commission
report released yesterday into
sexual harassment, discrimina-
tion and predatory behaviour
within the force.
Chief Comm Ashton said these
included a statement of intent
about gender equity and diver-
sity; family violence and IVF
leave; and an emphasis on the
options for flexible work arrange-
ments.
‘‘The report has provided us
with a road map to transform our
organisation into one which is
safe and supportive for all em-
ployees, where women in par-
ticular are valued and can
thrive,’’ he said.
Insp Downs was pleased with
the suggestion of family violence
leave.
‘‘Like the rest of society, (Vic-
toria Police) have domestic viol-
ence events within our home
units,’’ he said.
He said family violence was a
sensitive issue in the community
and it was important victims
received support.
Shepparton police Superin-
tendent Mick Sayer said the
changes supported an inclusive
workplace.
He said for other organisations
to implement workplace dom-
estic violence leave agreements,
a good place to start was to
encourage conversations
between employer representa-
tives and employers.
Supt Sayer said if people
experiencing family violence
were more supported in the
workplace, they were likely to
remain employed and this en-
hanced productivity.
VIC POLICE AGREEMENT REFORMS
● Merit-based selection
processes for all country police
stations.
● Rewarding members on the
frontline ‘‘doing the hard
yards’’.
● Shifting away from a culture
that rewards length of service to
one that rewards performance.
● Having a greater focus on
leadership, in particular from
superintendents and
inspectors.
● Reinforcing Victoria Police’s
commitment to being a leader
on issues of gender equity.
IN BRIEF
Power outage
More than 1000 homes were
without power yesterday
afternoon after a car struck a
power pole at Orrvale.
A Powercor spokesperson said
1842 customers across Orrvale
and south Shepparton lost power
and it took longer to fix than
anticipated because the pole had
snapped at ground level.
The incident happened on
Doyles Rd, just north of the
Channel Rd intersection, about
2.40 pm.
An Ambulance Victoria
spokesperson said paramedics
assessed two people at the scene.
The car’s passenger, a woman
aged 32, was taken to Goulburn
Valley Health in a serious
condition with abdominal
injuries.
The driver, a man aged 26, was
taken to the same hospital with a
fractured arm.
The Powercor spokesperson
said about 804 customers in
south Shepparton still did not
have power at about 6 pm last
night, but they expected all
power to be restored by 8 pm.
Car hits tractor
Shepparton police are warning
people to drive cautiously on
country roads after a car struck a
tractor.
Shepparton police Sergeant
Steve Murray said the car passed
another car at New Dookie Rd
near Pine Lodge and hit the
tractor that was attempting to get
into a driveway on Wednesday
about 8.20 pm.
He said no-one was injured
during the incident, but all three
drivers were pretty shaken.
Sgt Murray said the tractor was
badly damaged after the
collision.
He said it was important
drivers were mindful of tractors
when driving on country roads.
Bike found
Shepparton police are
searching for the owner of a
BMX bike.
The green BMX bike was
found in the bushes at the
corner of Taig Ave and
Goulburn Valley Hwy in Kialla
on Monday morning.
Police are keen to see the
bike reunited with its owner
and are encouraging people to
come forward if they believe
they know who owns it.
A photo of the bike can be
seen on the Greater
Shepparton Eyewatch
Facebook page.
The owner can arrange to
collect the bike from
Shepparton police station by
phoning 5820 5777.
Bayonet boosts RSL collection
By Declan Martin
Military history: John Lindsay, hands over a Japanese bayonet to Shepparton RSL representatives John
Harrington (left) and Arnold Warburton. Picture: Julie Mercer
Shepparton RSL’s impressive
collection of World War II items
was bolstered yesterday with
John Lindsay’s donation of a Jap-
anese bayonet.
Mr Lindsay has held onto the
ferocious weapon for more than
70 years after a returned soldier
wanted to part with items he
took from the battlefield.
He was then only 10, but Mr
Lindsay was pretty stoked to
receive the bayonet, as well as a
.22 rifle and shotgun.
He said it was difficult to hold
onto the items for so long,
especially when he was young.
‘‘The bayonet would’ve
attached to a Arisaki 6.5 calibre
standard issue rifle, which was
designed to allow the riflemen
make multiple lunges — the Aus-
tralians had a similar bayonet,’’
he said.
Mr Lindsay was conscripted to
serve Australia in 1956 aged 19.
RSL member John Harrington
said the bayonet was worth close
to $200 and it would be wall-
mounted near an Arisaki rifle
already on display.
‘‘We really appreciate John’s
contribution as he has lent the
bayonet to us before,’’ Mr
Harrington said.
The RSL will be unveiling a
new Anzac exhibit tomorrow that
includes all sorts of items, from
military to everyday, used by
Australian diggers during World
War I.
● If you would like to donate to
the RSL world war displays,
contact John Harrington or
Bruce Milne through the RSL on
5820 4100.