August 15, 2013
by Marcus Priaulx
Barambah PaCE
Young Cherbourg Police Rangers struggled to walk a straight line last week. They had lost their co-ordination and kept bumping into each other.
But don’t be alarmed. The nine to 12-year-olds’ rapid, physical decline was due to wearing goggles that allowed them to sense the impairment caused by sniffing and substance abuse.
There were lots of laughs but the seriousness of the issue was not lost on the young brigade.
“They were talking about how hard it was to do simple things like walking or catching a football,” Rangers spokeswoman Louise Thompson said.
This is just an example of the type of activities the 27 Police Rangers from Cherbourg and Saint Joseph’s, Murgon, primary schools undertake on a weekly basis.
In doing so they experience activities which build their knowledge, pride and self-esteem.
Activities centre on culture, community, education and the role of police in keeping people safe.
Police officers give their time for free to co-ordinate the events.
The program stemmed from a comment at a Cherbourg community meeting about the need for indigenous children to get in touch with their culture.
Cherbourg Police Officer-in-Charge Sgt Scott Prendergast took it on board.
He travelled to Katherine in the Northern Territory to view its Police Rangers program and adapted its activities to suit local needs.
The first Cherbourg Junior Police Rangers began at St Joseph’s and expanded this year to include 10 Cherbourg State School girls.
The program won a Queensland Police Gold Award for crime prevention in 2012.
“The children love it,” Ms Thompson said.
“They’re here every week and very enthusiastic.”
She encouraged parents to view the activities and maybe help out.
“It’s loads of fun and the children get so much out of it,” Ms Thompson said.
“It builds skills they will be able to use throughout life and gives them the confidence to have a crack at anything.
“You need to have that strength in life and we believe the Cherbourg Junior Police Rangers is giving children the base from which they can build a great future.”
