Pray for our Police Officers
As you were aware I was away this morning attending a very special memorial event in Newman. I thought it would be a perfect occasion to remind us to pray for those who watch over us in our communities – our police officers:
Here is the background as to why I was in Newman….
“ON Australia Day in 2001, four police officers died when their light plane crashed as it was about to land in Newman. Police stationed there have told how the worst accident in WA police history changed their lives forever.
While 2001 Australia Day celebrations were taking place around WA, four police officers took off in a light plane from a remote outback airstrip at the start of a near three-hour flight to Newman, in the heart of the Pilbara.
The journey would take them 800km across the Gibson Desert through an ink-black night where it was impossible to tell land from sky.
Earlier in the day, the men defused a violent domestic dispute at Kiwirrkurra Aboriginal community, near the Northern Territory border, where a man had run amok with a spear and a boomerang.
Senior-Constable Donald Everett, the 49-year-old pilot, flew from Karratha where he was based and landed briefly at Newman to pick up Constable Gavin Capes, 27, First Class Constable David Dewar, 31, and Sen-Constable Phillip Ruland, 32.
Air travel on one of the biggest beats in the world was routine for police stationed in the vast Pilbara and nothing suggested this flight would be any different.
But at 9.50pm, as the Cessna 310R was about to make the final approach before landing at Newman airport, the plane’s twin engines spluttered to a stop.
Below, three police colleagues watched in disbelief as the plane spiralled into the ground 3km from the runway. All four men in the plane died instantly on impact and the crash remains the worst loss of life in a single accident in the history of WA Police.”
Each year the WA Police now gather in honour and memory of these four officers at the crash site in Newman for a moving memorial service where we remember these fallen officers.
The families of the deceased police officers attend the service which includes prayers and one minute’s silence, the reading of the Police Ode, during which the WA Police Air Wing perform a fly over which is followed by a wreath laying ceremony.
The service is attended also by much of the Newman township and various schools, emergency service groups and other associations. It is an amazing turn out of people in a very special bush setting.
During the weekend of the service, many sporting events are held with teams travelling from all areas including both outback and metropolitan locations culminating in a very serious rugby match between Australians and New Zealanders. From all of these events approximately $100,000 is raised for WA Police Legacy with the funds used to care for the families of all of WA Police officers killed whilst on duty.
The next time you see a police officer would you please offer up a prayer on their behalf and take a moment to pray also for the families of those officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in their line of duty…….looking after us.