The event included presentations from South Australia Police Water Operations and the Honourable (Hon) Blair Boyer MP, Minister for Police, who presented the President’s Award to Kingston South East volunteer Pauline Cother. During Pauline’s seventeen years of dedicated service, she has led many practical safety initiatives, including improving road safety for gopher users and securing funding to stencil reflective house numbers on street kerbs, supporting faster and more accurate responses by emergency services.

Aileen and Robert Eldridge from Para Hills NHW were jointly recognised as Volunteers of the Year for more than two decades of continuous involvement. Their key contributions include hosting annual NHW sessions at a local primary school and working with student leaders to promote community safety and crime prevention awareness.

More than 150 attendees joined in celebrating the four decades of contributions NHW SA has made to strengthening community connection and safety.

SA police officers, Sergeant First Class Deborah Luetkens, Senior Constable First Class David Brown, Brevet Sergeant Bruce Lawton, and Senior Constable First Class Bridgette Barendregt, recognised at the anniversary awards.

South Australia police officers’ merit awards

• Senior Constable First Class Bridgette Barendregt (Eastern District Community Engagement)
• Senior Constable First Class David Brown (Murray Mallee Crime Prevention Section)
• Constable Cassandra Herkiloglu (Northern District Community Engagement)
• Senior Constable First Class Nancy Johns (Police Coordinator Area 461 Happy Valley / O’Halloran Hill)
• Brevet Sergeant Bruce Lawton (Police Coordinator Area 222 Hope Valley / Highbury)
• Sergeant First Class Deborah Luetkens (Barossa Region Crime Prevention Section)

Volunteer Certificate of Commendation

• Rodney Beames (Area 150 West Beach)
• Tanya Rendulic (Area 277 Whyalla)
• Penelope Campbell (Area 84 Hectorville)
• Jeanette Conroy (Area 277 Whyalla)
• Arlene Jones (Area 428 Klemzig)
• Elizabeth Minuzzo (Area 300 Dernancourt)
• James Phillips (Area 461 Happy Valley / O’Halloran Hill)
• Ian Polkinghorne (Area 111 Gawler East)
• Phil Tavender (Area 222 Hope Valley / Highbury)
• Shirley Tink (Area 33 Lockleys)
• Ben Williams (Area 227 Whyalla Stuart)
• Raelene Williams (Area 277 Whyalla)
• Robyn Williams (Area 428 Klemzig)
• Mervyn Gerschwitz (Area 111 Gawler East)

Volunteer Certificate of Merit

• Matthew Curnow (Area 453 Flagstaff Hill)
• Margaret Kneebone (Area 272 Goolwa)
• Claire Lovelock (Area 428 Klemzig)
• Anthony McWhinney (Area 272 Goolwa)
• Roger Porter (Area 55 Sefton Park)
• Robert Eisen (Area 40 Murray Bridge)
• Jock MacGill (Area 40 Murray Bridge)
• Area 406 Woodcroft

Volunteer/s of the Year

• Robert and Aileen Eldridge (Area 441 Para Hills)

President’s Award

• Pauline Cother (Kingston South East NHW)