Corrections officers who have dedicated their lives to keeping the community safe and those killed on duty will be honoured at services throughout NSW today on Corrective Services NSW Remembrance Day.
Minister for Corrections Geoff Lee said the day is an important opportunity for the community to reflect upon the challenging and often dangerous work corrections staff perform each day.
“The work of corrections staff doesn’t often happen in the public’s view, but they’re out on the frontline every day, whether they’re managing inmates in prisons or attending offenders’ homes for parole supervision,” Dr Lee said.
“They’re brave men and women, who go about their work with a dedication to duty and professionalism despite the dangers they face each day.
“Today my thoughts are with all corrections officers as we commemorate those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice to keep their family in blue and the NSW community safe – you will never be forgotten.”
Commissioner Kevin Corcoran PSM said prisons will go into lockdown and flags will be flown at half-mast as families and friends gather at memorial ceremonies around the state.
“When our officers clock on each day, we expect to return these men and women home safely to their loved ones at the end of their shift,” Mr Corcoran said.
“Tragically, there have been instances in our history when officers didn’t come home. We acknowledge the devastating loss suffered by the families, friends and colleagues of these men.”
The twelve officers who died in the line of duty over the past 179 years are:
• Henry Kingsmill Abbott, Parramatta, 1842
• Thomas Craig, Berrima, 1862
• Officer John Carroll, Braidwood, 1867
• George Spinks, Windsor, 1869
• John Sutherland Brown, Cootamundra, 1908
• Alan Cooper, Bathurst, 1958
• Albert Hedges, Berrima, 1959
• Cecil Mills, Emu Plains, 1959
• Willy Karl Faber, Parramatta, 1978
• John Colin Mewburn, Long Bay, 1979
• Geoffrey Pearce OAM, Long Bay, 1997
• Wayne Harold Smith, Silverwater, 2007
CSNSW Remembrance Day also commemorates the lives of staff who passed away after retiring or died from other causes while still employed.
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