Tasmania Police has gone beyond its duty of protecting the public, and given a special boost to a Launceston-based charity.
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Using funds raised through its charity trust, Tasmania Police purchased two new cars for disability support service St.Giles.
The funds were raised through their annual ride, as well as payroll donations by staff from the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management - with a total of $37,500 collected.
Inspector Michael Johnson, a member of the Tasmania Police Charity Trust board, said donating to St.Giles was a way to reach a wide range of Tasmanians in need.
"We are always looking for opportunities to fundraise and distribute money around the state," he said.
"Policing is about seeing the community and working with the community, and we do that all the time in our professional lives, but a lot of police officers are looking for ways to continue that outside of their paid employment, and outside of what they already do every day.
"This is just one of the ways some of our members chose to do it."
One of the cars donated would be based in the North, and the other in the South, allowing the service to expand on its regional reach.
St.Giles chief executive Andrew Billing said it was a pleasant surprise to learn the donation would provide the service with not just one, but two new cars.
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"We thought initially it might enable us to extend the fleet by one vehicle, and then the trust were able to have a very successful event, and extend the funding that enabled us to get two vehicles, which has been terrific," he said.
"COVID-19 put pressure onto us all and the needs for children with disability haven't changed. St.Giles kept going and didn't miss a day's service - this donation allowed us to replace two ageing cars with vehicles fit for purpose.
"It will allow our specialist allied health staff to be able to get out to regional communities and provide services in people's home, particularly children and families in regional and remote communities."
As well as the new vehicles, the trust also allocated $6000 towards St.Giles Inclusive Arts project, Studio Space which will allow young Tasmanians with disability to travel and perform.
The Tasmania Police Charity Trust has been operating since 2013, and through its annual bike ride more than $550,000 has been raised for Tasmanian charities.
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Melissa Mobbs
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
