A celebration to herald the end of a successful new approach to policing in Nhulunbuy was held this week with a community BBQ.
Police, kids, parents and business owners gathered at the Nhulunbuy Police Station on Wednesday to congratulate the winner of a six-week long campaign and raffle, which rewarded kids for taking bicycle safety seriously.
Police in the remote community had identified that many of the community’s kids did not wear bicycle helmets when riding around the town and at the skate park.
This prompted the Officer in Charge of Nhulunbuy Police, Senior Sergeant Brendan Muldoon, to commence a positive engagement campaign which rewarded kids for wearing the protective equipment rather than punishing them for not doing so.
Senior Sergeant Muldoon enlisted the help of the East Arnhem Chamber of Commerce and local businesses rallied, generously donating more than $1000 worth of prizes for the kids, plus the major prize, an Xbox.
During the school holidays, when Police saw children with their helmets on they were rewarded with a raffle ticket and told they were in the running for the Xbox. More than 600 raffle tickets were handed out.
“During that time there was a very obvious increase in the number of children wearing helmets,” Snr Sgt Muldoon said.
“In addition, children began dropping into the Police Station to let us know they were wearing their helmets. At times, the kids would also flag Police down as we drove down past in the hope of getting a raffle ticket.”
Snr Sgt Muldoon praised the community for backing the effort.
“There was an amazing amount of community support, which was identified on the town’s Facebook page 'Nhulunbuy Notice Board’,” he said.
“The local school also actively supported the campaign which provided extra weight to its importance.”
Rotary also donated $1,000 to the campaign and we are now working with the local schools to see how we can best use this money to assist with bike/road safety through the schools.
NT Police would like to thank the following businesses/organisations for their support:
Anglicare, Nhulunbuy Corporation, LJ Hooker, Andy PEERS CDU, Miwatj Health, BC Autos, Gove Tackle World, Lynne Walker MLA, Arnhem Pest Control, Chamber of Commerce, Charles Darwin University, Rio Tinto Alcan, Toll Marine, Gove Aquatic Centre, East Arnhem Butchers.
