If you mention the phrase “lost elephant” to one of Ballarat’s few female senior sergeants – expect a laugh and a slightly embarrassed grimace.
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“Have you ever tried finding a lost, grey circus elephant in the dark in the foggy Maryborough?,” Senior Sergeant Wendy Lambert asks.
Senior Sergeant Lambert joined the police force in the 80’s – married with a couple of children she enjoyed the flexibility of the force.
A few decades earlier Janet Low graduated from the academy and worked at a number of station before coming to Ballarat as a constable in 1962.
She was one of two women in Ballarat and worked in the then separate women’s division tending to many welfare cases and cases involving women and children.
“We were fully paid, sworn members of the police force,” Ms Low said.
“We were regarded the same as any of the males. We had full powers. People seem to think that because we were specialists and had our own rooms we weren’t (treated the same). But we were.”
‘Agents’ Madge Connor and Elizabeth Beer were the first women sworn into the police force 100 years ago.
Many women tried to follow their path and applied to enter the force, but their progress was slow. Four more women were sworn in in 1924.
Victoria’s top female police officer Wendy Steendam told Victoria Police she was issued an official handbag after graduating from the Victoria Police Academy in 1985.
“I think it’s important to thank those who’ve gone before us, the trailblazers who continued to push forward to make policing better for everyone, DC Steendam said.
“For periods of time in my career I was the only female in an office – I would like to think that’s a rarity now but we’re still nowhere near where we need to be.”
Ms Low knows what it’s like to be the only woman on station – but she never saw it as a barrier. She believes the police force has changed drastically over the last few decades as society has changed.
“You see all sides of humanity (in policing) – the good and the bad and the dreadful,” Ms Low said.
“The police changed drastically with the advent of the drug trade. As the Governor of Pentridge said to me - there used to be honour among thieves. Drugs has washed that away.”
Senior Sergeant Stacey Glenister has worked in a variety of policing areas – including intel.
She’s seen the number of women in the force drastically increase over her time in the force.
However, men still outnumber women by more than three to one.
Introducing part-time positions, flexible rostering and maternity and paternity leave has helped.
When Senior Sergeant Glenister joined in the 90’s, she was one of the few women on her course.
“There were only five out of 24 (females) that went through in my squad. Really different – you were just one of the boys,” Senior Sergeant Glenister.
“I had a couple of sergeants who were females and other members at the station The culture is changing now – we are trying to promote cultural change.
“I was very lucky – I never experienced anything negative.”
She quickly worked her way up into the sexual offences unit. A difficult and harrowing task. This work – while extremely rewarding – was challenging.
“I was dealing constantly with child victims – which I found quote difficult at times.
“It was very rewarding at times – the work you did, you could see it went somewhere. When you processed offenders you could see the impact on the victims,” Senior Sergeant Glenister said.
“But, I found it difficult to raise a family where they were constantly needy of me and so were my victims. It takes a certain type of person that can stay in that for some time.”
Senior Sergeant Glenister worked in intel at Altona North and was promoted to sergeant to start up the Caroline Springs divisional intelligence unit.
Moving into intelligence – Senior Sergeant Glenister unlocked her true passion.
She loved the intel work and how it allowed her to think differently to how she did as a “beat cop”.
Aside from losing elephants, Senior Sergeant Lambert has had a long career with many highlights.
But she says it is her sense of humour that has helped her stay in the job for so long.
”Through the whole job – the point is to keep your sense of humour,” she said.
“Because you go through some pretty rough times – and it’s about the ability, when something happens that is light hearted, to bring your troops in and laugh about it.”
The now mother-of-five joined the SOCIT after a stint at Werribee and moved to Maryborough for work-life balance.
“The ability to be flexible and a work-life balance is really importance,” Senior Sergeant Lambert.
The requirements of going to child deaths and investigations were difficult especially compared to children.
“You can’t lie it does affect you. It affects everyone in different way – we are looking at ways to support people.”