Police torch walks in Wellsford

 

 

The anniversary relay event to celebrate 75 years of women in police service is continuing its pace around the country with the specially designed torch making a recent appearance in Wellsford.

Senior constable Sharon Glen received the torch at a handover ceremony at Te Hane Marae on June 28, before travelling on to Rodney College.

After a powhiri, kapa haka performance and speeches highlighting the role of women in the police force, Glen walked the illuminated torch through the main street of Wellsford accompanied by the schools head prefects and colleagues in blue, a proud moment for the youth aid officer.

“Received a lot of support from the community,” she says. “Had a few people calling out encouragement and ‘well dones’.”

Glen has been a part of Wellsford’s long blue line for 13 years and was selected for her role in the relay due to being the area’s most senior female officer. Her career in the police force began 22 years ago although the dream of being an officer began when Glen was still in primary school.

“Joining the police force was always something I wanted to do,” she says. “My Great-grandfather was a constable in the Waikato and I was also influenced by a close family friend who was an officer.”

She says the event was also a chance to promote the police force as a positive career choice to Wellsford’s younger citizens.

“I feel like I’ve found my niche working with youth, something I really enjoy,” she says. “And what I love most is that every day can be different.”

Glen handed the torch over to Sergeant Vicki Parker who transported it down the line. The torch will proceed to change hands with various officers, experiencing a wide variety of transport methods including bungee jumping and tandem-skydiving, before joining its southern counterpart outside Parliament in early August.

PROUD: Senior Constable Sharon Glen, pictured holding the ceremony torch with Rodney School principal Irene Symes and head girl Dannielle Aldworth at Te Hane Marae. PHOTO/Supplied