RPAT - President's Message
Having retired from Tasmania Police in July 1999, I was encouraged to join the Retired Police Association of Tasmania by the then Secretary/Treasurer, Aub Canning, a move I have never regretted. The president at that time was the late F.G.J. (Fred) Shepherd.
At the 1999 Annual General Meeting (AGM), after again having been encouraged by Aub, I was elected as a Committee Member. This was after having been told that the Committee met three, maybe four, times a year, not a great burden on a retiree by any stretch of the imagination.
When Fred decided to relinquish the position of President at the end of 2002, Aub indicated that he would be seeking the vacant President’s position and asked if I would take over as Secretary/Treasurer. My immediate thought was “How can I get out of this, gracefully?”, so the ploy I used was to tell Aub that I would take on the Secretary’s position but not the Treasurer’s. “That’s OK”, said Aub, “I’ll get Gordon Brown to do the Treasurer’s job”.
And so I became Secretary, a position I must admit I was a bit reluctant to take on and which I honestly thought would be beyond me. However, I did the best I could and must admit I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I can honestly say that it was made so rewarding because it gave me the opportunity to personally meet a lot of people of whom I had heard but never actually met. It also reinforced a lot of old friendships.
Then Aub, after many years of being with the RPAT (a Foundation Member and on the Committee from the outset) and which deservedly earned him Life Membership, decided at the end of 2008 to finish as President. Rightfully or wrongfully, having been Secretary for the previous 5 or so years, Aub considered it my right to take over from him as President. I never assumed that would necessarily be the case (and still don’t). Nevertheless, I threw my name in the hat and was fortunate to be elected unopposed to the position at the 2008 AGM.
It is very humbling but also satisfying to be the President of an organisation as progressive as the RPAT. I must say that the members of the RPAT should be most appreciative of the dedicated and hardworking members of the Committee who, without exception, have the organisation at heart. There is no doubt in my mind that although the membership numbers are bound to increase naturally, the efforts put in by the Committee Members have a positive effect on the number of ex-members applying to join.
Whilst it is appreciated that there is a small percentage of ex-members who, when they retire/resign, choose to sever all ties with Tasmania Police and including all ex-members of Tasmania Police, and that their reasons for doing so are maybe personal and they are certainly entitled in making that decision, that should not and does not discourage others from applying to join. Let me assure you that camaraderie abounds and there is nothing more pleasing than witnessing the great times members share at our social gatherings.
I have no hesitation, indeed I encourage, all eligible ex-Police Service personnel to join a great organisation.
Adrian F Loring
PRESIDENT
