WHEN Leanne McCulkin graduated from Redfern Police Academy Class 167, she was in the minority.
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While her class had the highest-ever ratio of female-to-male officers, the girls were still outnumbered five-to-one.
Still, the world was her oyster and, within two-and-a-half years, she found herself one of the first female officers to be attached to highway patrol.
Leanne is one of thousands of people celebrating 100 years of Women in Policing and the impact they have had on our community.
Tomorrow, Chifley LAC is hosting a community engagement day at the Bathurst Showground from 9am until 3pm, during which Leanne will carry a special police baton which is currently making its way around the state.
Looking back on her career, Leanne said there were many highlights, and many changes had taken place.
In May 1982, Leanne made the pages of the Daily Mirror when it was announced policewomen would be wearing slacks and fashionable culottes.
The article, written by Peter Gibson, said in their new gear “police women will look as arresting as ever”.
Leanne said the slacks and culottes were a godsend.
“Up until then we wore pencil skirts with an action pleat. They were a nightmare. When we were climbing in and out of prison vans you had to hike them up, you could see what we had for breakfast, ” she laughed.
Leanne also recalled a time when she got stuck on a fence at the Botanical Gardens in Sydney.
Two men were attempting self harm and police had to intervene, but to access them Leanne had to climb a 20-foot fence. Once the crisis was averted she had to climb back over but on the way out a spike got stuck in her skirt.
She was yelling for help from her colleagues and all the men turned their car spotlights on her and started clapping.
“They got me down .... eventually,” she said.
Interestingly, the women had to keep their gun and holster under their shirts.
“It didn’t look feminine,” she said.
At one point there was also a move to have the women wear the same coloured lipstick.
“It was tangerine, ” she laughed.
“I told them it wasn’t my colour.”
Leanne said joining NSW Police was the best decision she ever made.
“Generally we [women] were well received by the majority of our colleagues, although there was always one or two old schoolers who didn’t talk to the females.
“In the academy they were excellent. On the job there were some older guys who were a bit stuck in the mud.
“I remember one sergeant who would never speak to me.
“I’d be sitting right next to him, 20cm away, and he would say to the other male officer ‘Tell the girlie ...’ and I’m sitting right next to him.
“Imagine if that happened today, he’s be in court so fast his head would spin, but you have to remember that was 35 years ago and things were different.”
Leanne said she was especially fond of her time in highway patrol, though often the drivers she would pull over weren’t expecting a woman in uniform, and people’s reactions were mixed.
“Occasionally I’d get a guy trying to sweet talk me,” she said.
“One said to me, ‘well, you’ve got my licence so you know where I live’.”
Another man chewed up the ticket in his mouth in front her.
“Sometimes they tried to rattle you, but they never got to me,” she said.
Leanne said she wished she could have gone back to policing after she had her family, but it wasn’t to be.
“There were no part-time jobs back then and I had two small babies,” she said.
“And I’m too old now, I couldn’t get through the physical, it nearly killed me the first time,” she laughed.
“And things are a lot different now.
“But 35 years ago it was really good.
“It was the start of women being accepted on general duties as equal, and the blokes I worked with were always gentlemen.
“I really hope those men who worked with me knew if a situation ever arose, I had their backs, and certainly during my time in the service no one alerted me to any problems.
“But I miss it every day. I miss the excitement, I really did love it,” she said.
During tomorrow’s celebration of 100 years of Women in Policing there will be interactive displays, rolling demonstrations, recruitment information for all agencies, and a children’s entertainment area which will have a jumping castle, face painting and interactive video games.
The local celebrations will showcase the history, as well as past and present achievements, of women in the force.
The day gets underway at the showground at 9am and goes until 3pm.
Everyone is invited to attend.
