Retiring Senior Sergeant Greg Trew with a framed present from Shoreline Marine Fabrication of new patrol boats.
Camera IconRetiring Senior Sergeant Greg Trew with a framed present from Shoreline Marine Fabrication of new patrol boats. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Call to co-ordinate services for sea capabilities

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

“The future challenge is to align government resources and services, including those in the departments of Transport, DFES, Fisheries and Parks and Wildlife, so they co-ordinate, and then together reduce costs and improve services,” Sgt Trew (63) said.

A life member and former president of City of Perth Surf Lifesaving Club, Sgt Trew got Department of Transport (DoT) staff to man communications at Water Police’s North Fremantle headquarters, saving police wages and putting DoT in contact with its patrol boats’ work.

Technology, emergency beacons (EPIRBs), mobile telephones and skipper training have changed the job in his 10 years at Water Police.

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“Boats now carry EPIRBS and it’s mandatory all around the coast, so when one is set off we now know there’s a problem,” Sgt Trew said.

“We know where they are, and with the advent of skippers’ tickets most people are more aware of the dangers of being at sea.”

After joining as a 27-year-old in 1979, he had long periods in the forensic, surveillance and security management sections of WA Police.

“I applied for Water Police when I saw a position, and I was always involved with the water and had a basic boat coxswain’s ticket,” he said.

In WA at any time, Water Police conduct rescues and searches, investigate thefts, provide vessels for other police, and enforce recreational and commercial boating law.

Tragedy is a sad part of the job.

“A couple of years ago, a couple travelling around Australia drowned at Coral Bay, leaving their two orphaned kids on the beach, and dealing with that, when there are kids standing on a beach while the rest of the family is spread around Australia, is a tough gig,” Sgt Trew said.

There is also humour.

“We once had a report of someone breaking onto a boat, and promptly boarded it, only to find an amorous couple ‘otherwise engaged’, who hadn’t told the owner they were going to use his boat in Mosman Bay,” Sgt Trew said.

Married with four adult children, his immediate plans are to “go to Indo for a surf with some geriatric mates”, and a kite-surfing safari to Sumbawa.