Women in blue can do it all

And leading the way to the finish line in the city’s leg of a statewide relay to celebrate 100 years of women in the NSW police force was Albury’s longest serving policewoman, Detective Margaret Saunders,

The nine participants took their turn to carry a baton from Noreuil Park, the botanic gardens and Dean Street before the relay finished at QEII Square.

Detective Saunders said she was amused about how things were in the force when she joined more than 30 years ago.

She recalled the old uniform — a bowler hat and handbag — and having to hike up the skirt to chase people.

Her gun was hidden in her blouse and her 13-inch baton was attached to the bottom of her handbag, to ensure it was not seen.

Detective Saunders said the job of a policewoman had gone from directing traffic and talking to children to being at the core of investigations.

“We were in general duties with limited access to investigations,” she said.

“We looked after children and sat with women when they were interviewed.”

Detective Saunders said the specialist fields were now open to women.

NSW Assistant Commissioner Gary Worboys said women who made up 35 per cent of the force, brought a different perspective to many areas.

“In Albury, the commander is a woman,” he said.

“Women have now been a part of the force for 100 years and they are well respected as officers in the community and the organisation.

“It is now hard to imagine a police force now without them.”

The baton was in Wagga before Albury and it will be passed on to Deniliquin today.