Category Award - Emergency Services
Brian Hodgkinson - Recipient of the Emergency Services Category Award
Nominated by AFP Volunteers in Policing Program
Brian Hodgkinson, or ‘Hodgo’ as he is affectionately known, joined the Volunteers in Policing programme, known as V.I.P., in 2002 after successfully completing the required preparation, training and assessment. Brian has shown his strong commitment and dedication by volunteering over 1,860 hours to the programme.
Brian and his family moved to Canberra in 1968. Brian worked with the Navy for over 38 years and retired in 1996. He is married and has three children. Brian is a mature and very competent Police Volunteer. His duties include:
- gathering information from businesses to know who to contact if there is a break-in etc as part of the key holder project
- front office support – a 'meet and greet' role assisting with public enquiries, such as reporting lost property, motor vehicle accidents or reporting for bail
- catering support – providing food at training exercises, demonstrations, hostage situations and after hours emergencies
- bus driving (for which he obtained a bus license) – collecting indigenous school children involved in the 'On Track' programme and also driving the bus for AFP training exercises, overseas delegates and workshops.
Most volunteers in the VIP program have achieved a security clearance level of 'Protected'. Due to his drive and proven integrity, Brian has achieved a security clearance level of 'Highly Protected', which means he can assist in more sensitive areas and can take on additional duties.
Brian enjoys good peer acknowledgement and support and is a highly valued and respected member of the VIP team. When several of the Police Volunteers were asked who should be nominated, Brian was everyone's first choice.
Brian also helps in various other capacities in the community. He assists with transport of elderly citizens in his local area, and catering at some sports activities.
Brian is very humble about his accomplishments, doesn’t like a fuss being made over what he has achieved and is a great ambassador for the AFP volunteer programme.