Dookie police officer honoured with service award but says he has ‘a few years’ left in the job

“It’s the best move I ever made. It was a great decision,” he said.

And it is a position he would like to remain in until he retires — not that the 59-year-old says that is happening any time soon.

“I’ve got a few years left in me yet,” he said.

Leading Senior Constable Hutchings has done some research and found Dookie has a long history of police officers spending extended periods of time in the town.

“The last five or six coppers (stationed there) retired from Dookie,” he said.

In fact, he is only the 46th police officer to have worked there since the station opened in 1872.

Leading Sen Constable Hutchings said he had enjoyed his time as the officer in charge at Dookie.

“It’s a good community,” he said.

“I work assisting the community with any issues they have.”

Much of his police work at Dookie involves proactive policing and being involved in the community.

“The majority of people are decent people,” Leading Sen Constable Hutchings said.

“You get the feral element, and you deal with that.”

Leading Sen Constable Hutchings also said it was a job where he “wears a few different hats”.

Working in a single officer station has meant that at times, Leading Sen Constable Hutchings has been the first responder at scenes of accidents and emergencies.

He remembers being the first to arrive on scene when a man had cut his arm, putting a tourniquet on while they waited for emergency services.

He was also the first to arrive at a two-car accident at Pine Lodge last year where four people were killed.

On that occasion he did not know anyone involved.

The drawback of working in small towns, however, is often he does know the people.

“It’s part of the job. Quite often you know the people involved or their families,” he said.

Leading Sen Constable Hutchings has 40 years of police experience under his belt, and was recently recognised for this with a Victoria Police service award at a ceremony at Shepparton Police Station.

While these days he spends much of his time in and around Dookie, it is not the only Goulburn Valley town in which Leading Sen Constable Hutchings has been a familiar face.

He has also done two stints in Tatura, for a total of five years, three stints equalling 12 years in Euroa, and two stints in Kyabram totalling eight years.

His career has taken him to both metropolitan Melbourne and regional police stations.

Among his Melbourne stints he has worked at Port Melbourne, Russell St, St Kilda Traffic Operations Group and Rosebud.

As well as the Goulburn Valley stints, his time in regional Victoria has also included Morwell, Robinvale, Seymour and Wodonga Traffic Operations Groups, Wangaratta and Kerang.

“It’s a good variety doing metropolitan and regional,” he said.

“I prefer regional though. I enjoy the country lifestyle and working in country areas.”

His 40-year service award was recognition of his hard work and dedication to the police force.

In presenting the award, Shepparton police Inspector Bruce Simpson praised Leading Sen Constable Hutchings for his work.

“It’s very evident you have the support of the Dookie community,” he said.

“The way you go about your work and your interaction with the community is outstanding.”

In receiving the award, Leading Sen Constable Hutchings noted that both he and Shepparton Sergeant Ross Normington, who also received a 40-year service award the same day, had gone to the same high school in Kyabram.

He said about 20 of their other classmates had also spent time in the police force.

“It must have been a good careers class one day,” he said.

Asked if he had any advice for young police officers, Leading Sen Constable Hutchings said it was to “stick at it”.

“Give it a go. Enjoy it,” he said.

“There are moments of hard times, but stick with it.”