Whittlesea Inspector Kate O’Neill has been awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM) as part of this year’s Australia Day honours.
Inspector O’Neill said she was overwhelmed when she got the call about her APM.
“I was a bit embarrassed but excited,” she said.
Inspector O’Neill is the current local area commander overseeing policing across Whittlesea, Banyule, Darebin and Nillumbik.
She said she can’t wait to share the news with her dad who received his own APM years ago.
“He will be so proud, he was an officer for 48 years.”
Inspector O’Neill has undertaken many roles, but said she is most proud of her long involvement with Victoria Police Legacy.
Inspector O’Neill has been chair of the Legacy board since 2021, helping children of fallen officers to perform humanitarian work at remote villages in Cambodia.
She started volunteering with Legacy in 2009, and joined the board just as her father was leaving it.
“It was great to see … children that are grieving … grow and develop in the camp,” she said.
“Several are in the police force now, commencing their own careers.”
Inspector O’Neill said investigating the 2009 Murrindindi–Marysville Black Saturday bushfire was career-defining.
“There was so much devastation … it’s a time in my career I will never forget … I got a real appreciation for the community.”
She said she saw the community come together again during the recent Longwood fires.
“That sense of community is always there, at times you might just have to look a bit harder.”
Inspector O’Neill said her APM reflects the hard work of her close-knit team who are invested in the community.
“There is a lot of pressure as a police officer in the current climate, from dealing with crime to looking after people.
“They make me look good, and I support them.”
Inspector O’Neill said she would not have been able to achieve this honour without the support of her family.
“My husband even cooks dinner for me every night.”
She said she is looking forward to celebrating with her husband and both of her step-sons who also serve in the Victoria Police.
“I am working on Australia Day, but we will have a fancy dinner after to celebrate.”
