Bluey Day Police Dog Challenge

Police Dog Salem

The German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria Inc. (GSDCV) is proud to announce that it has joined together with the Rottweiler Club of Victoria Inc. (RCV) and the Victoria Police Dog Squad by participating in the Bluey Day Police Dog Challenge. This event will help raise funds for this year’s Bluey Day appeal. Bluey Day 2001 will culminate when police and emergency service officers from around Australia participate in a mass headshave to be conducted at the Crown Casino Melbourne on Saturday 11 August 2001.

Bluey Day is held annually and involves members of the police and emergency services from around Australia. Volunteers have to raise at least $1000 to be eligible to have their heads shaved for charity. The money raised from this event helps children dealing with childhood cancer by financing the purchase of specialised equipment used in their treatment. The event also helps create public awareness of the difficult issues involved when dealing with childhood cancer.

The Bluey Day Police Dog Challenge came about when the RCV accepted a good natured sporting challenge from the GSDCV to compete against each other in raising funds for this years Bluey Day appeal. The GSDCV and the RCV both have to raise a minimum of $1000 each to sponsor their own Police Dog Team. This will then qualify both handlers to have their heads shaved for this charitable event. The GSDCV is sponsoring TEAM SALEM and the RCV is sponsoring TEAM RIP.

TEAM SALEM comprises Senior Constable Wayne Mc NAMARA and Police Dog Salem, a two-year-old male German Shepherd Dog. Senior CONSTABLE Andrew ADAMS and Police Dog Rip, a seven-year-old male Rottweiler, make up TEAM RIP. Both Police Dogs are General Purpose Dogs that are trained to track and search for people, search for property, and to subdue offenders on command. Both teams are looking forward to working with the respective clubs in raising funds for this important cause.

MESSAGE FROM TEAM SALEM

My name is Senior Constable Wayne Mc NAMARA, I am currently a Dog Handler with the Victoria Police Dog Squad.

I have been a member of the Victoria Police Force for the past 14 years, stationed previously at various suburban Police Stations, before I was selected for the Victoria Police Dog Squad in 1995. I now have six years experience as a Police Dog Handler. I currently handle Police Dog Salem, who is a two year old German Shepherd Dog. Salem is a product of the intensive breeding program at the squad, which after a lot of hard work is now enjoining success. Police Dog Salem is trained to track and search for people, search for property, and to subdue offenders on command.

Salem and I have only been on the road for some six months, and in that time have been actively involved in many arrests from armed robbery, burglary and other allied offences. He is in fact becoming a fine Police Dog, and a credit to this wonderful breed, the German Shepherd Dog.

After an initial selection process and assessment, Salem and I were selected to train as a Police Dog Team; this initial training took some twenty weeks until qualification. We both participate in ongoing training on a daily basis. The Victoria Police Dog Squad only utilises two breeds of dogs for this exacting type of work and they are the German Shepherd Dog and the Rottweiler. Salem is the second German Shepherd Dog that I have handled, the previous being Police Dog Mac. Mac was retired to my home last year to live out the rest of his days.

I prefer the German Shepherd Dog as a Police Dog, his temperament is excellent, as is his willingness to work and please the handler.

I was elated to learn that the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria Inc was willing to assist me and to partake in the raising of money for this years Bluey Day. This is the fifth year that I have participated in this most meaningful charity fundraiser. As we are all aware, Bluey Day greatly enhances the quality of life of those less fortunate than ourselves.

I would sincerely like to thank the members of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria Inc, for their continued support of the Victoria Police Dog Squad, over many years and in particular Bluey Day.

The memberships of both the GSDCV and RCV are strongly committed to this very worthy cause. Members from both clubs have been hard at work planning and organising various fundraising events. This commitment is reflected in the views of both club presidents.

The President of the GSDCV David HYND was quoted as stating; "The members of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria Inc, are very proud to be associated with the Rottweiler Club of Victoria Inc, in supporting the members of the Victoria Police Dog Squad in their special efforts to raise money for Bluey Day. It emphasises the continued support the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria has not only to the Victoria Police Dog Squad, but to the community by promoting responsible dog ownership."

The President of the RCV Nikki ABELL was quoted as stating; "The Rottweiler Club of Victoria Inc accepts this great challenge and will work hard towards a very worthy cause for needy children. We also recognise the Professionalism of the Victoria Police Dog Squad, and applaud their involvement in Bluey Day."

The official launch of the Bluey Day Police Dog Challenge is scheduled for Monday 23 July 2001 at the Victoria Police Dog Squad Complex. The GSDCV will however be raising money across Victoria via its 11 training branches during the month of July. Check for training times and feel free to visit one of our training grounds and make a donation. If you are the owner of a German Shepherd you may wish to enquire about training and other services provided by the GSDCV to its membership. Please remember that any dogs attending our training grounds must be currently vaccinated, on lead and under control. A special talk by the Dog Squad, which will include a guest appearance by TEAM SALEM, will be held at the Eastern Branch clubhouse at 8.00pm on Wednesday 25 July 2001. A light supper will be provided and the entry cost will be $5.00. All profits will go towards our fundraising efforts.

It is hoped that the Bluey Day Police Dog Challenge will also help highlight the important work done for the community by the German Shepherd Dog and the Rottweiler as Police Dogs. Specialist Police Dogs are also trained for the detection of illicit drugs, hidden explosive devices and accelerant used in arson. They can also be trained to detect human remains. Police Dogs and their handlers perform their duties in a very time efficient manner that also helps to free up other valuable police resources.

The current Victoria Police Dog Squad was formed in 1975. They serve the Victorian Community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (366 in a leap year!). The Dog Squad is based at Attwood, Victoria, where it houses both a training and a breeding complex. The Dog Squad also relies on public donation of suitable dogs and bitches. Our thanks must go to the members of the Dog Squad who have helped in the organisation of this event.

HISTORY OF BLUEY DAY

By the Bluey Day Office

The Headshave campaign originated in Horsham in 1995 under the name Crop-a-Cop. Senior Constable Karl DAVID wanted to raise money for children living with cancer and, as children often lose their hair during chemotherapy, he thought it might boost their morale to see bald policemen. Each officer had to raise a minimum of $1,000 to participate and in November 1995, 165 police officers gathered at Horsham Town Hall to shave their heads. There were representatives from each state’s police forces and the event was shown live on "Hey Hey It’s Saturday". Over $235,000 was donated to Challenge: a Cancer Support Network to assist children with cancer.

In 1996, the Headshave became national when 1200 police officers from around Australia travelled to Sydney to shave their heads and they raised over $1.3 million. The event attracted overseas interest and six police from Vancouver and San Francisco flew to Sydney to join in. In Victoria, over 480 officers participated and we donated $500,000 to Challenge.

In August 1997, the Headshave began with a new mascot "Copper Bluey", designed by Senior Constable Karl DAVID. The National Headshave was held in Hobart, Tasmania and police officers had the choice of travelling to Hobart or shaving their heads in their home state. Victoria held a central headshave at the Royal Children’s Hospital with simultaneous headshaves in many country and suburban areas. Over 500 Victorian police officers participated and they were joined for the first time by 25 firefighters. Victoria donated $550,000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital for the Haematology/Oncology Unit and a further $50,00 to Challenge – a Cancer Support Network.

1997 also saw the first international headshave. Under the guidance of Karl DAVID, police officers in Vancouver, Canada held a headshave to support the Canadian Cancer Society. They used our ‘Copper Bluey" merchandise and badges to boost their fundraising. In late 1997 the National Committee changed the name of the headshave from Crop-a-Cop to Bluey Day to incorporate all the other emergency services. Blue is a common colour for all emergency services and the common colour for police forces around the world. Our mascot is a blue heeler dog know as ‘Bluey".

Bluey Day ‘98 was held on Saturday 22 August with the national event at Jupiter’s Casino, Queensland. Victoria held a central headshave at the Royal Children’s Hospital and 56 simultaneous headshaves within local communities. More than 376 Victorian police and emergency service officers joined together to raise over $700,000. We donated 600,000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne to help fund research projects and equipment in support of children living with cancer. The remaining $100,000 was held in trust by the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Bluey Day ’99 was supported by close to 400 Victorian police and emergency service officers and they raised over $650,000. The national event was held in Adelaide and the main Victorian headshave was held at the Royal Children’s Hospital. A further 67 simultaneous headshaves took place within the officers’ local communities. We donated $550,000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital to help fund six cancer-related research projects and to purchase much needed equipment. We are also assisting to fund the positions for a paediatrician based at Geelong Hospital and a research nurse practitioner at the Royal Children's Hospital. A further $100,000 is being held in trust.

Bluey Day 2000 was held on Saturday 5 August with the National Headshave taking place in Perth. In Victoria we held the first Bluey Day Family Picnic at the Royal Children’s Hospital and there were over 50 simultaneous headshaves across the state. Over 300 officers participated from all the services and close to $700,000 was raised.

This year, Melbourne will host the Bluey Day 2001 National Headshave on Saturday 11 August. We anticipate 1000 officers will travel from around Australia to attend the event which will be held at the Crown Entertainment Complex.

Bluey Day Victoria has raised over $3.1 million in six years for children living with cancer – let’s make it $4 million this year!