March 6, 2025 • 16 mins
Freshly graduated from the Police Academy, mother-of-two Kate relies on many layers of support to fulfill her long held ambition to work as an officer in her home town of Scone.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
My Heart Upper Hunter. Hello, I'm Darren KATRUPI and as
International Women's Day crops up in our calendars, this episode
is dedicated to every single woman in the Upper Hunter
whose contributions make this part of the world a safe
and thriving place to live. Women who are mums, sisters, daughters,
(00:20):
grandmas and great mates. We have plenty of women holding
their own and often out performing male colleagues in what
are still perceived to be blokes professions, things like mining
or automotive for example. But the good thing is attitudes
have shifted remarkably over the past few decades, and you'd
really hope that they have. Our guests for this ap
(00:41):
really doesn't go to work every day thinking there's anything
particularly unique or token istic about what she does for
a living. Probationary Constable Kate Gilbert has been stationed at
Musselbrook after graduating from the Police Academy in Golbin and PC.
Gilbert is embracing the community as an ideal place to
apply all of that academy learning into real life policing.
(01:03):
So we meet in an interview room at Muslbrook Police Station,
where I turned the tables somewhat and I asked Kate,
did she always want to be a copper?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yes, I have always since I was a very small child. Yes,
I had horses, and I've always wanted to be in
the Mounted Police. Obviously not doing that now, but yeah,
as a kid, that's what I wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And that is an option for you down the track,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It is potentially, although it doesn't vop me to Sydney,
which I'm not really prepared to do anymore, so you.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Might change your mind.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah maybe one day.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
What was it that grab you? Like you talked about
the horses, but there must have been something about the
job or did you have relatives or friends who were
or family friends that were police officers?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
I actually don't.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I have a couple of like my sister and her
partner in defense, but apart from that, I have no
family history of policing, so which is really exciting. So
I guess maybe that's why I was interested as well.
At the same time, when I finished school, I actually
started to study forensics psychology and I was obviously a
regod at UNI, so I like that very quickly, and yeah,
(02:05):
it's just something I've always wanted.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
To do, so you know, what they say about defense people,
they're just people who wish they could be cops but can't.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah. Absolutely, I'll tell my sister that.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Hi, sister, how quickly after you went this forensic health
stuff isn't for me? Did you start actively pursuing it
and was there a lot of research involved or did
you just go on the website, read it and go right,
I'm going to put an application in.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Oh so No, it's actually been years and years.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So I've spent the last ten years managing anytime fitness
up being scoring. I've been a personal trainer, I've gone
through ADME, and I've done on this sort of thing
as well. It's just always something that's been in the
back of my mind that I've always regretted not doing
when I was younger. So I just got to the
point when they sort of announced it that were paying
you recruits to go to the academy, and then the
incentive to be a cop in your hometown definitely helps.
(02:56):
And so yeah, as soon as they announced that incentive, I.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Applied day being a fitness instructor. That sort of wouldn't
have hurt in your application, would it. No?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I needed it. I definitely need it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
And I still struggle to the academy, So I'm glad
I had that background.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, so how physical, physically demanding is it? I mean
the perception from the public was you might have to
chase the odd cook occasionally, but usually Yeah, if you
don't catch him, you'll catch him at some later point anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, So going through the academy, the fitness was massive.
We were training every single day. We're going on long runs,
strength training, like pursuit runs in our uniform or that
sort of thing. So yeah, it's massive, and especially carrying
this around all day as well.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
So yeah, Cadie is referring to all the extra things
that she's got on a belt around around her waste.
Can you describe just the equipment you've got?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
So the vest is a protective vest.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Basically, we've got radios, cameras, pockets full of things, our
gone on the side of our hip, We've got spray,
handcuffs everything. So it's about twelve kilos I think, sort
of strapped onto us all day.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Jesus, good weight loss plan isn't. Yeah, it is absolutely
not the you I needed. But some of the older
officers who I know here at Musclebrook Station probably could
deal with a few more shifts out there.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
That's funny. We won't say that.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
No, I don't want to get identified by them, and
I don't know, suddenly get arrested for something International Women's
Day being tomorrow, Does that ever play a role in
your chosen career? I mean, there are so many women
that are policed now. We've gone to the days where
it was the male bastian and yet to be a big,
(04:42):
tough sort of up like and women are obviously just
as capable, in fact a lot better than men in
so many different situations. Is just like the norm now.
It's like talking about things like International Women's Day isn't
even a factor.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
No, it's not. It's so normal.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And you've probably noticed, well maybe not today, but a
lot of the days here in Musclebrook there are so
many women on shift. So many of our supervisors are women.
A lot of the new consoles coming through are girls.
Most of my class down at the Academy were females
as well.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
So yeah, it's very exciting. It's really good to see.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
What benefit do you think women bring to the job.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I think women can sort of sympathize with people sometimes
a lot better than men can.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Sometimes they can, you.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Know, they're a lot better at communicating, especially with kids
and other females we see out on the street.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
How much of the job is actually talking someone down
or through something, as opposed to you know, I imagine
throwing handcuffs on someone is the last resort that you
want to sort of go to. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Absolutely, it's almost one hundred percent of the job.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Every single day, day in day out, every job we
go to, it's constant communication. We're always talking to each other,
to other people, to victims, We're speaking to people on
the street as well, all day, all day, every day.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Would you like to think that it rubs off on
some of your male colleagues as well, I mean at work,
no matter what the profession, we all generally tend to
learn off each other, even if it's subconsciously.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And in saying that the men here are all fantastic,
I've every single person here is empathetic and calm, and
the way they speak to people is amazing. So it's
all inspiring and the way that we can all work together,
we do sort of bounce off each other a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
How long have you been in the job now, four.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Months, four months, very exciting, It's gone very quickly.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Can you tell us what your most memorable moment has
been so far as far as on the job.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Oh, that's a tricky one. That is a very tricky one.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I haven't got a memorable big event as of yet.
I think it's just working with different people every single
shift and learning the different ways that everyone does things. Yeah,
that's probably my most memorable at the moment.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah. How hard was the academy Very very very hard.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I spent four months down in Goldwyn. I've got two
kids here in scoring that go to school, so leaving
them was hard. So I left with my parents who
looked after them very very well. The study was full
on the exercise obviously a lot as well, but the
friendships we made was one hundred percent worth it. And
then coming back up here, yeah, I'll worth it.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
In the end.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
One of the questions some people have asked me over
time when I'm talking about my background working with emergency
services as well, is how good does the training prepare
you for the job or is there a point where
it helps you? But then just doing the job and
getting experience and learning off more experienced colleagues is sort
(07:35):
of what tips you over that edge to give you
the confidence that you need.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah, now that's a good one. A lot of the
backbone we learn downe at the academy. We learn the
theory behind everything, the why we do things, and the
correct procedures and all that sort of thing, and then
when we get here we're sort of thrown into a
completely new world. So we're using all of that and
taking it to the car and then we're learning from
everyone that you're working with.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So it's a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
We seem to be learning something new every single day,
without a doubt, every single day.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
More soon of our conversation with Probationary Constable Kate Gilbert,
including how she was inspired to sign up by a
campaign designed to attract new recruits back to their hometowns.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
iHeart Apper Hunter, I heart Apper.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Hunter, Welcome back. I'm Darren Katruby. And as we acknowledge
International Women's Day, we haven't had to look too far
to find someone who embodies the key attributes for success
on many levels. Mum of two, Kate Gilbert is a
newly graduated local police officer based at Musselbrook. She's loving
the challenge of joining the force with a bit of
(08:44):
life experience under her belt and with plenty of family
support just up the road. The campaign to allow recruits
to work in their own hometown. Why is why is
that an attraction? There are some that would say, you
don't want to live with the people that you arrest.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, it's tricky.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
So far, so good at the moment in Scone, I
think it's so attractive to people like me that do
have a young family that are settled. You know, they've
got family up here, relatives, you know, their school friends,
and they don't want to leave them. I think uprooting
your family is a massive thing, especially for a new career.
I know for a lot of people, they didn't really
have a choice, Like I know, they tried to sort
(09:27):
of cater for everyone. But yeah, it makes it a
lot less stressful starting a new career, being able to
keep your family in one spot.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Working in any job, you need support of those around you.
But how critical is it in your sort of job.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Absolutely, Like we work long days, long nights, sometimes we
don't come back on time, relying on people and family
in the community to help us. I know I've sort
of relied on friends a lot, sort of working long
shifts and I've had to call them and be like,
looll can you pick the kids up from school or
something like that, like yeah, it's it's massive, and it's yeah,
it really really helps.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Given what you've just said. How family friendly is being
a police officer.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
For a woman, I've found very much so, especially here,
everyone's very considerate, Like most people here do have a
young family like me. So yeah, it's it's fantastic. I
haven't had any problems whatsoever.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Are you envisaging staying home or within the region the
Hunter or the Upper Hunter for your career or do
you think you might I don't know, campaign to see
if they can move the mounted horse unit it's ask
or you'll.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Get them to move to scol This is a horse capital.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I think for the time being, i'd like to say
where the kids are comfortable, especially at school. I did
grow up in newcastles from Earliers down there, so I
would like to venture back that way eventually one day.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
But we'll see how we go. Like I do love
it here.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So yeah, International Women's stay. What does that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Oh that's a tricky question.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
For me.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
It is all the strong women around me. I have
a lot of great friends and great family that are
doing massive things in the community. My friends at the
academy that has sort of gone and done this in
such a male dominated field.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
It's such a massive thing to do.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
So I think that's what it means to me, just
seeing everyone going forth and conquering doing what they've always
wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
We have some really inspiring women here in the Upper Hunter.
I've certainly met many in the last three years or
so that i've been here. Who stands out for you?
Who inspires you in.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
The Upper Hunter?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Oh, there's so many, so so many. One that does
inspire me. I've got a very good friend that works
back in Scone that took over my job managing the gym,
and the things she does for the people in Scone
is incredible. So Vicky, if you're listening, big shout out
to vicause she's amazing. She's been such a massive support
to me as well with the kids and you know,
(11:56):
being away and that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
So yeah, And was there anywhere anyway, and as you
were growing up that you looked up to as an
inspiration as a woman.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I think my mom massively like she when we were
at school. She was always at home. She was always
there for us, running us to sports and two carnivals
and to pony club, especially Newcastles.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Quite tricky. Yeah, definitely momum as.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
A mum yourself, Now, how does that change your perspective?
Because being a mum, I suppose almost reinforces the fact
that you're a woman. And it's how does being a
mom change you as a woman or does it?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I think it does. It definitely always does.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
You've always got two little people that you need to
come home to at the end of the day. You know,
you always need to sort of concentrate on that work
life balance, making sure that they're happy, they're getting everything
they need. And at the same time they are super
super proud of me for doing what I've done, so
they think, mum being a police it was the coolest
thing ever. So yeah, it definitely does change you change
(12:59):
this perception of things.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Well, so what about being a police officer? How does
that change you as a woman.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I think if you've got the right attitude and the
right sort of mindset, it doesn't. It doesn't too much.
Like you've got to be confident, you've got to be
able to speak to people obviously.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
But yeah, does joining the police and going through the
academy at which you've already outlined is pretty tough never
learned having to be away from the kids for that
sort of four months of the training. Does that make
you a stronger woman? Did you come out of that
training going, I've you know, I'm impressed with myself and
(13:39):
you know I've been able to make it through that.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Absolutely. The physical components were massive, Like we were keeping
up with everyone. We're all in the same We're expected
to do the same level of you know, push ups
and beat tests and you know running and sprinting and
everything like that. We were expected to be on exactly
the same level. So it is a massive achievement, definitely.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Is you've mentioned here the guys you work with, male
and female, all awesome people. Do you see a day
where in society in general, it's what sets you are
makes no difference whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, And I.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Feel like that is very much the case here at
the moment, especially working in Musterbrook. We are all equal
or all, everyone respects each other, Everyone is so very hopeful.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
So yeah, I think so how important is it to
have management that at that way in glide. I know
the current acting boss Todd is pretty inspirational to most
of the younger officers.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah, yeah, very much so. Yeah, he's fantastic. He's been very,
very helpful and very supportive.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Mind Dewey is married to a police officer, and she
probably keeps him in line and tells him what's what.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, that's very true, Kate.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
How do you feel about your safety on the job.
Have you found I mean, I know it's only four months,
but have you found that some people seem to think
they can target you because you're a woman, and you'd
be easier to I don't know, scorn from or get
away from.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Oh, look, I think in some circumstances some people may.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I haven't come across anything like that yet.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I certainly don't have fear that it's going to happen,
but I feel like, yeah, it definitely could. I could
see it happening. It probably has happened a million times before.
But no, I don't like. It's just a good jobs
to do. We've just got to go and do it.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
So. Yeah, and you've got twelve kilos that yourself to defend.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
She newsed to it conninuse it every day.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Yeah, many thanks to Probationary Constable Kate Gilbert taking time
out of her busy roster, and the rest of the
Musclewood Police team for their help in setting up our chat.
Women like Kate put themselves out there for others without
a moment's hesitation. It's something her kids and family are
probably the most proud of, and it's recruits of her
(15:49):
caliber that keeps our community in safe hands, which in
Kate Gilbert a safe and sound policing journey in the
years ahead. Now, if I could only just convince someone
ranked a little higher to get the mount of police
squad relocated to scone caated be all set. After all,
it is the horse capital of Australia. That's this episode
of iHeart Upper Hunter, probably supported by the new South
(16:12):
Wales government. I'm Darren KATRUBI catch you next time. iHeart
Apper Hunter.
My Heart Upper Hunter. Hello, I'm Darren KATRUPI and as
International Women's Day crops up in our calendars, this episode
is dedicated to every single woman in the Upper Hunter
whose contributions make this part of the world a safe
and thriving place to live. Women who are mums, sisters, daughters,
(00:20):
grandmas and great mates. We have plenty of women holding
their own and often out performing male colleagues in what
are still perceived to be blokes professions, things like mining
or automotive for example. But the good thing is attitudes
have shifted remarkably over the past few decades, and you'd
really hope that they have. Our guests for this ap
(00:41):
really doesn't go to work every day thinking there's anything
particularly unique or token istic about what she does for
a living. Probationary Constable Kate Gilbert has been stationed at
Musselbrook after graduating from the Police Academy in Golbin and PC.
Gilbert is embracing the community as an ideal place to
apply all of that academy learning into real life policing.
(01:03):
So we meet in an interview room at Muslbrook Police Station,
where I turned the tables somewhat and I asked Kate,
did she always want to be a copper?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yes, I have always since I was a very small child. Yes,
I had horses, and I've always wanted to be in
the Mounted Police. Obviously not doing that now, but yeah,
as a kid, that's what I wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And that is an option for you down the track,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It is potentially, although it doesn't vop me to Sydney,
which I'm not really prepared to do anymore, so you.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Might change your mind.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah maybe one day.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
What was it that grab you? Like you talked about
the horses, but there must have been something about the
job or did you have relatives or friends who were
or family friends that were police officers?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
I actually don't.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I have a couple of like my sister and her
partner in defense, but apart from that, I have no
family history of policing, so which is really exciting. So
I guess maybe that's why I was interested as well.
At the same time, when I finished school, I actually
started to study forensics psychology and I was obviously a
regod at UNI, so I like that very quickly, and yeah,
(02:05):
it's just something I've always wanted.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
To do, so you know, what they say about defense people,
they're just people who wish they could be cops but can't.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah. Absolutely, I'll tell my sister that.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Hi, sister, how quickly after you went this forensic health
stuff isn't for me? Did you start actively pursuing it
and was there a lot of research involved or did
you just go on the website, read it and go right,
I'm going to put an application in.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Oh so No, it's actually been years and years.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So I've spent the last ten years managing anytime fitness
up being scoring. I've been a personal trainer, I've gone
through ADME, and I've done on this sort of thing
as well. It's just always something that's been in the
back of my mind that I've always regretted not doing
when I was younger. So I just got to the
point when they sort of announced it that were paying
you recruits to go to the academy, and then the
incentive to be a cop in your hometown definitely helps.
(02:56):
And so yeah, as soon as they announced that incentive, I.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Applied day being a fitness instructor. That sort of wouldn't
have hurt in your application, would it. No?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I needed it. I definitely need it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
And I still struggle to the academy, So I'm glad
I had that background.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, so how physical, physically demanding is it? I mean
the perception from the public was you might have to
chase the odd cook occasionally, but usually Yeah, if you
don't catch him, you'll catch him at some later point anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, So going through the academy, the fitness was massive.
We were training every single day. We're going on long runs,
strength training, like pursuit runs in our uniform or that
sort of thing. So yeah, it's massive, and especially carrying
this around all day as well.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
So yeah, Cadie is referring to all the extra things
that she's got on a belt around around her waste.
Can you describe just the equipment you've got?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
So the vest is a protective vest.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Basically, we've got radios, cameras, pockets full of things, our
gone on the side of our hip, We've got spray,
handcuffs everything. So it's about twelve kilos I think, sort
of strapped onto us all day.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Jesus, good weight loss plan isn't. Yeah, it is absolutely
not the you I needed. But some of the older
officers who I know here at Musclebrook Station probably could
deal with a few more shifts out there.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
That's funny. We won't say that.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
No, I don't want to get identified by them, and
I don't know, suddenly get arrested for something International Women's
Day being tomorrow, Does that ever play a role in
your chosen career? I mean, there are so many women
that are policed now. We've gone to the days where
it was the male bastian and yet to be a big,
(04:42):
tough sort of up like and women are obviously just
as capable, in fact a lot better than men in
so many different situations. Is just like the norm now.
It's like talking about things like International Women's Day isn't
even a factor.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
No, it's not. It's so normal.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And you've probably noticed, well maybe not today, but a
lot of the days here in Musclebrook there are so
many women on shift. So many of our supervisors are women.
A lot of the new consoles coming through are girls.
Most of my class down at the Academy were females
as well.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
So yeah, it's very exciting. It's really good to see.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
What benefit do you think women bring to the job.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I think women can sort of sympathize with people sometimes
a lot better than men can.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Sometimes they can, you.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Know, they're a lot better at communicating, especially with kids
and other females we see out on the street.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
How much of the job is actually talking someone down
or through something, as opposed to you know, I imagine
throwing handcuffs on someone is the last resort that you
want to sort of go to. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Absolutely, it's almost one hundred percent of the job.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Every single day, day in day out, every job we
go to, it's constant communication. We're always talking to each other,
to other people, to victims, We're speaking to people on
the street as well, all day, all day, every day.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Would you like to think that it rubs off on
some of your male colleagues as well, I mean at work,
no matter what the profession, we all generally tend to
learn off each other, even if it's subconsciously.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And in saying that the men here are all fantastic,
I've every single person here is empathetic and calm, and
the way they speak to people is amazing. So it's
all inspiring and the way that we can all work together,
we do sort of bounce off each other a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
How long have you been in the job now, four.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Months, four months, very exciting, It's gone very quickly.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Can you tell us what your most memorable moment has
been so far as far as on the job.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Oh, that's a tricky one. That is a very tricky one.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I haven't got a memorable big event as of yet.
I think it's just working with different people every single
shift and learning the different ways that everyone does things. Yeah,
that's probably my most memorable at the moment.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah. How hard was the academy Very very very hard.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I spent four months down in Goldwyn. I've got two
kids here in scoring that go to school, so leaving
them was hard. So I left with my parents who
looked after them very very well. The study was full
on the exercise obviously a lot as well, but the
friendships we made was one hundred percent worth it. And
then coming back up here, yeah, I'll worth it.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
In the end.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
One of the questions some people have asked me over
time when I'm talking about my background working with emergency
services as well, is how good does the training prepare
you for the job or is there a point where
it helps you? But then just doing the job and
getting experience and learning off more experienced colleagues is sort
(07:35):
of what tips you over that edge to give you
the confidence that you need.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah, now that's a good one. A lot of the
backbone we learn downe at the academy. We learn the
theory behind everything, the why we do things, and the
correct procedures and all that sort of thing, and then
when we get here we're sort of thrown into a
completely new world. So we're using all of that and
taking it to the car and then we're learning from
everyone that you're working with.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So it's a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
We seem to be learning something new every single day,
without a doubt, every single day.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
More soon of our conversation with Probationary Constable Kate Gilbert,
including how she was inspired to sign up by a
campaign designed to attract new recruits back to their hometowns.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
iHeart Apper Hunter, I heart Apper.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Hunter, Welcome back. I'm Darren Katruby. And as we acknowledge
International Women's Day, we haven't had to look too far
to find someone who embodies the key attributes for success
on many levels. Mum of two, Kate Gilbert is a
newly graduated local police officer based at Musselbrook. She's loving
the challenge of joining the force with a bit of
(08:44):
life experience under her belt and with plenty of family
support just up the road. The campaign to allow recruits
to work in their own hometown. Why is why is
that an attraction? There are some that would say, you
don't want to live with the people that you arrest.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, it's tricky.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
So far, so good at the moment in Scone, I
think it's so attractive to people like me that do
have a young family that are settled. You know, they've
got family up here, relatives, you know, their school friends,
and they don't want to leave them. I think uprooting
your family is a massive thing, especially for a new career.
I know for a lot of people, they didn't really
have a choice, Like I know, they tried to sort
(09:27):
of cater for everyone. But yeah, it makes it a
lot less stressful starting a new career, being able to
keep your family in one spot.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Working in any job, you need support of those around you.
But how critical is it in your sort of job.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Absolutely, Like we work long days, long nights, sometimes we
don't come back on time, relying on people and family
in the community to help us. I know I've sort
of relied on friends a lot, sort of working long
shifts and I've had to call them and be like,
looll can you pick the kids up from school or
something like that, like yeah, it's it's massive, and it's yeah,
it really really helps.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Given what you've just said. How family friendly is being
a police officer.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
For a woman, I've found very much so, especially here,
everyone's very considerate, Like most people here do have a
young family like me. So yeah, it's it's fantastic. I
haven't had any problems whatsoever.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Are you envisaging staying home or within the region the
Hunter or the Upper Hunter for your career or do
you think you might I don't know, campaign to see
if they can move the mounted horse unit it's ask
or you'll.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Get them to move to scol This is a horse capital.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I think for the time being, i'd like to say
where the kids are comfortable, especially at school. I did
grow up in newcastles from Earliers down there, so I
would like to venture back that way eventually one day.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
But we'll see how we go. Like I do love
it here.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So yeah, International Women's stay. What does that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Oh that's a tricky question.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
For me.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
It is all the strong women around me. I have
a lot of great friends and great family that are
doing massive things in the community. My friends at the
academy that has sort of gone and done this in
such a male dominated field.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
It's such a massive thing to do.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
So I think that's what it means to me, just
seeing everyone going forth and conquering doing what they've always
wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
We have some really inspiring women here in the Upper Hunter.
I've certainly met many in the last three years or
so that i've been here. Who stands out for you?
Who inspires you in.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
The Upper Hunter?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Oh, there's so many, so so many. One that does
inspire me. I've got a very good friend that works
back in Scone that took over my job managing the gym,
and the things she does for the people in Scone
is incredible. So Vicky, if you're listening, big shout out
to vicause she's amazing. She's been such a massive support
to me as well with the kids and you know,
(11:56):
being away and that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
So yeah, And was there anywhere anyway, and as you
were growing up that you looked up to as an
inspiration as a woman.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I think my mom massively like she when we were
at school. She was always at home. She was always
there for us, running us to sports and two carnivals
and to pony club, especially Newcastles.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Quite tricky. Yeah, definitely momum as.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
A mum yourself, Now, how does that change your perspective?
Because being a mum, I suppose almost reinforces the fact
that you're a woman. And it's how does being a
mom change you as a woman or does it?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I think it does. It definitely always does.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
You've always got two little people that you need to
come home to at the end of the day. You know,
you always need to sort of concentrate on that work
life balance, making sure that they're happy, they're getting everything
they need. And at the same time they are super
super proud of me for doing what I've done, so
they think, mum being a police it was the coolest
thing ever. So yeah, it definitely does change you change
(12:59):
this perception of things.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Well, so what about being a police officer? How does
that change you as a woman.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I think if you've got the right attitude and the
right sort of mindset, it doesn't. It doesn't too much.
Like you've got to be confident, you've got to be
able to speak to people obviously.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
But yeah, does joining the police and going through the
academy at which you've already outlined is pretty tough never
learned having to be away from the kids for that
sort of four months of the training. Does that make
you a stronger woman? Did you come out of that
training going, I've you know, I'm impressed with myself and
(13:39):
you know I've been able to make it through that.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Absolutely. The physical components were massive, Like we were keeping
up with everyone. We're all in the same We're expected
to do the same level of you know, push ups
and beat tests and you know running and sprinting and
everything like that. We were expected to be on exactly
the same level. So it is a massive achievement, definitely.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Is you've mentioned here the guys you work with, male
and female, all awesome people. Do you see a day
where in society in general, it's what sets you are
makes no difference whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, And I.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Feel like that is very much the case here at
the moment, especially working in Musterbrook. We are all equal
or all, everyone respects each other, Everyone is so very hopeful.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
So yeah, I think so how important is it to
have management that at that way in glide. I know
the current acting boss Todd is pretty inspirational to most
of the younger officers.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah, yeah, very much so. Yeah, he's fantastic. He's been very,
very helpful and very supportive.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Mind Dewey is married to a police officer, and she
probably keeps him in line and tells him what's what.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, that's very true, Kate.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
How do you feel about your safety on the job.
Have you found I mean, I know it's only four months,
but have you found that some people seem to think
they can target you because you're a woman, and you'd
be easier to I don't know, scorn from or get
away from.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Oh, look, I think in some circumstances some people may.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I haven't come across anything like that yet.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I certainly don't have fear that it's going to happen,
but I feel like, yeah, it definitely could. I could
see it happening. It probably has happened a million times before.
But no, I don't like. It's just a good jobs
to do. We've just got to go and do it.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
So. Yeah, and you've got twelve kilos that yourself to defend.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
She newsed to it conninuse it every day.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Yeah, many thanks to Probationary Constable Kate Gilbert taking time
out of her busy roster, and the rest of the
Musclewood Police team for their help in setting up our chat.
Women like Kate put themselves out there for others without
a moment's hesitation. It's something her kids and family are
probably the most proud of, and it's recruits of her
(15:49):
caliber that keeps our community in safe hands, which in
Kate Gilbert a safe and sound policing journey in the
years ahead. Now, if I could only just convince someone
ranked a little higher to get the mount of police
squad relocated to scone caated be all set. After all,
it is the horse capital of Australia. That's this episode
of iHeart Upper Hunter, probably supported by the new South
(16:12):
Wales government. I'm Darren KATRUBI catch you next time. iHeart
Apper Hunter.
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