South Wairarapa Rebus Club

ALL BLACK HOOKER BOOKED AND OTHER STORIES!

At our October meeting Brenda Channer, a retired police officer, shared some delightful stories from her time in the force. Once, when she was on traffic patrol she stopped a large black car travelling at a speed somewhat above the legal limit on Bidwill’s Cutting Road. The three large male passengers were in high humour, teasing the driver for getting stopped (by a policewoman?). The registration number checked out as a “sponsored” car which was a little puzzling but the passengers’ mirth increased mightily when it became apparent that Brenda was writing the driver a ticket. 

At the end of her shift, back at the station, Brenda related the story and was asked by a colleague the name of the driver.  Checking her carbon copy she read out the name. The mirth at the station matched that in the big black car. Not being a keen rugby fan, Brenda had recognised none of the passengers’ faces, nor that of hooker Andrew Hore, who was driving, one of four All Blacks heading off for a weekend’s hunting.

Brenda came to policing later than most recruits; she was 39 when she entered Police College in 2004 having already married, had four children, got a degree from Massey University in psychology, divorced and worked in a school for teenaged mothers. Getting past the physical fitness tests, especially covering 2.4 km (1½ miles) in less than 11 minutes, was a challenge that does not get easier with age. Her wing (intake of recruits) was in College for 19 weeks of very hard work, both in the classroom and in learning a range of policing skills. 

The list of laws that they had to learn about and understand was long and daunting. Add to that training in unarmed combat, the use of police batons, firearms and pepper spray together with exercises in other practical aspects of policing. Today’s recruits cover the same course work in only 16 weeks so on-the-job training is even more important now for newly sworn officers than it was then. Of the 72 recruits in her wing 69 graduated, more than of them 20 women.

Brenda drew us a most interesting chart detailing the organisation of police resources in the Wairarapa, “…not a region, not a district, we called it the Wairarapa Republic.” Her clear explanation covered both uniformed and plain clothes divisions, head office in Masterton and some add-ons with interesting specific functions. We were surprised by the extent of Police operations in a wide range of both preventative and response activities.

The South Wairarapa Rebus Club next meets on Friday 23 November for a Christmas lunch at Peppers Parehua Restaurant in Martinborough. We will resume our fourth Friday meetings on 25 January 2019.

Anyone who may be interested in our Rebus Club is welcome to come along.