Belinda made the transition from an electrical technician to a police officer during the tail-end of the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2021.
After becoming a probationary constable in Goulburn, she spent three years stationed in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
With Corowa Police wanting to expand their team, and being from Albury Wodonga, a move closer to home was a no brainer.
Belinda has been in her new role for three weeks and said she was excited to be working in a region she knows well.
“It’s a new beginning, I am familiar with Corowa, and it’s a good, quiet part of the country,” she said.
“I like helping people in the right way and seeing that I’ve actually made an impact on someone’s life.
“You go to different jobs every day, and they’re kind of just routine jobs, but sometimes you do something that, you sit and go… ‘that was real’.
“I really get something out of that, where I was in a real situation, and I helped someone.”
Belinda said she encourages anyone who dreams of becoming a police officer, to do so.
“Just do it, honestly, its one of those things I thought about for a long time and sort of had in the back of my mind,” she said.
“I wish I had done it sooner.”
Belinda’s new boss, Sgt Steve Marshall said having a female officer provided a new level of response, for the station.
“Belinda’s become the first female officer that we’ve had in the police station for a number of years,” Sgt Marshall said.
“It gives the station different ways to approach things, and its good for a police station to have a mix because it gives us more presence to deal with female offenders.
“She hasn’t shirked away from anything yet, she’s keen, enthusiastic, has local knowledge and having previously worked in a trade has fantastic transferable skills.
“They all add to her as a unit, and she’s already been a solid fit to the station.”
Belinda will be working in the same office as her partner and highway patrol officer, Ian Gray.
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