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Assistance to police recognised

Posted on October 23, 2009, 9:09am

Mount Gambier resident Jim Galpin was chosen from nominees across the state to be presented with an award in Adelaide yesterday recognising volunteer assistance to police.

For the past 20 years, Mr Galpin has served the community as a Justice of the Peace.

Jim GalpinSouth East police acting operations manager Sergeant Andy Stott, who nominated Mr Galpin (pictured) for the City of Adelaide Lions Club and South Australia Police Citizen’s Award for 2009, described him as a “stalwart” of the Limestone Coast.

“Mr Galpin has provided voluntary assistance for over nine years to the Limestone Coast local service area in preparation of drug warrant applications and lawful destruction of drug exhibits in police premises and other locations,” Sgt Stott said.

“He has never refused a request to assist police, irrespective of the time of day, and has on numerous occasions, often in the early hours, made himself available to support young persons being interviewed by police when no-one else has been available.”

Mr Galpin was born in Mount Gambier, where he has remained all his life, aside from eight years in Salisbury from 1942 – 50.

He told The Border Watch he became a JP to help clients at his accountancy business, which he operated for 47 years from the same office.

“I went from being a junior to a partner,” he said.

Mr Galpin retired from his role as a chartered accountant 10 years ago.

He said the JP role also allowed him to fill the now defunct role of serving as a Mount Gambier delegate for the State Ombudsman.

He also became involved with the city’s police, assisting with signing of documents and destruction of drugs at the Mount Gambier station, which he said had led to some surprises as he witnessed elements of the area’s crime activity.

“It is a surprise sometimes to see what is out there and some of those things have to be harmful,” he said.

“I like to help the unfortunate and the young any way I can and am involved in different groups for that purpose — signing documents and things like that is not a big deal.”

Mr Galpin has also been a Rotarian for 36 years, assisting with various community projects, and is also involved in local history, particularly documenting the achievements of Port MacDonnell’s pioneers.

Sgt Stott planned to drive Mr Galpin and his wife Pat to Adelaide yesterday for an award ceremony to be conducted by Deputy Commissioner Gary Burns and the Lions Club of the City of Adelaide president Robin Coleman.

“It was totally unexpected,” Mr Galpin said, explaining he was honoured and surprised by the award.

“You do these things, but don’t expect people to take notice.”

The award acknowledges the efforts of a member of the public who performs “extraordinary service to assist the South Australia Police in the performance of their duties”.

Sgt Stott said Mr Galpin was the “epitome of the quiet achiever”.

“He is a man truly committed to the community of Mount Gambier,” he said.

“He has willingly assisted Mount Gambier police in a professional manner for many years.”

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Comments

One Response to “Assistance to police recognised”

  1. Ebony Jackson on October 24th, 2009 6:00 pm 1

    Congratulations Mr Galpin.
    You are truly an amazing man and a fantastic member of this community.

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