Stations: Bendigo 1988-2009 and Maryborough 2009-2011
Awards: ?
Died: 21 December 2011
Age: 47
Cause: Heart Attack
Funeral date: 30 December 2011
Funeral location: Bendigo Baptist Church
Sergeant Craig Pearse
Not mentioned on the Wall Of Remembrance
Police mourn popular peer
By ELISE SNASHALL-WOODHAMS
Dec. 22, 2011, 11:09 a.m.
Bendigo and Maryborough police are in mourning after the passing of their admired colleague and friend Sergeant Craig Pearse. The father of two died at home in Maryborough on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 47.
Yesterday officers in Bendigo and Maryborough remembered Sergeant Pearse as a dedicated father, son, brother, police officer, musician and friend, who had time for anyone. Sergeant Pearse served in Bendigo between 1988 and 2009, building many close friendships over that time. Sergeant Tony Kekich worked with Sergeant Pearse when they were both senior constables and Sergeant Kekich said his friend had always gone above and beyond the line of duty to help people.
“He would take on quite complex investigations and would follow them methodically to the point of being pedantic just to help the victim,” he said.
“He showed a great empathy to the victims of crime.” Sergeant Kekich said he remembered one particular photo of Sergeant Pearse, published about 10 years ago in the Bendigo Advertiser, which encapsulated his friend’s generous spirit. It was an image of Sergeant Pearse helping an elderly lady across the street, taking her arm while blocking traffic in both directions.
“That’s the type of man he was,” Sergeant Kekich said. “He always had time for people who needed that extra help.”
In 2009 Sergeant Pearse left Bendigo for a promotion in Maryborough where he again drew the esteem of his colleagues. Maryborough Sergeant Ben O’Regan said he was a great friend, even a father figure, to many of his peers.
“He was pretty much a rock, a consummate professional, someone who was mentor, someone you could rely on and someone that you knew you could go to with any problem, be it work related or personal, and he would guide you through it in the best possible way,” Sergeant O’Regan said.
Sergeant O’Regan said the death had come as a huge shock to the entire Maryborough community, of which Sergeant Pearse was heavily involved.
“Personally I thought of him as unstoppable and indestructible,” he said. “He was very friendly, very warm, embracing of everyone, very professional, a real true upstanding policeman and a true friend.”
Outside of work Sergeant Pearse was passionate about his family, especially his two sons. Sergeant Kekich said his friend was artistic, too. He made and painted tin soldiers which were bought by enthusiasts worldwide, and he was also an accomplished musician.
“He could pick up virtually any instrument and play it,” Sergeant Kekich said.
“I don’t think it would be overstating it to say that the Victoria Police have lost a great asset.”
A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 30 2011 at 2pm at the Bendigo Baptist Church.
BENDIGO’S residential Strategy will be reviewed because of greater than expected growth.
The State Government has announced a grant of $50,000 to carry out the review.
The review is needed because, according to the State Government, 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.
Regional Development Parliamentary Secretary Damian Drum made the announcement this morning.
Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow.
“The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said.
“Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.”
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said about 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.
The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability.
“This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes,” Mr Ryan said,
“It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo.
“The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.”
Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo.
“Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” he said.
“Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.”
TOP TWO: Senior constables Cary Towers and Rachel Colliver with the award. Picture: JODIE DONNELLAN
Award recognises Bendigo police officers’ dedication
By ELISE SNASHALL-WOODHAMS
Dec. 3, 2012, 1 a.m.
Two of Bendigo’s best police officers have been honoured with an inaugural award in memory of their late colleague Sergeant Craig Pearse.
Senior constables Rachel Colliver and Cary Towers were presented with the award at the police Christmas function on Friday night.
Inspector Mark Edwards said the award recognised the qualities of professionalism, team work and customer service that Sergeant Pearse exemplified.
Sergeant Pearse, a long-serving member in Bendigo before moving to Maryborough, passed away from a heart attack in September last year.
“We had been thinking about doing a high-achiever type award for a while, and a couple of police officers thought we should name it after Craig,” Inspector Edwards said.
“It’s great to recognise our top performers and even better to have something that has serious meaning attached to it.
“We’re keeping the memory of Craig well and truly alive.”
The Sergeant Craig Pearse Memorial Award covers the Bendigo police service area and takes in Bendigo uniform, crime investigation and highway patrol, as well as Eaglehawk, Heathcote, Goornong, Elmore and Axedale.
“We took into account a lot of things,” Inspector Edwards said.
“It isn’t just about stats, how many crooks someone catches or tickets issued.
“It’s about teamwork, leadership, supporting your mates and good customer service to the Bendigo community.”
The award was originally meant to go to just one officer but Inspector Edwards said it was too hard to split Senior Constable Colliver and Senior Constable Towers.
“In the past 12 months Rachel has been on the highway patrol her work output has been the highest in the western region,” he said, “Cary Towers rates similarly; their outputs are enormous, they work their guts out.
“They are both excellent mentors for the younger troops. The leadership they display is absolutely first-class. And their ethics have never been questioned.”
Inspector Edwards said the pair were both recognised for their “general enthusiasm” for their work. “Part of Rachel’s speech was, ‘its pretty easy to do a good job when you love your work’,” he said.
“Cary hates crooks and when there’s crimes committed he just loves to get out there and catch them.”
Senior Constable Towers said it was a “tremendous honour” to receive the award from Sergeant Pearse’s parents.
“He was held in very high regard and it’s a testament to what kind of guy he was,” he said.
Senior Constable Towers has worked in uniform for 10 years, and had a six month stint in crime investigation this year.
“I’m back in uniform now on general duties, doing all sorts of stuff, going out in the van, in the watch-house, prisoner escort.
“I enjoy the camaraderie that goes with it, and I enjoy getting out there and helping out where you can.”
Senior Constable Colliver, an officer of eight years, said she loved her role in Bendigo’s highway patrol.
“It’s not just handing out the tickets, we try to make a bit of a difference,” she said.
“I enjoy dealing with so many people. I enjoy working one-up and I enjoy being out on the road. We do a lot of kilometres.”
Craig Wilson PEARSE
