Botany Community Patrol Marks 20 Years with Local Town Centre

The Botany Community Patrol celebrated its 20-year partnership with the Botany Town Centre during a recent afternoon tea event held at Botany Library. This collaboration has been pivotal in enhancing community safety since the patrol’s inception on April 4, 2004. Over the years, the dedicated volunteers of the patrol have played a crucial role in preventing crime and fostering a secure environment for local residents.

Attendees at the celebration included the Botany Town Centre management, local police officials, and numerous volunteers. Howick Local Board member and chair of the Botany Crime Watch Trust committee, Damian Light, expressed gratitude to the town centre for providing a supportive base for the patrol. He stated, “Our job is to protect the community, but we wouldn’t be able to do it without your support, so thank you very much.”

The event also featured Senior Sergeant Garry Larsen, who was instrumental in establishing the patrol. He reflected on the long-standing relationship between the police and the patrol, emphasizing the town centre’s proactive efforts in addressing crime. Larsen noted, “The town centre saw there was an issue and got the police in here, and developed the Crime Watch Patrol with the volunteers.”

Celebrating Two Decades of Community Partnership

The Botany Town Centre has provided significant support to the patrol, offering space for their operations. Larsen highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating, “There’s no way we could operate in an area like this without the support of the town centre.” He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the volunteers, emphasizing that community support is essential for the patrol’s success.

Botany Town Centre manager Kerrie Hughes expressed her appreciation for the patrol’s longstanding presence in the centre. “It’s amazing and doesn’t happen across a lot of centres,” she said. Hughes emphasized the importance of collaboration between the patrol and the town centre, stating, “It always takes a collaboration of people to come together.”

Following the celebration, Margaret Westwood, operations manager of the Botany Community Patrol, shared her sentiments regarding the support received over the last two decades. “They’ve given us much appreciated space for a patrol base and we’re extremely fortunate to have it,” she remarked. Westwood noted that the patrol currently comprises 45 members, reflecting the diverse community it serves.

Westwood also highlighted the growing involvement of younger volunteers, with eight members in their 20s. “More young people are volunteering than ever before. It’s a great location for a patrol to be. Botany is a vibrant community space to work from,” she explained.

As the celebration concluded, attendees shared stories and memories from the past two decades, reinforcing the bond between the Botany Community Patrol and the Botany Town Centre. The partnership stands as a testament to the power of community engagement and collaboration in enhancing local safety and well-being.