MEET THE LOCALS… Jeff Boddy

Jeff, how long have you lived in Tieri?
I have been in Tieri now for just two months. 

What attracted you to the role/town?
I was previously working in Cairns City which is one of the busiest stations in the state. With changing shifts and constant overtime, it started to feel like I was always at work. I grew up in small country towns in NSW and I wanted to give my kids a chance to spend some time in the country to see what it’s like. I also get to spend more time with them this way.

You recently took on the role of town’s Senior Constable. What does that involve?
I am the first port of call for incidents that happen in Tieri. I also make patrols and keep the peace inside the township. 

How does police work here compare to police work in a major city?
The work is the same, the volume is slightly different. In Cairns City the majority of my day was taken up with public drinking, fights, assaults, robberies and public nuisance. It is extremely busy; there is rarely time to rest and almost no time to actively patrol. In the city we are constantly responding, rather than actively looking. Here I can do a lot more proactive ‘looking’. This helps to prevent problems before they eventuate, rather than only responding after something has happened. For example, more ‘looking’ can help discourage opportunistic crimes, identify any issues early on, and provide faster intervention. It also gives me more opportunity to get out into the community, chat with the locals, and build strong relationships.

You haven’t always been in the police force. You were in the Royal Australian Navy for 18 years. That’s a significant chunk of your life. How did your time with the Navy shape you?
I joined the Navy at 17 before finishing High School. The Navy taught me self-discipline, respect, a strong work ethic, self-reliability and accountability, and how to be a professional in everything I do. The military gave me an excellent grounding, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to challenge themselves. 

You left the Navy to pursue a career in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), undertaking clearance operations in war-torn countries, past and present, including Iraq and Afghanistan. What do you recall most about that time?
Private contracting was a good step for me, because I left the military to work with ex-military people, so the transition was very smooth. Everyone was a professional and very good at what they do. It’s not a job a lot of people know about, but right now there are people all over the world crawling around in minefields and battle fields finding, defusing, disarming and disposing of bombs, rockets, mines and anything else that can hurt or kill you. It’s not a glamorous life, but it is extremely rewarding. Unfortunately, it’s also a job where you can do everything right and still die. I made a lot of good friends and lost a lot of good friends as well, so unless you are comfortable with that it’s probably not for you.

When did you decide you wanted to join the police force, and what prompted you to transition?
I had returned to Australia and was working in an office and hated it. I didn’t want to return to private contracting or the military because I had my two boys; the Police felt like a good fit. I made the right decision and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the force.

What’s been the most important lesson you’ve learned from your time with the police?
There are three sides to every story and the truth is usually a mixture of them all. There are very few bad people out there, it’s a lot of regular people making bad choices that we deal with most of the time.

What was your first impression of Tieri?
I really liked it. You have a very nice little town here, good facilities and well laid out. 

If you could sum up Tieri in 3 words, what would they be?
So far I would say quiet, clean and relaxed.

Aside from our top little town, where’s your favourite place in the Central Highlands to spend time?
This is my first time in the Central Highlands, so I haven’t really had much chance to explore yet. I am open to suggestions for good camping spots though! 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Something is either true, or it isn’t. How you choose to feel about it is up to you.

Quick-Fire Round…

How do you describe yourself? Loyal and reserved.

How would your friends and family describe you? Dedicated.

How do you spend your time and with whom? I like to cook, do woodwork with hand tools, take photos and spend time with my family. I need to buy some golf clubs now though.

5 things you can’t live without? Family, friends, food, fun. That’s it…everything else is just stuff. 

Dead or alive, who would be your ideal dinner guests? Kaido, Stephan, Knut, Trevor and John, mates who left for Valhalla too soon. 

If you could have anyone else’s job, whose would it be and why? Mine. Every job I have had has helped shape me into the person I am. I enjoy my life and enjoy my job so why do anything else?