Thursday, 12 May 2022

Condolences

Senior Constable Bria Joyce

Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine—Minister for Water, Minister for Police) (09:33):(By leave) The Sunraysia Daily headline on Monday, 11 April, read ‘Our hearts are broken’, and the hearts of the Victorian police family, family and friends, the community of Mildura and Victorians right across the state were broken by the loss of yet another member of Victoria Police in the line of duty and the serious injuries suffered by another.

On 8 April 2022 Senior Constable Bria Joyce kitted up with Senior Constable Tom Kinnane to commence her shift as part of the Mildura highway patrol. She did not come home from that shift. There was a head-on collision on Kulkyne Way, near Red Cliffs, that claimed her life and seriously injured Tom Kinnane. The driver of the other vehicle also died at the scene. I want to take this opportunity to pass on this house’s best wishes to Tom for what is a very long recovery ahead. It speaks volumes about his character and resolve that even as he embarks on what will be a long rehabilitation process he wanted messages read out about Bria’s funeral and said that he wanted to work hard get back to the job.

The motor vehicle collision on 8 April was a catastrophic one. The scene, for those who witnessed it, was traumatic. I want to acknowledge all the first responders who attended the scene on the night of 8 April. It is a massive burden that we place on our police officers, firefighters, SES and paramedics that they attend these types of scenes as part of their day-to-day responsibilities. This is made even more difficult when it is one of their own, someone they knew, for many someone they knew very well. Most of the first responders were friends with Bria and Tom; they spent time with them outside work. But that night, despite the horrific scene they were confronted with, they did their jobs with dignity and respect.

I also want to call out the role played by Acting Senior Sergeant Liam Tinkler. Liam was a divisional response supervisor attending the scene, coordinating and managing the police response and supporting the emergency services personnel throughout. He performed the role in the most trying of circumstances, and he was one of the most stoic people that I met when I was up there.

I also want to acknowledge the motor vehicle collision response team, who deal with our worst road accidents and again did so with courage as they pieced together what had occurred to someone who was very much part of the police family.

I further want to thank those who came to support the Mildura team and Bria’s loved ones: Reverend Jim Jung and the welfare team; the Police Association Victoria welfare support; police from the Western District, who came in to fill shifts that the local Mildura police did not feel they were able to; and Superintendent Bec Olsen and Assistant Commissioner Cindy Millen—both incredible rocks for the staff up there.

But Bria will never be defined by the manner of her passing. She will be remembered and forever valued by the impact that she had on everyone she knew and worked with. She commenced at the Mildura police station in 2018 after working as a police officer in Melbourne, before commencing with the Mildura highway patrol in October 2021. But even in that short time she had become a loved member of the police family. To give you some sense of that I want to paraphrase some words from Superintendent Bec Olsen. Bria:

… put many of us to shame with her drive and determination to be the best person. Bria was a ray of sunshine, she was an over achiever in all that she set out to do—a successful triathlete, musician playing in local orchestra’s, an artist and an accomplished quilter for most would be miles apart—

in terms of skills and interests—

… but Bria’s interests were vast and her appetite for challenge great.

A lover of birds and people, a loyal friend. A proud member of Victoria Police. It only recently came to light that Bria had saved the life of a 14 year old swimmer from drowning in the Murray River. Bria never mentioned this …

to her colleagues.

Of course she didn’t—typical Bria.

Bria Joyce wandering the corridors smiling from ear to ear lifting everyone that she meets spirits will be missed.

And she is so missed. In the days after her passing I met with her work colleagues at the Mildura police station. The grief and the tears from many of the most seasoned and experienced country police officers were the most profound that I have ever experienced. The outpouring of grief from the community was also extensive. From the moment I arrived at the station I witnessed bouquets of flowers and plates of food being delivered to the station at least every couple of minutes. It was a grief that was still raw and on full display at her funeral on 21 April.

An element of that shock and grief is what is experienced by all first responders when they lose one of their own. But it was so much more than that. It was a grief for losing an exceptional individual. It was a grief for all the potential that we have been denied and for all of those day-to-day interactions with Bria that had enriched her colleagues and that had renewed in all of them their love and passion for policing and giving back to the community. Her graduation photo has been widely shared, and I encourage anyone to have a look at it. It is a single, perfect image that speaks of all the enthusiasm, energy and promise that we want to associate with policing. One of the photos that her mother shared with me is a photo of me at Bria’s graduation. The grief is so profound because we know that we are so much the poorer for not having her in our lives or in the Victoria Police family anymore.

To ensure the Parliament properly records her contribution to policing I am honoured to read into Hansard her record of service. Bria Joyce, registered number 42368, entered the Victoria Police Academy on 22 August 2016, straight from school. She graduated eighth in her squad of 27 and was sworn in on 11 November 2016 before continuing her training with initial operational duties in the Melbourne CBD. From 30 April to 10 June 2017 Bria worked at the road policing drug and alcohol section, which gave her a passion for that area of work. Following this she was assigned to Ringwood police station as her dedicated training workplace from 11 June to 10 September 2017. Her permanent training station was at Moonee Ponds in the uniform branch from 11 September 2017. Bria worked in this busy inner-Melbourne station before commencing with Mildura uniform on 16 April 2018. She successfully completed her probationary period and was confirmed as a first constable on 10 November 2018 and promoted to senior constable on 11 November 2020. On 11 October 2021 Bria commenced duties at her final location, the Mildura highway patrol. On 8 April 2022 Senior Constable Bria Joyce was killed in a motor vehicle accident while performing highway patrol duties.

It is a tragically short record, and we are robbed of everything Bria would have done in the decades to come if fate had not taken her from us. I know that the Chief Commissioner of Police has already proposed to award Bria the Victoria Police Star, that honour bestowed on members who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. He also plans to exempt Bria from the qualifying years of service to award the National Police Service Medal and the Victoria Police Service Medal. He is doing that on the basis of her passion and commitment to serving the community, which is what these awards are intended to recognise. I fully support this move because, like the Chief Commissioner of Police, I know she would have given so much more back to the community if only she had been given the opportunity.

Bria was an exceptional individual. She was a beloved daughter of Dianne and a dearly loved partner to Kyle. Together they had already forged a life in their local community, he a firefighter and she a police officer. They were a dynamic couple. She loved her birds, which Kyle is now taking care of and promised to take care of. They were on display at her funeral—Daz and Pip. She was a valued police officer, and she will always be remembered and honoured for her sacrifice. Vale, Senior Constable Bria Joyce.

Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) (09:43):(By leave) I rise to join the Minister for Police in a very fitting tribute to Bria. I know that many in the community would have been listening and hearing the words there from the minister, and I know they are reflected across the entire Parliament and all of the first responders who had to attend the tragic accident up in Mildura, which resulted in the death of Bria, with Tom in the car.

I had as the start of this to talk about Bria and her number 42368. The number for a police officer is more than just a number; it is your membership to a family that lives with you forever. And still today, anytime you speak to any police officer, the first thing they ask is, ‘What was your number?’. 42368 is a number that we should all never forget in the future. I was going to go through the record of service as well, but rather than go through the whole lot I will acknowledge that she had a very short service and an amazing time with what she achieved in that short period of time within Victoria Police.

Bria was known lovingly by her family as the million-dollar baby on account of the allergies that she had. She was bright and bubbly and described as a real country girl. Bria was a much-loved, active and passionate member of her local community. Bria’s friends, family and colleagues could always rely on her to be there when they needed her, and that is an amazing trait to have. As a young girl she was sporty and musical, and she volunteered her time sewing pouches for orphaned joeys. So from a young age she was always a person that wanted to give back and serve—leading to her time in Victoria Police, which is all about giving back and supporting your community. Anytime someone goes to work and does not return home it is tragic. But for the people I have spoken to and with, Bria’s death has hit particularly hard. The 25-year-old had been a police officer for just six years, but even from that short time of her policing she has left a very memorable impact. As the minister has mentioned, she was off duty when she rescued a young girl struggling in the Murray River and did not tell her colleagues about it. It was just something that she did to give back, but the father of that girl said it would have been disastrous if Bria was not there. It was just an example of a person who puts others first.

At the celebration of Bria’s life, Kyle spoke through grief from his heart. He spoke of Bria’s bold, brave, passionate approach to everything she applied herself to. Kyle reflected not only on how much they shared in their three years together but also how much Bria had impacted on his life and how much she had packed into her life. Alana Downie from Bria’s squad spoke of the fact that her squad family fell instantly in love with her. Alana remarked that when Bria joined the squad, it was the luckiest day of their lives. That just shows you how much of an impact Bria had on those around her, and Alana recounted that, even though Bria was bright and bubbly, she was as tough as nails and worked hard at everything she did.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton spoke at the funeral service about the impact that Bria’s passing had on her colleagues, and as a former serving policeman myself, I am acutely aware of the dangers faced by members each and every shift and the trauma that can ensue. Any time a police member has to attend a fatal accident it is traumatic, but when that accident involves one of your own colleagues it is even more so. With no disrespect to any person in here today, there are a couple in this place who are former police officers, and it does impact you just that little bit more, knowing someone from that police family has been lost. Reverend Jim Jung, a senior police chaplain, spoke wonderfully at Bria’s funeral. He reminded those in attendance of Bria’s strength, characteristics and values and that, while she is not with us anymore, they remain with us and we can learn.

Before I read the Police Ode to honour the life of Bria, I want to send our strength and support also from the whole Parliament to Thomas Kinnane, or Tom. Tom was in the car with Bria on that evening, and Tom was in my sister’s squad in 2001. I have been speaking to him over the last few weeks, and he has an exceptionally long road to recovery, but on behalf of myself, and I am sure the minister and every person in this place will join me: Tom, to you and your family we send our strength and our support as you face a battle to get back to where you want to be, and we thank you for everything you have done in our community. And for Bria:

As the sun surely sets:

dawn will see it arise,

for service, above self,

demands its own prize.

You have fought the good fight:

life’s race has been run,

and peace, your reward,

for eternity begun.

And we that are left,

shall never forget,

rest in peace friend and colleague,

for the sun has now set.

To Bria’s friends, family and colleagues, if they happen to be watching this or reading it at any time, it is also a reminder to them it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to be hurting from the loss of Bria. Remember, there are people who are there to support you, so please reach out, whether it is someone in here, the Police Association Victoria or someone in your community—share your grief. Share the loss of Bria together and make sure that you keep those memories alive, because that will be what makes the difference. From all of us here in this place, we are thinking of you. Rest in peace, Senior Constable Bria Kathleen Joyce, 42368.

Motion agreed to in silence, members showing unanimous agreement by standing in their places.