Families of slain officers urge support for charity
Families of slain officers in Queensland have issued a passionate plea to “future proof” a charity following surging demand from police seeking help.
The parents of Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, who were killed at a remote property in 2022, are leading the call.
The two junior police officers were shot dead at Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, as they walked up a driveway as part of a missing persons investigation.
A five-week inquest into the incident finished in Brisbane in August.
Judy McCrow, mother of Rachel, says it’s time to “help the helpers” through the Blue Hope charity.
“Nearly two years on, our pain is still very raw…the heartache is unbearable,” Dr McCrow told reporters on Friday.
“As we now await the coroner’s recommendations after the recent inquest … we urge the community to please step-up and help the helpers.”
Blue Hope founding director Detective Sergeant Andrew Ayres said the charity was suffering from success in recent years.
It is run by police for police, staffed by volunteers and operates solely on donations.
It has helped more than 1600 former and serving officers Australia-wide since being established in 2014 and has dealt with thousands of inquiries over the past decade.
“There’s absolutely been a spike in requests for services,” said Det Sgt Ayres, particularly since the Wieambilla shootings.
“The stigma that is attached to police officers reaching out for help is what is effectively preventing them from doing so.
“Being a victim of our own success is a sad way to say that people are finally seeing an outlet that they can help them out.
“Blue Hope is designed with a hope of removing that stigma and provide a non-judgemental and very comfortable, non-confrontation environment for police officers that may be experiencing difficulties in the wake of such a tragedy to seek help.
“To put their hand up with no fear of judgement.”
Det Sgt Ayres, a police officer for more than 30 years, indicated even he questioned his own mortality following the Wieambilla shootings.
He said it was important the community rallied behind Blue Hope amid increased demand.
“Police officers see more trauma in eight hours than some people do in an entire lifetime,” Det Sgt Ayres said.
“I like to use the adage: every time we go to a job we pick up a pebble and put it in the backpack. After 10 years, the backpack starts to get heavy .
“What we want to do is provide an environment where they can empty that backpack safely.”
National Police Remembrance Day is on September 27.
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