Valedictory – Audrey Fagan Delivered by AFP Commissioner many positive comments from parents Mick Keelty APM of juveniles about her caring and professional approach to her duties. “It is with much sadness that we join During 1982, Audrey was also sworn in together today to farewell a dear friend as a Special Constable of the NSW Police. and one the AFP’s fi nest police offi cers – Assistant Commissioner Audrey Ann Audrey soon displayed her capability as Fagan. an investigator and the following year was temporarily moved to the National It is testament to Audrey’s distinguished Criminal Investigation Branch where she career and commitment to the Canberra investigated specialist fraud off ences as community that the AFP is joined today part of the Medifraud Squad in the AFP’s by so many of the community’s leaders to Central Region of South Australia. pay their respects. In September 1985, Audrey commenced During her 26-year career with the AFP, duties as a detective at the Woden CIB Audrey made an indelible mark on our and in August 1986 Audrey transferred organisation, not only in an operational to Christmas Island where she undertook sense but as a leader and a fi ne role specialist community policing and Department and in the same year model to women, not just within the AFP national policing duties for the AFP. completed her training to be designated but the broader community. Audrey’s role in the investigation of a as a detective. In 1992 Audrey took up She was a dedicated mother and wife murder on the Island attracted praise from duties in the Internal Investigation Branch. who will be fondly remembered for her her fellow offi cers and members of the h e 1990s saw Audrey undertake compassion and strong commitment to all community. more challenging roles in management elements of her life. In 1987, Audrey returned to criminal in the AFP. In September 1995 she Audrey fi rst joined the Australian Federal investigation duties in ACT Policing and was appointed as a commissioned Police Protective Service Branch when the following year was transferred to offi cer, becoming a superintendent in she was just 19, on 23 February 1981. the International Division Investigations the Personnel and Industrial Relations At the time, Audrey had lived in Australia Section. At that time, Audrey was already Division. for about 11 years following her arrival undertaking a Bachelor of Science It was about the same time that Audrey from her native Ireland. Degree at the Australian National was selected by the then Commissioner University demonstrating a commitment Prior to commencing with the AFP, Audrey to undertake a special investigation at not only to her work but also to improve was already an accomplished swimmer the direction of the Commonwealth her qualifi cations and experience at a and had a keen interest in sports. Attorney-General and the Commonwealth professional level. Ombudsman. Audrey transferred to the General Policing Audrey had also completed tertiary area of the AFP soon after joining and Following that investigation, Audrey studies in computer sciences and in in the following year was appointed to was permanently transferred to the 1989 began working with the Computer the Juvenile Aid Bureau – a specialist Commissioner’s Offi ce where she Training Section of the AFP College. section of ACT Community Policing was soon appointed as the AFP’s Law dealing with juveniles. During this early In 1990, Audrey was promoted to Enforcement Liaison Offi cer to the offi ce phase of Audrey’s career she attracted Sergeant in the Personnel and Training of the Federal Attorney-General and Platypus Magazine | Edition 95, July 2007 5 Minister for Justice. It was at the time of Police and Emergency Services. As the In addition to the formal roles, Audrey the 1996 Federal Election and Audrey in fi rst woman to hold this position Audrey would often take the time to involve typical apolitical fashion worked briefl y brought to the role a contemporary herself in other activities in support for the Labor Government in the offi ces approach to community policing and of the organisation and the senior of Michael Lavarch and Duncan Kerr and worked tirelessly with the Department management team. Her role as the soon after for the new Liberal Attorney of Justice and Community Safety to ‘Bow’ in the executive’s fi rst attempt at a General, Daryl Williams. As portfolio provide an eff ective policing service to the corporate rowing regatta was typical of changes were made, Audrey then worked people of the ACT. Tributes have fl owed her commitment to the executive team for the Minister for Justice and Customs at when balancing her role as mother and to the AFP from many community service the time, Senator Amanda Vanstone. Chief Police Offi cer. Without saying a groups and members of the Canberra word Audrey demonstrated to the rest of On 22 January 1999, Audrey received community acknowledging Audrey’s us that style and timing will win over brute the National Medal for her service and on personal contributions. strength every time. 5 October the same year Audrey entered In every sense of the word, Audrey was a the Senior Executive Service of the Audrey never let an opportunity to high achiever and an accomplished police AFP after being promoted to the rank of participate in executive activities pass her offi cer, with her academic achievements Commander and Director of Commercial by which is why her popularity remained and additional roles enhancing her Support. until her untimely passing on Friday impressive career. Audrey held a Bachelor 20 April, 2007. During this time, Audrey also held a of Science, a Graduate Certifi cate in position on the ACT Parole Board and in Audrey quietly, but eff ectively, engaged Applied Management, a Graduate February 2001 Audrey was appointed as all kinds of people, whether in the Diploma in Executive Leadership and the head of the AFP Protective Security AFP or outside, and never forgot those had completed the Australian Institute command. who were facing their own personal of Company Director’s Course and was a challenges. Gwen Winchester, widow During the course of the next two years, Fellow of that institution. of former Assistant Commissioner Colin Audrey acted for brief periods as both a Audrey was a member of the National Winchester, writes that ‘Audrey made a Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner Community Crime Prevention Advisory point of keeping in touch with my family of the AFP. After the September 11 on a regular basis with afternoon teas in attacks of 2001, the Federal Government Group, a member of the Australian Human her offi ce and Peter and I were invited announced changes to its Counter Resource Institute, a Board member recently to view a plaque in the foyer of Terrorism and Protection policies including and member of the Strategic Directions the Winchester Centre’. the move of the Australian Protective Committee of the Australian Crime Service to become an operating division Commission as well as being a member of Assistant Commissioner Audrey Fagan of the AFP. Audrey was placed in charge the Crimtrac Board. leaves a legacy as an outstanding senior of the integration project and in 2002 executive of the AFP who was also a Audrey was a former Chair of the Audrey was again given the role of mentor and caring leader and a role Commonwealth Women in Law commanding the AFP’s Protection model for both women and men in the Enforcement Strategy. She became a Division. Australian Federal Police as well as the role model and mentor to women in law wider law enforcement community. In January 2004, Audrey was promoted enforcement both in Australia and more to Assistant Commissioner and appointed widely in our region. May she rest in peace. “ Chief of Staff to the Commissioner’s As a member of the AFP’s Senior Offi ce. Executive, Audrey was a full-time member Audrey received the Australian Police of the AFP’s Executive Management Medal in the Australia Day Honours Board. It is here that Audrey was making on 2004 for her work in Protection, her most meaningful contributions to the Counter Terrorism and for the successful AFP. integration of the Australian Protective Service into the AFP. Audrey could deal with both the substance and the vision of the In June 2005, Audrey took up her role strategic thinking of the AFP’s Executive as the Chief Police Offi cer of the ACT. Management Board. Her ability to provide As Chief Police Offi cer Audrey was timely and meaningful input into setting responsible to the ACT Minister for the direction of the AFP impressed us all. Hartigan Brian by Photo 6 Platypus Magazine | Edition 95, July 2007.