Carrying on a policing legacy

When Sergeant Daniel Thorne handed his daughter, Constable Maddison Thorne, her Freddie at her graduation, he was handing over more than just a badge – he was passing on generations of policing experience.?

Policing runs deep in the Thorne family. In addition to her dad being a police officer, Maddison’s great-grandfather Mervyn Thorne retired as a sergeant and her grandfather Robert was a chief inspector.?

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Following in the footsteps of her father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Maddison is the fourth generation of her family to join the ranks at Victoria Police, something she has had her sights on since she was young.?

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“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t consider joining,” Maddison said.?

“Growing up, Dad always spoke so highly of the job and always had great stories to tell.?

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“He was open with me about the challenges of it but always made it sound like a great career.”?

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Proud dad Daniel echoed this recalling her wanting to dress up as a police officer as a child.??

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“She was always asking to put my uniform on, and we have many photos of her dressed up in it,” he said.?

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“To see her follow through on her dreams and be in her own uniform now is just so amazing to see.”?

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Before entering the Academy last year, Maddison was a VPS employee in Forensics Services Department but said the desire to be on the frontline won out.?

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“It was great to see that side of the organisation, who knows I might end up back in Forensics as an officer, but I think I always knew I wanted to go down the sworn path,” she said.?

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Having been in the job for almost 30 years, Daniel knows the ups and the downs but said he always encouraged Maddison’s interest in policing.?

“People would always say ‘Oh do you want her to join?’ and I always responded with ‘Absolutely’,” he said.?

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“Yeah, the job comes with its challenges, but it’s been a great career for me and I’m so proud and honoured she wants to do it as well.”?

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Now finished with her formal training, Maddison has been placed at Doncaster Police Station. Where she ends up going in her career is something she said she’s not planning on deciding too soon.?

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“I’m just excited to get out there and really start my career,” she said.?

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“Dad spent a lot of his career in CIUs and so that’s always been of interest to me.?

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“But I don’t want to get tunnel vision and there’s a few things that have sparked my interest and probably more pathways I don’t even know about yet.?

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“The most common advice Dad has always given me is to just take on any and all opportunities I can and to not be afraid to just give things a try.?