Julianne France
- promote crime prevention initiatives by distributing crime prevention materials at shopping centres , schools , car parks and home addresses
- perform administrative tasks such as minute taking , shredding , filing , photocopying and packing
An additional – but happy and rewarding task for Gil and Julianne – is manning the barbecue at Riverstone Police Station , which , because of its stateof-the-art catering facilities , hosts other area commands ’ conferences .
A special role for Gil is regularly updating Riverstone Area Command ’ s innovative Eyewatch page on Facebook .
Eyewatch has more than 1.1 million followers across the state ’ s area commands and provides crime information , warnings and crime prevention tips that are of major significance .
“ The general public can use Eyewatch to pose questions to local police , ask advice or share local information with them ,” Gil said .
“ Eyewatch is used to provide crime prevention and safety information , seek community assistance to help locate missing or wanted people , and to inform followers about local crimes , incidents and emergencies .”
Both Gil and Julianne are Justices of the Peace ( JPs ) and their services are regularly called on at Riverstone Police Station and at their home office .
“ COVID made for a hectic time for us as JPs ,” Julianne said .
“ Since the start of COVID , we would have seen over 5000 clients at the office and the police station – during our regular shifts at Riverstone , Gil or I would have around 10 clients each day calling on our services .”
I asked Gil how he became involved in the VIP program .
“ For half a dozen years I managed our grandson Harry ’ s junior rugby league team , the Quakers Hill Destroyers , and one of his team-mates was Jayden , the son of Sue Carter , who was at the time , the Crime Prevention Officer ( CPO ) at Quakers Hill Police ,” Gil explained .
“ Sue , who is now the CPO at Riverstone Area Command and our VIP supervisor , was impressed by the way I liaised with players , parents and the public , and asked would I be interested in joining the VIP program .
“ I had recently retired and was looking for something to keep me occupied apart from my involvement with Hawkesbury Men ’ s Shed , so I jumped at the opportunity offered by Sue .”
Prior to retiring , Gil , born and bred in Windsor , trained and worked as a boilermaker before becoming a vendor for Tip Top Bakery in 1971 , delivering loaves to homes and shops all over the Hawkesbury .
“ I did that until 1988 before selling the run and from then , until retiring in 2015 , I did maintenance contract work which involved not only my boiler making skills but painting , plumbing and fitting ,” Gil said .
Snags up ! Gil and Julianne France thoroughly enjoy regularly manning the barbeque in Riverstone Police Station ’ s swank kitchen . Delighted to receive his sausage sanger is Probationary Constable Will Dover . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
Jill , a Parramatta girl , earned a quid throughout her working life as a bookkeeper , skills which have been put to good use in her duties as a VIP .
Both were previously married before giving the tying of the knot caper another go in 2007 .
“ We met two years previously , but it wasn ’ t until we were on a tour coach in West Australia that Gil proposed ,” Julianne said .
“ He grabbed the bus microphone and asked me to be his wife .
“ You could see he was much relieved when I accepted his proposal – it would have been most embarrassing for both of us if I had refused .” Jill laughed .
The loving couple have five daughters from their previous marriages and nine grand kids on whom they dote .
When asked why they devote so much of their time to being Volunteers In Policing , Gil was succinct in his answer .
“ Julianne and I like helping people and meeting people and simply , we enjoy giving back to the community .”
Gil and Julianne France – truly VIPs of the Very Important Persons variety !
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 14 // MAY 2022 9