We sat with John ‘Bluey’ O Gorman, a retired police officer, in his home to talk about his former life in the police. John served in the Queensland Police Service for forty years. And when asked about the best parts of the job, he responded, “it started in 1966 until November 2006”. In a three hour long conversation, John expressed his satisfaction in the mundanity of being a police officer - in changing tires, in pointing out directions, and thoughtfully reflected on the violence associated with the job.
During his time, John served in many roles, including as the president of the Queensland Police Union. In this audio capture, he looks back at his part in initiating the Police Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration day for police officers.