Award recipients with Acting Commissioner of Police Linda Williams APM LEM, The Honourable Minister Brown MP, Minister for Police and President of the NHW VASA Inc Board of Management, Phil Tavender.

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) volunteers and members of South Australia Police (SAPOL) celebrated another year of successes at the 2026 NHW awards and the annual general meeting of the NHW Volunteer Association of South Australia (VASA) at Kooyonga Golf Club on 1 November.

Acting Commissioner of Police Linda Williams APM LEM presented the awards for the South Australia Police recipients and spoke about NHW as a vital pillar of community policing. She said she had championed this approach throughout her career and understood the important role it played in building trust and strengthening connections between police and the community. Acting Commissioner Williams took the opportunity to acknowledge the SAPOL officers who share this same commitment and embody it in their work.

“They do not view community engagement as an additional task,” she said. “They see it as a fundamental part of policing.”

The Honourable Minister Brown MP, Minister for Police, who presented the volunteer awards discussed NHW’s founding idea; communities working together for the benefit of everybody. He acknowledged the volunteers’ commitment to this core philosophy within an evolving technological landscape that has changed the ways NHW operates.

This year, the Volunteer of the Year award was given to two recipients as the awards panel could not separate these excellent nominees. Both Kingston SE NHW Area Coordinator Heather Cottee and Woodcroft NHW Area Coordinator George Holroyd received this award for their tireless contribution to the program.

Goolwa NHW Area Coordinator Pat Salter received the President’s Award for her outstanding commitment to NHW.

The day included glorious music by the Band of the South Australia Police’s woodwind and trombone ensembles and a presentation from Band coordinator Senior Sergeant First Class Andrew Low who spoke about the parallels between NHW and the police band, explaining that both serve as important ambassadors for SAPOL through their engagement with the community. He encouraged NHW Areas to invite the Band to perform at their events. Bookings can be made through the SAPOL website. It is important to book early because the Band is always in demand.

Volunteer of the Year

Heather Cottee – Area 624 Kingston SE

George Holroyd – Area 406 Woodcroft

President’s Award

Pat Salter – Area 272 Goolwa

SAPOL Award of Dedication recipients

• Sergeant First Class Joane Curyer – Area 055 Sefton Park
• Senior Constable Deborah Edwards – Area 624 Kingston SE
• Sergeant Randal Murch – Area 111 Gawler East
• Probationary Constable Matthew Withall – Area 406 Woodcroft
• Brevet Sergeant Ian Maskall – Area 148 Modbury Heights West

Certificate of Commendation

• Stuart Dunk – Area 111 Gawler East
• Bill Hofmeyer – Area 428 Klemzig
• David McNabb – Area 491 Aberfoyle Park
• Paul Sutcliffe – Area 326 Seacliff Park / Area 64 Panorama

Award of Merit

• Graham Edmonds – Area 428 Klemzig
• Hanna Samuels – Area 428 Klemzig
• Lee-Anne Cronshaw – Area 428 Klemzig
• Tom Randall – Area 624 Kingston SE
• Robert Eldridge – Area 441 Para Hills
• Aileen Eldridge – Area 441 Para Hills