There’s no doubt about the lengths Bamaga Police will go, they have become well known for finding a message in a bottle, guest appearances on a 4WD and Fishing show, even a local child has been named after two Bamaga Police Officers.
So it came as no surprise when a call for help was put out and officers from Bamaga Police Station jumped at the chance to lend a hand to a family in need.
The request for help came through a local Facebook page, the Cook family had been planning a trip to the Cape for 15 years and needed advice on how to get their 9-year-old son Sidney to the tip of Cape York sign. Young Sidney is wheelchair bound having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just 3-months-old.
The sign at the northernmost point of Australia. A great photo destination for many but not an easy trip for Sidney, that was until Bamaga Police came along.
The dream of making it to the tip of Australia looked certain to drift away following a knee injury for mum Narelle and back surgery for dad Gary. Trying everything they could to help make their dream a reality, Gary sought advice on a Cape York Adventure page with the hope that someone in the area might know how they could get a permit to drive Sidney as close as possible to the sign.
The response was swift, within 15 minutes Acting Senior Constable Talina O’Brien was on the phone to the family letting them know that Bamaga Police would help in whatever way they could to get Sidney to the tip of Australia and in front of the ‘tip of Cape York’ sign.
All smiles from Sidney as Bamaga Police carry him to the tip on a chair made specially for the trip.
Narelle was overwhelmed with the response.
“We didn’t know what to expect, to turn up on the day and have the entire team from Bamaga Police station there with a specially made chair for Sidney left us lost for words,” Narelle said.
“Words will never be able to express how much we appreciate the assistance that the Bamaga Police gave us, I don’t think we will ever be able to thank them enough for everything they have done.”
Not an easy trek by any means. The track to the tip of Cape York.
Acting Senior Constable Talina O’Brien was thrilled to be a part of this special adventure.
“It was an awesome day for all of us and an absolute privilege to be a part of this journey,” Acting Senior Constable O’Brien said.
“Sidney might be paralysed from the waist down but he has a massive heart and an even bigger smile. He told us that he loves soccer and music but nothing compares to adventuring with his mum and dad.
“Bamaga police officers even gave up their day-off to lend a hand. There were plenty of tears when we handed over an All-4-Adventure pack to the family.
“Producers from television show All-4-Adventure found out about Sidney’s story and made sure that a pack was there waiting for him. Sidney had been watching the program so he knew what to expect in the Cape, little did he know that the officers handing him the pack would be the ones that he saw starring on the show”.
He made it! The Cook family with Sidney and some of the awesome crew from the Bamaga Police Station.
Grab your tissues and take a look at Sidney’s adventure video to the tip (at the top of this post) put together by Acting Senior Constable O’Brien with some great filming from Sidney’s dad Gary and his drone.
We wish the Cook family all the very best as they tour the rest of our beautiful far north.
A special thanks is extended to Senior Sergeant Antoni Lesic, Sergeant Suzie MacDonald, Senior Constable Morgan Mann, Acting Senior Constable Talina O’Brien, Constable Nathan Newby, Constable Nick DeRozario and Administration Office Karli Mann.
Thank you for helping to make the Cook family’s dream a reality.