Honour for Dayboro's Sergeant Ken

Sergeant Ken Robinson’s dedication to the community has been recognised with the Dayboro Police Station Officer in Charge named as a finalist in the QBANK Everyday Heroes Awards.

Sergeant Robinson is one of three finalists in the Ownership category.

He has served the Dayboro community for 20 years, moving there from Yarraman in 2003 when the Officer in Charge position became available.

Sgt Robinson heads-up a two-officer police station with Senior Constable Paul Waples by his side.

They are the station’s longest serving police officers, smashing the previously held record of 9¾ years.

“I thought it would be an interesting and rewarding job with plenty of variety and the opportunity for a long-term career,” Sgt Robinson says.

His station overseas a police division of about 8500 people and while the majority don’t add to his workload, there are still challenges with issues such as drug use and mental health.

“Being able to get to know people is a big thing for me,” he says.

Sgt Robinson says strong community connections give him the opportunity to make a difference because he can follow-up with residents who are having a bad period in their lives.

“The personal connection does have a downside when dealing with the less pleasant policing jobs,” he says.

Community spirit

Outside of policing, he is heavily involved with his community, including volunteer therapy dog work with schools, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and universities.

He says his wife visits local schools and he visits a school at Ferny Hills, where he’s not known as Sgt Ken. It’s something they have done for about two years.

“I wanted that separation. I do work with the kids in general and with inclusion students,” he explains.

His therapy-trained dog Milo has helped his mental health and he wants to help others. Milo is not an assistance dog, so people can pat him and interact in a way that makes them feel happy and relaxed.

“It’s a nice outlet for me,” he says.

Sgt Robinson says he feels grateful and a little guilty about the QBANK Everyday Heroes Awards nomination.

“There are a lot of other people out there doing things for the community. I could nominate 300 people at any one time,” he says.

Sgt Robinson says he’s fortunate to be working in a small station, which gives him more time to do community work.

“It is nice that someone took the time to nominate me,” he says. 

|“It’s a great place to live and work."|

"It’s a good community and they’re very supportive of everyone and also the emergency services. They’re very good at helping each other out.”

QBANK Everyday Heroes Awards categories are achievement, ownership, dedication, working together, excellence and the Young Everyday Hero Award.

The finalists will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and the winners will receive $2000 and an additional $2000 donated to a charity of their choice.

The 2023 Everyday Heroes Award winners will be recognised at the annual awards dinner at the W Hotel Brisbane on 27 October 2023.