Sergeant Tim Marrinan has witnessed both sorrow and celebration in his 34-year-career with the Queensland Police Service and today, the local officer hung up his hat for good.
A guard of honour was formed while bagpipes played as Sergeant Marrinan left Bundaberg Police Station for the last time.
Walking into the Queensland Police Service academy on 17 April 1989, he left his role as a teacher and then become sworn in as an officer on 27 October that year.
Sergeant Marrinan was stationed at Gin Gin Police Station for 14-and-a-half years and played a pivotal role in the community as Officer in Charge for just over seven of those.
In 2017 he moved over to Bundaberg Police Station.
During his three decades on the job, Sergeant Marrinan said there were many highlights.
He said the ones he would take away with him the most centred around helping others.
“There are a lot of highlights, a lot of sad moments and a lot of happy moments,” he said.
“Happy moments include when I was a search and rescue coordinator – LANDSAR we call them – land search and rescue.
“Over a 10-year period we located every single person we set out to find- so that’s a highlight.
“Finding lost people by coordinating searches, with SES, police and volunteers, bringing in choppers – that stands out as a moment for me.
“There were no missing people left for me when I was in the role.”
Being a teacher before joining the force provided Sergeant Marrinan with an understanding and caring nature.
He said being located a stone’s throw from the Bruce Highway gave him an appreciation of the importance of mentoring young community members in road safety.
“Road safety, especially with the school students at Gin Gin was important,” he said.
“We paid for the Year 12s and 11s to do driver education down in Gympie – it was little things like that.
“I hope I have made some sort of difference in people’s lives.
“It’s hard to judge, but I hope so.
“I’m not vindictive, you do what you have to do and work hard at it.
“It has been an honour to serve, I will never forget it.
“So many memories, good and bad, sad and tragic, but I am leaving on a positive note.”
Through his time at Gin Gin Police Station Sergeant Marrinan was the officer in charge when the first-ever female police officer joined the ranks in the small community.
“That was Leah Martin in 2010,” he said.
“It had always been a male-orientated station, and there were no females there except our AO (administration officer) Lynn Engstrom who has been there for nearly 30 years.”
This ended the century-long pattern of only male officers at Gin Gin.
Sergeant Marrinan’s son, Sam, has followed in his footsteps and is currently serving in Normanton.
“I am actually the first police officer in my family,” he said.
“I’m excited for the next chapter of my life, and I plan to become a grey nomad with my wife Jill.”
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