What a great catch - fishing guru inspires police college graduates

Fifty seven new constables will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 267 tomorrow. The wing has been privileged to have Graeme Sinclair, MNZM, as their patron. Graeme, a Blue Light community youth programme ambassador, is well known throughout New Zealand, and the world, for his fishing series 'Gone Fishin'.

Graeme has been an inspiration to the wing, telling them on Tuesday night that life is a gift, sometimes magic, sometimes tragic, but a gift none-the-less. He reminded them to never give up and make the best of what challenges life puts before them.

Mid-way through the five month recruit training course, Graeme organised a day’s fishing for the wing. During the trip on Wellington's South Coast, recruit Craig Collier landed a record-breaking kingfish weighing in at 36 kilos.

It is not only their patron who shares the television limelight. During their time at Police College, Wing 267 has been the focus of the television series, Ng? Pirihimana Hou. This is an observational documentary series produced for M?ori Television. The 13 half-hour episodes showcase some of the activities the wing has been part of over the past 19 weeks. The final episode airs on Friday 26 August.

Members of Wing 267 have been posted to stations throughout the country. They will be posted to:

Southern: Dunedin (1), Invercargill (1), Gore (1)
Canterbury: Christchurch (3), Timaru (1)
Tasman: Greymouth (2), Blenheim (1)
Wellington: Lower Hutt (2), Wellington Central (1)
Central: Taumarunui (1), Palmerston North (1), Levin (1), New Plymouth (1)
Eastern: Gisborne (1), Hastings (2)
Bay of Plenty: Whakatane (1), Rotorua (1), Tokoroa (1), Tauranga (1), Taupo (1)
Waikato: Hamilton (3), Morrinsville (1)
Auckland City Avondale (3), Mt Wellington (3), Auckland Central (2)
Counties-Manukau: Otahuhu (1), Manurewa (4), Howick (2)
Waitemata: Henderson (9), North Shore (1)
Northland: Whangarei (1), Kaitaia (1)

Wing 267 prize winners:

•Minister's Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Samuel Keats, posted to Christchurch. Constable Keats was also awarded the Ericsson Practical Prize for the overall winner for practical assessments, skills files & forensic fingerprinting, and the Holden Tactical Skills & Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms & driving)

•Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Kullen Manley, posted to Christchurch. Constable Manley was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize (overall winner for Academic Exams 1, 2 & 3)

•Patron's Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Tanerahi Keno, posted to Tauranga.

•The Porirua City Council Leadership Award (Selected by the wing management team as having demonstrated outstanding leadership and potential to succeed) was awarded to Constable Michelle Hunt, posted to Manurewa. Constable Hunt was also awarded the section prize for Section Two.

•Intergraph Computer Skills Prize (overall winner in computer studies) was awarded to Constable Gareth Barnes, posted to Hamilton.

•Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Charlene Ruffell, posted to Invercargill.

•The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award was awarded to Constable Karl Harrison, posted to Hamilton.

•The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Luke Jimmieson posted to Wellington.

Police Association Prizes for Section Achievement:
This prize is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.

•Section One, Constable Jacqueline Fairbairn, posted to Gore
•Section Two, Constable Michelle Hunt, posted to Manurewa
•Section Three, Constable Vivian Teremoana, posted to New Plymouth

Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Rd, Porirua, on Thursday 7 July at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Honourable Judith Collins, Minister of Police, and Acting Police Commissioner Viv Rickard.

Wing Patron: Graeme Sinclair, MNZM

Graeme Sinclair is known by many for his Gone Fishin television show, his fishing radio show on Radio Sport, and his many books and magazine articles on fishing. However, he also has a strong connection with Police through the Carters Kids Gone Fishin initiative, a charitable event in which he works with Police Blue Light and youth education officers to provide children with half a day of fun and fishing. He has been involved in this for 14 years.

Graeme first started his successful Gone Fishin television show in 1993 and it continues today, now on its 18th series and 18th year on television. He is the Managing Director of Frontier Television (NZ) Ltd, which produces the show.

He grew up enjoying outdoor pursuits and became involved in them professionally as well as recreationally. Fishing of course, hunting, white water rafting, diving and skiing were a few of those activities. He spent time as a white water rafting guide and diving instructor. He also developed and ran outdoor management and team building courses.

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis approximately 14 years ago, Graeme did not let this stop him enjoying his outdoor activities, even though he is in a wheelchair. He continues to host fishing trips, undertake speaking engagements, write, and host the Carters' Gone Fishin radio show ... and much more including taking children fishing in the Carters Kids Gone Fishin programme.

This programme is targeted at children from disadvantaged backgrounds (as well as children and their families from the wider community). It rewards children for their good behaviour and encourages them to stay on the "straight and narrow". Around 10 of these events are held throughout New Zealand every year. Through his involvement with this programme, Graeme has been appointed a Patron of Police Blue Light.

In 2009 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for recognition of his services to television.

Graeme is married to Sandra (Sandee) and has two children.