Abigail Slater is inspired by the work and life of Nelson Mandela.
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In a strange coincidence, Central Hunter local area commander Superintendent Garry O’Dell met the great former president of South Africa when he visited Australia for the Olympics in 2000.
The St Phillip’s Christian College, Waratah student won the Aspire Today Competition, which was part of National Youth Week.
Students were recognised at Newcastle City Hall in August after they entered a submission to the competition to answer the question how they would influence the future through government, police or business.
Abigail’s submission earned her the chance for Central Hunter’s top cop to mentor her for a day, an opportunity she described as amazing.
“I think I’ll get a greater understanding of police and the work they do,” the year 11 student said.
“I had never even been into a police station before today.
“I think this will definitely give me a better understanding of all the different parts of policing. Already I’ve seen where the different areas are and what they do.”
Abigail said she was surprised but thrilled to have been chosen.
“I wrote [my submission] up really late one night. One of the teacher’s at school [had] promoted it at an assembly and I thought I’d enter,” she said.
“I didn’t even tell him I had entered, I didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”
In her submission, Abigail identified the police as having an important role to play in the community, not only in keeping people safe, but through education and public awareness programs.
“Basically I said I would work with the community,” she said.
“Also those things like compassion and kindness, which you have to make an everyday thing.”