Tweed-Byron police’s Margaret Kerr takes home Volunteer of the Year in 2023 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards

A North Coast 84-year-old who’s volunteered more than 15,000 hours with NSW Police has been awarded for her amazing efforts. Meet Tweed-Byron police’s much-loved ‘mum’.

Margaret Kerr, 84, has been recognised for her volunteering with Tweed-Byron police.

A North Coast woman who has volunteered more than 15,000 hours with police has been named Volunteer of the Year in the 2023 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards.

Inspirational Margaret Kerr, 84, has worked about 625 full 24-hour days with Tweed-Byron Police District over more than two decades.

Ms Kerr – or “Margie”, as she is affectionately known in the district, was recognised at the Sydney awards earlier this month.

She told The Northern Star: “I don’t do it to get honours – I do it because I love it.”

“It’s just one of those things. All the people at the station are so pleased for me, you know? “That shows they appreciate what you do, and a lot of them do call me ‘mum’.”

Ms Kerr said she lost her son, decided to get active in the community and joined the Volunteers In Policing program.

Earlier this month, the police district gave the “beloved” Ms Kerr a shout out on Facebook, thanking “Margie for her exceptional service” and congratulating her on the award win.

Volunteer of the Year at the 2023 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards, 86-year-old Margaret Kerr.

Ms Kerr said she enjoyed being part of the “police family” as part of the volunteer program introduced in 1995 to allow community members to help police by undertaking non-core duties.

She said she was a “nervous sort of person”, but heard the position had come up.

“I’d lost my son and I thought I’ve got to do something otherwise I’ll fall in a heap. I was successful and I got it,” she said.

Ms Kerr works two or three days a week with the district and said “it’s just good fun”.

“And they treat us just like one of them. It’s really great,” she said.

Ms Kerr began back in 2001, providing all kinds of support at Byron Bay Police Station.

“Mum” often brings in a freshly baked cakes or slices to help fuel the officers and make sure they take time to get together for a cuppa’ and a chat.

Margaret Kerr and Supt Michael Kenny at Tweed Heads Police Station back in 2008.

She stocks the station, updates paperwork and sorts mail, pitching in all over the place.

Ms Kerr has supported police at music festivals like Bluesfest for about 15 years, including with administrative tasks, lost and found items and at the command posts.

“Sometimes out at the festivals when they bring somebody in we get quite a bit of a laugh out of some of the carrying on with them,” Ms Kerr said.

It’s not the only time she’s come across some colourful situations, as you would expect.

“But we’ve had some good times,” she said.

Asked about the Sydney awards ceremony, Ms Kerr said it was “really lovely” police arranged everything and she had a “lovely night”.

“I’m not a great flyer, but we left out from Ballina – it wasn’t too bad,” she said.

Margaret Kerr has volunteered with police for more than two decades, including at the popular Bluesfest music festival at Tyagarah.

Ms Kerr said she probably does not do quite as much these days, now she is “the big 8-4”.

“The old saying is “if you don’t use it you’ll lose it”, so that’s mainly one of the big reasons I’m still doing it (volunteering),” she said.

“I came in this morning with the award (to show police) because they haven’t seen it and they were all so excited.

“If you don’t enjoy it you don’t do it.”

Ms Kerr said she would stay in the role “as long as I can get out of bed”.

Find out more about the NSW Police Volunteers in Policing program online, or contact the crime prevention officer with your local police.