Cleo Darke describes Police Legacy’s ‘amazing’ help after the death of her police officer dad
When her police officer father died suddenly, Cleo Darke, was just 16. How Police Legacy helped her through the darkest days.
Tasmania
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Six years ago when her friends were meeting their new teachers, Cleo Darke, was writing her father’s eulogy.
On the first day of year 10, the then 16-year-old woke up excited to get ready for school and catching up with friends she hadn’t seen for weeks.
But two police officers arrived at her front door with news that her beloved father Constable Simon Darke, 45, had died by suicide while at work.
“While my friends were meeting their teachers and getting ready for the school year, I was writing a eulogy and picking out his coffin details,” Cleo said.
In the darkest days of her life she was helped by Police Legacy and as she celebrates becoming a mother she is also sharing her story as part of National Police Legacy Day.
“They were amazing and they’ve provided so much support that I didn’t even know was possible, financially, emotionally, every way possible,” she said.
“Just knowing that they were there if I needed them, that was the biggest reassurance I could have asked for.”
Despite being devastated after her father’s death, Cleo missed just two days of school and finished year 10 with good results.
She attended a Police Legacy camp with other young people who had experienced similar challenges.
“It was about maybe six months after dad’s death that I was sitting in bed when I realised I wouldn’t have anyone to walk me down the aisle.
“I had a bit of a hard time after I realised that and then going away (to camp) and speaking to other police legatees that had also lost their fathers, and they had had the same thought.
“It was reassuring that I wasn’t being a sook or that maybe one of them could walk me down the aisle.”
Cleo talked about feeling incredibly isolated after her father’s death.
“A lot of my recovery was as a result of connecting with these other police legatees to compare stories and to make sure that we weren’t alone.”
Cleo returned to touch football playing and refereeing five times a week “getting outside and moving my body, and that was what my Dad had encouraged”.
Police Legacy also paid for her to hike the Kokoda Track with other legatees and Police Legacy Tasmania chair Theresa Dilger.
“To be honest, I’d never heard of the Kokoda Track before but with my bushwalking background, once I did a little bit of reading, I was super keen.
“It was amazing to be united with so many legatees from across Australia and all hear their stories. You can’t put a price on it.”
Cleo’s late father wanted her to be a lawyer joking “he could lock them up and I could put them away” but she decided instead to think about a police career.
“After speaking to a fair few people they said that working in the police radio room helped you make the decision whether policing was right for you or not. So I thought that was a pretty smart course of action.”
Cleo has worked in the radio room as a civilian dispatcher and triple zero call taker for two years and will return when her maternity leave ends next year.
Cleo and her partner Lachlan, also a police officer, welcomed their son Clark Simon John, who has the names of his two grandfathers, six weeks ago.
She is devastated that her father is not around to meet his grandson.
“I miss him massively.
“Obviously, if he was here, I imagine I’d be kicking him out the door and telling him not to come around or he’d be here 24-7, spending time with him, but sadly that’s not the case.
“I’m still really close with all of dad’s friends and they’re all police officers so he’ll be spending a few times with all his adopted grandfathers as I’m calling them.”
Cleo recently accompanied Lachlan and Clark to the Tasmania Police Academy.
“I was sitting in the gymnasium and was looking around, realising that my father had brought me there when he was in the Police Academy. And I thought it was really sweet that my son is now having the same experience with his father.”
National Police Legacy Day is celebrated every year on June 17.
Police Legacy Tasmania was established in 2018 and chair Theresa Dilger says the day is significant.
“We hope that through National Police Legacy Day we can celebrate and shine a light on the life-changing work being done by Police Legacy organisations around the country,” she said.
If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue is available to speak 24/7 on 1300 22 4636. If someone’s life is in immediate danger, call 000.
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