‘Today I’m a Roosters fan’: Hero police officer Amy Scott’s selfless response to Bondi massacre bravery
The hero police officer who shot and stopped the Westfield Bondi Junction attacker has spoken while being honoured for her bravery.
Hero police officer Amy Scott has spoken passionately about her Bondi massacre bravery, saying: “I was only doing my job.”
On what will become an annual event, the Sydney Roosters publicly recognised all emergency services during Sunday’s NRL match against Canberra at Allianz Stadium.
There were activations and tributes for NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue, VRA Rescue NSW, SES, Rural Fire Service, Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving Australia and St John Ambulance.
Inspector Scott was the undoubted star, arriving in a PolAir helicopter to present the game ball to Roosters captain, James Tedesco.
Inspector Scott, who shot Joel Cauchi during April’s stabbing rampage, which killed six people at Westfield Bondi Junction, was given a standing ovation from the NRL crowd.
“I was just doing my job that day, absolutely” she said. “It was a job I hoped the community would expect from us. I know any of my colleagues would have done exactly the same. I’m grateful that we were able to get there and do what we did as quickly as we did.
“Look, I’m a very big believer in taking the support that is offered to you. I had done that significantly prior to anything that happened at Bondi.
“The people you go home to, your family and friends, are key. For me, it’s my wife Emma because they deal with trauma you deal with in a different light and she has been incredible. We got married in February and we have two young boys. I’m excellent, I’m doing really well.
“I’m enjoying being back at work. I actually just had some annual leave, which was nice. I love my job, I love where I work and I love my team. I’m grateful to be there with them doing day-to-day stuff again. It is (a thankless task) at times, absolutely.
“It’s a wonderful day to recognise so many different emergence services and I’m incredibly grateful to the Roosters and NRL for making this happen because there are so many unsung heroes out there, not just with the NSW Police Force, but with all other emergence services, so it’s so nice to have a wonderful, positive, light shed on us all.
“It was unreal, a fantastic experience. It’s a privilege.”
Asked who she supported in the NRL, Scott said: “Today I’m a Roosters fan, but I will have you know that ’97 and 2001 (years when Newcastle won the premiership), hold a place in my heart. I’m a one-town, one-team kind of girl; a very big (Knights) fan.”
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb attended the match and praised Scott and the Roosters.
“What courage Amy Scott has shown this year. She really epitomises policing in NSW. She is very humble,” Ms Catley said. “This is an opportunity for us to say to her: ‘Thank you so much for her courage’. Without her actions, we could have ended up with a different situation that day in Bondi.
“A huge shout-out to the Roosters, what they have done is fantastic in recognising our first responders. And to do it as something so quintessentially Australian, the rugby league on Father’s Day, is a great tribute.”
Ms Webb was also glowing in her praise of the Roosters initiative and Scott’s courage.
“She (Scott) is an amazing officer every day of the week,” Ms Webb said.
The day was the brainchild of Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis, who said: “What Amy did (at Bondi), she will go down in the history books for the bravery she showed that day. It was remarkable.”
Players of the match in the NRL and NRLW games were presented with the Commissioner’s Medal. There was a police vehicle parade and the police band. Both teams met in the centre tunnel before walking side-by-side on to the field.
Roosters and Souths legend Ron Coote, rugby league’s latest Immortal, was presented to the crowd. Australian Firefighters defeated NSW Police 26-22 in a curtain-raiser.
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