Wayne Fitzpatrick was looking for a slight change of pace when he decided to become a sheriff 26 years ago.
He had been working as a corrections officer in prisons, but after 12 years he’d “had enough”.
It was about the same time a job in the Sheriff’s Office at Sydney’s Downey Centre became available, which allowed Wayne to put his existing background and training into action in a different way.
As a result of that decision, Wayne said he’s proud to be among those celebrating 200 years of the Sheriff’s Office in NSW this year.
It makes the service the Australia’s oldest law enforcement agency.
At a bicentenary celebration in Dubbo at the weekend, Wayne was formally recognised for his service to the agency.
He received a 25 year service bar to add to his National Medal, presented when he reached 15 years as a sheriff.
He was also presented with the special medal to mark the bicentenary.
Making the presentations more significant was that they were presented by NSW Sherriff Tracey Hall in front of the senior leadership team and the rest of his peers.
Sheriff Hall called out the Deniliquin region and Wayne in particular.
She highlighted that his service area is the same size as the Illawarra region, which has 51 sheriff’s while Wayne works solo.
“It was a great night, and what Sheriff Hall said about Deniliquin was just fantastic - I wasn’t expecting that.
“To be recognised in front of your peers in that way was quite nice.”
Wayne started his career as a sheriff in Sydney before taking up a job in Deniliquin.
He was initially intending to stay for two years, but January this year marked 20 years since that move.
“I really enjoy Deniliquin, where I am also involved in the Rural Fire Service - an organisation I’ve been involved with for 30 years,” he said.
“I find that meeting and working with people is the best part of my job.
“I’m told I have the gift of the gab, and being able to build a rapport with people is an important part of the job.
“As sheriffs we deal with a wider range of people than police would, so we’re learning to deal with people at all different levels - it’s one of the fortays of anyone who works in the Sherriff’s Office.”
The NSW Sheriff’s Office conducts law enforcement, security and support activities to ensure the safe and successful operation of state courts.
It also administers the NSW jury service system, a massive operation which involves more than 200,000 citizens each year across the state.
Duties of a sheriff include but are not limited to security at court houses, civil law enforcements, debt recovery, issuing writs from courts, distributing court documents and even evictions on behalf of NCAT or the Supreme Court of NSW.
But the role of a country sheriff can differ greatly from those in the cities, and not just because of the close relationships sheriff’s develop with their smaller communities.
“When I was interviewed recently for a documentary being made on the Sherriff’s Office, they asked me to share something about my job that is unique to the country.
“I told them I might just be the only sheriff who has had to pepper spray a pig.
“We were conducting an eviction on a farm, and it was quite a big sow trying to protect her piglets.
“It was chasing us around the cars, and the owner said if we happened to fall over she’d have no hesitation in taking a chunk out of us.”
Wayne said he;s also lucky to work in one of Deniliquin’s most attractive building, and particularly enjoys giving visitors a tour of the famed Deniliquin Court House if he is able.
“I show people through and share the history of the building with them, and really enjoy taking them to the haunted areas.
“I am quite proud of our court house.”
The NSW Sheriff’s Office was established in Australia by the Third Charter of Justice (NSW Act) which was passed in 1823 and came into effect the following year.