From whip cracking champion to Katherine High School police officer
Before building connections with students as Katherine High School’s School-based Police Officer, Senior Constable Tanith Blair was mastering whip cracking and winning national titles! A skill she learnt growing up on a 2,000-acre Angus cattle farm in Whorouly, northeast Victoria.
‘It started as something practical. We used whips when working cattle, but it also helped pass the time when you were out in the paddock. Then it became something I really enjoyed,’ she said.
By the age of 12, that enjoyment had turned into success, competing in arenas across the country including the Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Championship which she won, defeating her own mother in the process!
This was just one part of her childhood rural traditions. From the age of 3, Tanith was riding horses, and by 7 years old, she was taking part in cattle drives.
‘It was just part of life. You learnt responsibility early, and you worked as part of a team. Those experiences really shaped who I am,’ said Tanith.
Tanith finished school after year 11 to work at a horse breeding and training facility. However, she had other career aspirations.
‘I always wanted to join the police. I wanted to help people and make a difference,’ she said.
To achieve her goal, Tanith returned to school to complete year 12 while continuing to work, and in 1999 she was accepted into the Victoria Police Academy.
Tanith graduated in 2000 and began her policing career in Melbourne before moving to regional Victoria, and in 2008, she made a life-changing move to the Northern Territory.
For the last 8 years she has worked as a school-based police officer across Palmerston and rural areas.
Now based at Katherine High School, she is focused on building trust and breaking down barriers between young people and police.
‘I want students to feel comfortable coming to me. Often their experiences with police are when something has gone wrong. I want to show them that we are here to help and support them. If I can have a positive influence, even in a small way, that is what matters. Seeing young people go on and succeed - it means a lot to know you played a part in that,’ said Tanith.
