Western Bulldogs Chief Executive Campbell Rose and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon celebrated a successful year of partnership in the Western Region community this week.

The Western Bulldogs and Footscray Police developed a community partnership last year and the union has grown dramatically in the last 12 months with 2008 looking set to be even bigger.

Bulldogs Chief Executive Campbell Rose said the partnership was an example of the focus both organisations had on developing community programs in the West of Melbourne.

“The Western Bulldogs are known as the community club of the AFL and through our community division, SpiritWest Services we are involved in numerous programs in our community. Footscray Police members have assisted us with many of those programs and their assistance and support has been invaluable,” he said.

“We are based in one of the most culturally diverse areas of Melbourne and we cannot simply target one group of the community. With Victoria Police’s help we have successfully reached out to members of our community in all age groups, from all backgrounds and cultures and we hope to increase this involvement in the future.”

In the past twelve months students from the Bulldogs FRESH program for at-risk youth have visited the Police Academy at Glen Waverley and attended several presentations by Footscray Police officers on life skills and youth issues. Local police and Western Bulldogs staff have developed a citizenship program with Maribyrnong City Council, combined to present to various multicultural groups in the western groups, attended regular community events such as the Big West Festival, Brimbank Festival and charity days and organised community and road safety programs.

Earlier this year Footscray Police Officers Senior Constable James Ridsdale and Leading Senior Constable Craig Spicer were nominated by the Bulldogs for the Eddie McGuire Community Award, which they then won.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon praised the strong partnership between Footscray Police and the Western Bulldogs and said their shared projects had been of huge benefit to the local community.

“Victoria Police is committed to forging strong relationships with the community and we strive to give the best possible service to people of all ages and backgrounds,” Ms Nixon said.

“Strong community partnerships such as the one we enjoy with the Western Bulldogs enable us to engage with our diverse community and serve them to the best of our ability.

“I commend both local police and the Western Bulldogs for the fantastic work they have achieved this year and I am certain that they will continue to support each other in future initiatives and further foster a strong community spirit in Melbourne’s West.”