By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM will be served by its first ever female police inspector as a changing of the guard takes place for the high profile job.
Star can reveal Inspector Cindy Millen will succeed Bill Weatherly as Wyndham’s top cop, becoming the first female to hold the position.
She will add to a long list of high profile females in Wyndham, with Julia Gillard as the local Federal member, Jill Hennessy representing Point Cook in the State Government, Kim McAliney as Mayor and Kerry Thompson as CEO of Wyndham Council.
Insp Millen is transferring from Moonee Valley and will officially take the reigns from Insp Weatherly on 5 March.
Insp Weatherly said his replacement would hopefully bring “fresh eyes” to Wyndham and be able to bring residential burglaries and property damage under control.
Mayor Kim McAliney told Star while she was proud to be a woman representing her home town, it was not something she spent a lot of time thinking about.
“Just a few years ago it was all about women’s power,” Cr McAliney said.
“I think it’s more important just to have the right person for the job, whether that’s a man or a woman.”
Cr McAliney said she was looking forward to tackling the next chapter in Wyndham’s history.
“I really do look forward to meeting Inspector Millen and working with her,” she said.
Recently Julia Gillard told Star being a woman in politics did bring some added stress to the job.
“I think this is a great country and it’s a country where for women there are great opportunities here. And I think my life and me ending up in this position is a good example of that,” Ms Gillard said.
“There’s definitely some extra focus on what you wear and how you look. But I generally feel that people accept me as Prime Minister and have accepted me as local politician here on my own terms rather than looking through the prism of being a man or being a woman.”
