Cheatley’s end of watch

DAVID Cheatley is waving goodbye to Neighbourhood Watch Surf Coast after serving more than a decade as the group’s co-ordinator.

Neighbourhood Watch Surf Coast started in 2003, but without Mr Cheatley, it may have ceased to exist just a few years later.

Mr Cheatley said the way he became co-ordinator was quite unconventional.

“I went along to the meetings that were held at the community house. One night there were about eight of us there and the co-ordinator resigned, as did his secretary. I looked at Graeme Daws beside me and he said ‘Well, you be the co-ordinator and I’ll be your treasurer’, and so that’s how we got involved, otherwise we thought it was going to fold.”

In this spontaneous decision, Mr Cheatley not only offered the group a lifeline, he also unknowingly committed the next 15 years of his life to the role.

But Mr Cheatley said he had no regrets.

“It’s been terrific. I’ve had a lot of great fun, made a lot of friendships and had a tremendous amount of support from a small band of people who have wanted to keep Neighbourhood Watch going.”

Since Mr Cheatley took on the role of co-ordinator, Neighbourhood Watch Surf Coast has begun various initiatives to help prevent crime in the area.

They have helped people swap their numberplate screws for anti-theft screws, handed out fliers to visitors advising them to lock their cars and protect their valuables from opportunistic thieves, and run Coffee with a Cop sessions.

The group used to distribute more than 25,000 copies of their newsletter per year. The newsletter now runs quarterly in the Surf Coast Times.

Mr Cheatley said he was also grateful for the support Neighbourhood Watch Surf Coast had received from local branches of the Victoria Police, State Emergency Services, and Lions Club.

He was hopeful the group would find a good replacement.

“I’ll certainly miss the role, but I’ll be able to mentor anyone who wants to pick up the role if they need it.

“I would highly recommend the role for someone who wants to give something back to our wonderful community.”