For 50 years Doreen Bradley has been waiting for a decent police station on the Tilligerry Peninsula.
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Now aged 88 and not in the best of health, the Mallabula war widow says she would like to see the promised new $1.5 million station before she moves on.
"It has been more than two years since the announcement by the [then] minister [Troy Grant] and nothing has happened. I believe they have purchased a block of land in Lemon Tree Passage for around $450,000 so they can demolish it and build the police station," she said.
"It's a ridiculous decision because the community has for years been pushing for it to be sited next to the ambulance and bushfire stations in RAF Park at Tanilba Bay. The land is clear and flat and has two access points."
In January 2019, Mr Grant announced that police would have a new station within three years. Newly appointed parliamentary secretary to Port Stephens Taylor Martin said that land for Lemon Tree Passage police station was purchased in May last year and off-site construction was underway.
Ms Bradley, OAM, said she has been fighting for the safety and security of the Tilligerry Peninsula from the day she and late husband John arrived in Mallabula more than 50 years ago.
"When we arrived we found there were no police so we contacted our local parliamentarians and shortly after we had a small station with one officer. It's the same station which exists in Cook Parade 50 years later."
She says that the lobbying for a larger premises and more police has continue unabated over the decades.
"I have had meetings with police representatives and ministers. Much of the crime around here is petty ... car break-ins, a bit of hooliganism and vandalism but it's difficult to get police here."
Ms Bradley's work for the community extends beyond police issues. She has been on the local parks and reserves committee, swim pool committee, neighbourhood watch, Tilligerry RSL board, and worked for both Torchbearers and Legacy. She has raised thousands of dollars for the betterment of her community but has been forced to give up her public profile due to ill health.
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