Tony Forden

Tony served with the New South Wales (NSW) Police from 1979 to 1990 and then served with the Northern Territory (NT) Police from 1990 to 1992.

As a Police Officer, Tony’s role would include preventing, detecting, and investigating crime; monitoring and promoting road safety; maintaining social order, including coordination of counter-terrorism preparedness; and performing and coordinating emergency and rescue operations.

Tony has received the following honours and awards for his service:

The Police Diligent and Ethical Service Medal - NSW

Tony is my father and I have vague memories with him in the eighties. I first reconnected with him in 2017 after 30 years and our relationship has been great. He has offered me sound guidance and steered me in the right direction when I have asked or needed it.

When I asked Tony to be a part of the project he said yes with no hesitation. Being a police officer and having a father who was in the military and served in the Second World War, I was not sure at first at what response I would get. During the interview process, I could see that it was not an easy process to relive some of the things he would have witnessed during his time as a police officer; however, he found the project a good way of expressing some old memories which is more than I could ask for.

Having a man coming from a generation where emotion was completely disregarded as a male, tony shows that it is ok to show emotion and to not be afraid of it, which will hopefully encourage other men to do the same.