It is you and women like you, who have allowed the change to begin. I congratulate you on having the courage to tell your story. I am sure your book will play an important role in promoting a better culture for women in the police force.
Hello Carolyn, On behalf of the Blackburn Bellbird Probus Club I wish to pass onto you our sincere thanks for your presentation on Friday 14th. January 2019. It was very well received by our members and many favorable comments were made, you were able to get the message across regarding the gender discrimination in the police force during the 1980’s, you are an excellent public speaker.
We had the pleasure of having Carolyn as a guest speaker at the Donvale-Tunstall Probus Group early last year.
Her speech was inspirational and dealt with problems she had as a policewoman in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
She is a gutsy strong woman and a lesser person would not have coped. She has led the way for women to stand up for what they believe.
Her book is hard-hitting and not afraid to deal with sexual harassment, sexual innuendo and predatory behaviour.
Fascinating to hear her speak and read her book.
We need more women like Carolyn Pethick.
“Dear Carolyn, Thank you so much for your talk to our club. The disappointing reality that you were faced with— disrespect, harassment and discrimination— makes the work you did in your career even more impressive. Nobody should have to face the obstacles you did, but your determination in the face of that adversity is one of the reasons why things are improving. I was most impressed with the way you managed to maintain a stubborn optimism in the face of your treatment. The positive approach you took did not seem to stem from being ignorant of or naïve to the attitudes of those you worked with, or a dismissal of the existence of barriers, but an expectation that there was a path forward, no matter how difficult things were. I appreciate the time you took to speak to us and, more than that, the work you did over your history of service in the police force to shift the narrative and change the perceptions of women working in a difficult and dangerous field. The club was very lucky to have had the benefit of your talk. Thank you again, Mike Finke.”
Hi Carolyn I would like to thank you so much for coming and speaking to our Middle Brighton Probus group this month, our members are still talking about your amazing story & I’ve had to organize a couple more of your books for them. Thank you so much again & I along with our members wish you all the best for your future. You are a very brave woman. Kind regards, Jillian
Hi Carolyn Thank you for your interesting and thought provoking talk this morning. I find it amazing that you remain loyal to the Police Force despite the many ups and downs. There are now so many women in the Police, so one can only hope that change will come. Your book is a step in the right direction as was your honesty and courage during your career. I hope your book becomes widely read especially by the new cadets. You can be very proud of the fact that you did not suffer in silence as so many have.
Carolyn Pethick enthralled our Sunbury and Macedon Ranges VIEW Club meeting with stories from her book, TO HELL AND BACK, A POLICEWOMAN’S STORY. The ladies loved her presentation and were eager to purchase her book afterwards to learn more. As the Program Officer for that VIEW Club, I am always searching for interesting Guest Speakers and previously, when I attended a function where Carolyn was speaking, I immediately approached her after and asked her to talk to our group. Listening to her twice was a huge bonus. I have since recommended Carolyn to nearby Probus Clubs. If you have the chance to attend a function when Carolyn is speaking, I would suggest that you don’t miss it
Absolutely fantastic presentations. Kept her audiences riveted to their seats. Both the school student talks and the public talks to business people, council staff and the public were so well received and left the audiences dumbfounded with many lasting questions.
Carolyn Pethick agreed to be Guest Speaker at our General Meeting in August 2018. I received fabulous feedback after the meeting, which was attended by approximately 100 members. Carolyn, an ex-policewoman, gave us all something to think about after her presentation on helping men and women speak up against work place discrimination. Her book – To Hell and Back – was very popular and purchased by quite a few members. The day was a great success and I have no hesitation in recommending her to any group.
We were fortunate at the Sunshine and Western Region Sports Club to have Carolyn Pethick speak of her life experience. She gives a down to earth and honest detail to what life was all about in her days at the police force. Her interesting talk had members keen to buy her book.
Carolyn Pethick was a guest speaker at one of our Monthly Lunch Meetings Her Speech was very interesting & moving She had us laughing, crying & gasping at her story The Members were very taken and said she was one of the best speakers we’ve had. She was very approachable to our members afterwards re asking more one on one questions.
As one of our programmed speakers, Carolyn presented her experience as a Police officer in the Victoria police to Grimshaw Probus in 2018. Afterwards her book was on offer for sale. Carolyn’s time in the Victoria Police started in very different social times when females were seen as tea makers and also as typists and not valued operational police. Whilst being a difficult atmosphere to work in, it also allowed Carolyn to be sent on assignment to various departments where she wasn’t really supervised and given the jobs which were far too boring or difficult or had not hope of being solved. Using her initiative and drive Carolyn was able to become an effective officer solving large scale crime and also impressing her superiors. However the full realisation of a fulfilling career was dominated by the lack of change in the organisation approach to females and ultimately ended her career. Carolyn reached the rank of Sergeant. I found her talk extremely interesting and also harrowing in the way she was treated by the organisation. Especially as I had spent some time in a Police Force in the UK before immigrating to Australia in 1978. Carolyn’s story is one of Social history, personal resilience and determination in the face of an entrenched and misogynistic culture. She tells her story simply and calmly and without any rancour as to the way she has been treated. Her book is well worth purchasing and is a good read. . Member of the Grimshaw Probus club.
G’day Carolyn I am a current serving member of VicPol of nearly 7 years and my partner is also in the job a year less than me. She has had to endure bullying sexual harassment etc. etc. Some of this has taken its toll some of it has just landed a female snr Sgt in some serious hot water. After reading your recent blurbs on news sites I thought maybe you are someone that my partner can chat to or correspond. I believe this may allay a lot of her fears and get her mindset on helping stamp this bullshit out. I hope to hear from you to explain further if you have the time. Thank you.
A policewoman’s story of discrimination, bullying and harassment. Incredibly difficult subject matter, relating a very personal experience. Equally one can imagine that it would have been a difficult, although hopefully cathartic experience, relating the events Carolyn Pethick outlines in TO HELL AND BACK. I’ve had many goes at writing something about this book until it finally dawned on me – I can’t review a story like this / I’m not comfortable rating something this personal. Whether or not it was an enjoyable, informative or difficult experience reading it, is nothing compared to the author’s aim in writing it.
A real life game of thrones. This woman is a true hero. It disgusts me she has received no compensation for the complete abuse of power, bullying and sexual discrimination in the Victorian Police Force. A real Shero. Her story had to be told. Thank you to the Australian True Crime Podcast who interviewed this woman and put me into her book.
Goodreads Website 30/1/2019
A while ago you came to our school and told us your truly inspiring story.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I chose to draw the 10ft wall you spoke about because to me it represents the challenges you faced and symbolises the determination you had to be able to overcome.
I placed the words “I told you so” in my design because so many people blatantly said you wouldn’t or shouldn’t become a policewoman. All of the symbols I drew on my design were placed under a hill to show all the hardships you faced during your journey to becoming a policewoman.
I found it amazing that you were able to persist and overcome everything, so to finish my design I placed you at the top of the hill to show your resilience & growth mindset.
Thank you for inspiring me with your story & experiences.
Thank you for sharing your soulful story with my group. I am the girl with the blond hair and purple glasses. I designed my side of the tea light candle holder using thorns to represent each of the hardships you faced. Sadly these spikes can appear on the most beautiful of plants and makes touching them painful. The thorns in my design twist and curl along vines that are similar to what one thinks of at a haunted house. The challenges you had to face were scary and daunting like the seemingly unmovable bed of thorns. For example you were denied entry into the police force 3 times for being one cm too short and you had to face sexual harassment, however you did not give in.
In my design I included a dragonfly which represents you. Dragonflies have flown on the earth for over 3 million years and thus embody strength, courage and resilience. They symbolise the ability to overcome hardships which is shown by the dragonfly standing uninjured upon the thorny vine. Dragonflies are also beautiful creatures with their intricate wings, and represent happiness. You discussed happiness in your interview and stated that success is when someone is happy in their work and home. I decided to make the thorns and dragonfly become the dark area when the candle is lit so it shines through the wood and the negative space will be the areas lit by the flame.
My name is Annaliese and a short while ago I interviewed you at Camberwell Girls Grammar School. During your interview you spoke of many things; of choosing to be happy, stepping back and thinking about your options when making decisions, of persistence, of the feeling of being alone and no one understanding what you wanted to do. I can’t imagine what you have been through whilst in the police force, both what you have seen and what your co-workers have said to you. I can’t imagine what it was like, but I do know that to be able to pull through all of that and to choose to be happy everyday takes immense courage. I admire that courage and your ability to speak to others and inspire them with your story. You have made an amazing impact by sharing your story with us.
My design reflects how you overcame your obstacles and how to choose to follow your dream of becoming a policewoman. I attempted to draw you at the top of the 10ft wall you had to climb over before graduating the police training academy. Coupled with you quote “happiness is a choice” I think the design symbolises how you can choose to give up or keep going and that when you choose to keep going, keep trying to climb that impossible wall, you find that happiness. Thank you for inspiring me with your words and your story.
I chose to do a lotus flower as my design because it symbolises strength & happiness. They grow in deep murky waters and despite being in a dark and harsh environment, they stand tall and proud. This reminded me of your talk. I liked how you said we have the power to choose how we feel, and we shouldn’t let other people take that from us. Each day we can choose to be happy and do what is right. Thank you for teaching us that lesson.
One part of your talk that I am especially grateful for is when you said that even though we might feel like people are always talking about us, they most likely aren’t. This has really helped me lately with worrying about what people might be thinking about me, when they most likely have their minds on something completely different. Your talk had a great impact on me. Thank You.