During the 2012 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards, the Rotary Club of Sydney recognised Samantha Barlow for her outstanding contribution to the community of NSW and the NSW Police Force.
PAUL HARRIS
FELLOW CITATION *
Samantha
Barlow
About 5.30am on the 13 May 2009
Sergeant Samantha Barlow began walking from Rushcutters Bay to Kings Cross
Police Station to commence work. During the course of her journey Sergeant
Barlow was savagely attacked by a drug addicted miscreant who repeatedly struck
her head, face and hands with a brick whilst she attempted to protect herself.
Sergeant Barlow was robbed of her personal property and left to die suffering
grave, life-threatening injuries. After the attack Sergeant Barlow crawled to a
nearby bus shelter where she remained until discovered semi-conscious, bleeding
profusely and unrecognisable to her colleagues. Sergeant Barlow’s injuries
placed her life at immediate risk and saw her surgically induced into a coma to
alleviate swelling of her brain. Sergeant Barlow suffered several fractures to
her skull rendering brain damage likely; a broken finger that she had placed in
harm’s way whilst defending herself from attack; lacerations to her forehead
and fractures within her face. She remained in a critical condition at St
Vincent’s Hospital until she regained consciousness almost one week later.
Beyond surgery, Sergeant Barlow lost her sense of taste and smell.
After approximately 22 months of
physical and psychological rehabilitation, Sergeant Barlow returned to the
profession of operational policing as a supervisor within the Surry Hills
Highway Patrol. In this position Sergeant Barlow contributed as a competent and
well respected supervisor of Highway Patrol police, with her return at all
times driven by overwhelming determination and against all medical odds.
Sergeant Barlow demonstrated
courage, bravery and resilience of the highest order to expose personal qualities
that reflect the ideals of policing. Unfortunately Sergeant Barlow was forced
to relinquish her operational capacity upon medical advice, effectively ending
her promising career on 16 August 2012.
Sergeant Barlow has become an
ambassador for all people suffering injuries, whether physical or
psychological. Her message is that whilst the road to recovery is not an easy
one, it is achievable with the right mix of courage and dedication.
Tonight the
Rotary Club of Sydney recognises Samantha for her outstanding contribution to
the community of NSW and the NSW Police Force. Samantha exemplifies the Rotary
Motto of ‘Service above Self’. It is this aspect of selflessness and community
service that is synonymous with Rotary values making Samantha Barlow a worthy
recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow for 2012.
* What is a Paul Harris Fellow?
Firstly, they are named after the Founder of Rotary, Paul
Harris. Individuals who have contributed
more than $1000 to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the
Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation are recognised as Paul
Harris Fellows. Additionally, individual Rotary clubs may from time to time
honour individuals as Paul Harris Fellows. They may be individuals who meet
high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris. Paul Harris
recognition is not limited to Rotarians.
Paul Harris Fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin.
