Assistant Director-General
Custodial Operations Jim Mullen
Assistant
Director-General
announces
retirement
Custodial Operations Assistant
Director-General Jim Mullen has
announced he will retire next
month.
Jim’s long association with Queensland
Corrective Services (QCS) began in the late
1970s when he first worked at Boggo Road
Prison.
He also worked at Wacol and Sir David
Longland Correctional centres rising
through the ranks from base grade officer
to be appointed as a Senior Custodial
Correctional Officer, Chief Custodial
Correctional Officer, Manager Operations
and General Manager.
Jim also acted in the position of Deputy
Director-General and in 2008, was Acting
Director-General on two occasions following
the retirement of Frank Rockett.
Acting Director-General Neil Whittaker said
Jim had been an outstanding member of the
Agency’s executive management group.
“Jim’s knowledge, commitment, sense of
humour and diligence have been such an
important part of the extensive changes that
have occurred in corrective services during
recent years,” he said.
“On behalf of QCS staff, I thank Jim for his
years of service to the people of Queensland
and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Jim left QCS in 1997 and gained extensive
experience working in correctional services
in Western Australia, New South Wales,
Christmas Island, Scotland and South
Africa.
Custodial Operations Acting Assistant
Director-General Lidia Pennington said Jim’s
appointment to the Agency in 2005 drew
great respect and confidence from senior
managers in the field.
He rejoined QCS in 2005 as Custodial
Operations Executive Director and was
appointed Custodial Operations Assistant
Director-General in 2008.
“He brought extensive experience and
strong leadership skills to the Agency,”
she said. “Jim had a fine appreciation for
the need to mitigate the risks by not only
ensuring that the prison perimeters were
secure but also by ensuring rehabilitation,
education and vocational training programs,
work, recreational activities were provided,
along with the maintenance of health,
nutrition and family connections.
“Jim’s unique mix of authority, compassion
and understanding of basic human needs
made him a formidable person and leader.
“These characteristics enabled Jim to
be the driving force in many significant
changes in Custodial Operations such
as major infrastructure and perimeter
security upgrades including the Brisbane
Correctional Centre refurbishment and
the new Townsville Women’s Correctional
Centre; work camp, staff roster system
and dog squad reform and review; staff
uniforms; prisoner uniforms and innovative
programs such as Pups in Prison.
“We wish Jim a long, happy and healthy
retirement. He will be missed by
colleagues, senior management, staff and
all who had the pleasure of working with
him,” Lidia said.
Parole Boards Deputy President retires
Queensland Parole Boards
Deputy President Patrick Nunan
has retired after five years in the
role.
A Director of Toowoomba legal firm Cleary
and Lee, Mr Nunan joined the Parole Board
in 2003 and was reappointed three years
later when the Corrective Services Act 2006
came into effect.
Mr Nunan has also acted as President of
the Queensland Parole Boards on several
occasions.
A passion for being active in community
matters led to Mr Nunan joining the board
which considers parole applications from
Page 4 / CN January 2009
prisoners serving prison terms of more than
eight years.
“His commitment could not be questioned
and he provided robust input into all
decisions.”
Mr Nunan said it had been a pleasure
working with dedicated people on the
boards and in Queensland Corrective
Services.
Ms Catherine Rees will fill the vacancy
created by Mr Nunan’s retirement.
“Parole Board members treat each prisoner
with respect and carefully consider each
application with consideration for public
safety,” Mr Nunan said.
Queensland Parole Boards President Peter
McInnes said Mr Nunan had been a great
contributor to parole hearings.
“Patrick has given outstanding service to
the public of Queensland,” he said.
Queensland Parole Boards President Peter McInnes,
left, and QCS Acting Director-General Neil Whittaker,
right, congratulate retiring Parole Boards Deputy
President Patrick Nunan
FOCAL POINTS with Minister Judy Spence
A year of achievement and growth
As we begin a new year, I would like
to take a moment to reflect on 2008, a
landmark year for Queensland Corrective
Services. It was a year of achievement
and congratulations must go to all staff.
In 2008 the Government continued its
substantial capital works program which
began in 2007, introducing a number of
key initiatives in keeping with our focus on
ensuring the safety of all Queenslanders.
Chief among our achievements were major
upgrades at Brisbane Correctional Centre
(BCC), Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre
(AGCC) and the opening of the Townsville
women’s prison.
The $110 million upgrade of BCC increased
prisoner capacity by 216 taking total capacity
to 540. AGCC will now house 890 prisoners –
an increase of 180.
This represents a $55 million investment
by the State Government. In December, the
new Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre
received its first prisoners. The state-of-theart $130 million facility has a capacity for 150
prisoners.
2008 was also a year of considerable growth,
development and change for Probation and
Parole. This included the establishment of
the Sex Offender and Dangerous Offender
Unit and the High-Risk Offender Management
Unit. We also implemented the Community
Service Rejuvenation Scheme which provides
a blueprint for the future of community
service as a viable sentencing option.
Training and recruitment were other priorities
with more than 200 officers trained in line
with the restructured Probation and Parole
model.
The Work camps saw prisoners assist in
clean up efforts in several natural disasters.
In January last year a number of low-risk
prisoners assisted in flood clean ups in
Charleville and Beaudesert. Prisoners also
went on to assist in Emerald, Clermont and
Mackay.
Last month prisoners aided in the clean up
of storm damage in South-East Queensland,
and during the Christmas New Year period
prisoners helped with storm mop ups in
Mitchell and St George. These deployments
are an excellent example of how low-risk
prisoners, under supervision, can contribute
to communities struggling with emergencies
Page 5 / CN January 2009
and labour shortages. I would particularly like
to thank the Work camp supervisors for their
hard work.
Pups in Prison, an initiative in which
prisoners train and care for puppies for
Assistance Dogs Australia and the Animal
Welfare League, continues to be a remarkable
success. The program provides prisoners
with positive experiences, helps establish
new levels of responsibility, self-esteem and
communication skills while also developing
patience, compassion and cooperation.
It is with sadness we farewelled DirectorGeneral Frank Rockett. Frank gave more than
30 years dedicated service to the people
of Queensland in a variety of roles with the
Department of Education, the Queensland
Schools Sports Council, Disability Services
Queensland and the Department of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy.
With Frank’s help we have embarked on
an enormous capital works rollout, the
modernisation of the Queensland Corrective
Services Act and the introduction of the
new Parole and Probation service. Frank’s
contribution to QCS has been considerable
and for that we can all be thankful.
As one door closes another opens, and I
would like to welcome our new DirectorGeneral Kelvin Anderson. Kelvin’s arrival
signals a new era in Queensland Corrective
Services. As Commissioner of Correctives in
Victoria, he contributed significantly to the
system and has the experience to bring an
exciting new perspective to our world class
corrections system here in Queensland.
I’d also like to thank Neil Whittaker for
acting as Director-General throughout the
transitional period.
Finally, I thank everybody for their hard work
during the past year. I hope you and your
loved ones enjoyed a safe, happy Christmas
and New Year. I also thank those of you
who worked over the holiday period. Your
sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.
Queensland’s correctional system is world
class. This standard is built upon the efforts
of our truly outstanding staff. I look forward
to working with you all this year.
Townsville Correctional Centre General Manager
John Harrison, right, presents Salvation Army
Chaplain Bob Down with his honorary epaulettes
Chaplain’s
25 years’
service
honoured
A Salvation Army Chaplain has
been honoured for giving 25
years of unbroken service to
the Townsville and Townsville
Women’s correctional centres.
Townsville Correctional Centre General
Manager John Harrison presented
Bob Down with honorary Queensland
Corrective Service (QCS) chaplain
epaulettes mounted either side of a QCS
badge.
John Harrison said Bob had helped
many ex-prisoners get their lives back
on track through his support within the
community.
“Bob is an outstanding and energetic
chaplain who is very popular with staff
and prisoners,” he said.
“He is the ‘chaplain of choice’ for most
staff events such as weddings and
funerals.”
Bob is a proud ex-serviceman having
served in the Royal Australian Navy during
the Borneo and Vietnam conflicts.
John said Bob is a keen trumpet player
who plays at Townsville Correctional
Centre’s annual ANZAC Day service.
“The haunting strains of the Last Post
echoing off the 120-year-old prison walls
is a memorable experience,” he said.
“We look forward to continuing the
successful partnership with Bob for many
more years.”