Policewoman named NSW Woman of the Year

NSW Police Minister John Watkins, who was among three people to nominate Ms Burn for the award, said no nomination had been more important than that of Redfern Aboriginal leader Mick Mundine, head of the Aboriginal Housing Company.

State Labor MP for the Redfern seat of Heffron, Kristina Keneally, also nominated the 22-year police veteran.

Ms Burn spent 15 months as local area commander of Redfern until December last year, when she was promoted to assistant commissioner.

She took over after the 2004 riots, which were sparked by the death of local teen TJ Hickey, who was impaled on a fence in Redfern when he fell off his bike.

There was speculation he was being pursued by police at the time.

Ms Burn was known for her hands-on approach to her job, mixing with the Redfern community on daily walks through neighbourhoods and developing programs to reduce family violence and promote relations between Aborigines and police.

She also accompanied Aboriginal children to the State of Origin rugby league matches as part of the community's Youth Mentor Program.

Mr Mundine hailed her efforts.

"A lot of people in the Redfern-Waterloo area, they really respect her because she really came in at the grass roots level and really mingled with the people and she's got a lot of respect," he told reporters.

Mr Watkins said Ms Burn was a "model for police in NSW and women throughout the state".

Ms Burn said she had been humbled at receiving the award on International Women's Day.

"I'm also very honoured and I think it's wonderful that I've been recognised and it's a reflection about what can be achieved when police work closely with the community, such as the Aboriginal community, and I think that their recognition is fantastic," she told reporters.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Policewoman-named-NSW-Woman-of-the-Year/2007/03/09/1173166959931.html