General News
13 October, 2025
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Sgt Michelle Edwards
Sergeant Michelle Edwards came to Hopetoun in February 2021.
Born in Bairnsdale, the eldest of four children, Sgt Edwards attended Bairnsdale High School.
She always thought she would like to join the Police force and be a nurse.
At the Police Career interview she was advised that she was too young to join the police force, and told she should get some life experience.
Sgt Edwards went to Melbourne and trained to be a nurse.
On graduating she practiced in Melbourne East, Wangaratta and Benalla.
This was until 2006. Michelle’s love of people, and her compassion, were the main reason she enjoyed nursing.
In 2002 her sister joined the police force in Queensland, prompting Michelle’s thinking that she would like to join too.
When Sgt Edwards was placed at Hopetoun she only knew one person here– the policeman based at Woomelang.
Despite this she was looking forward to coming to Hopetoun, despite it being five hours from her family.
She likes dealing with people, and is very community orientated. She welcomes solving problems, dealing with the various issues presented to her, and the feedback she gets.
Sgt Edwards particularly likes her role here because of the community engagement in Hopetoun and the district. Her district goes half way to Sea Lake, Woomelang, Beulah, halfway to Rainbow, and to Speed.
A notable characteristic is that Sgt Edwards knows pretty well everyone in town, and where they live.
When she arrived she determined that she would do this. And this included people who came to the town and stayed at the lake during Covid, and who formed strong affection for the town.
The Getting to Know You project came about because many people who had lived in Hopetoun for a long time found that it had become more usual not to know people when they were in the town shopping.
For many years this had not been the case. There were people new to the town and had bought houses.
At the same time the success of the Silo Trail and the enjoyment to camp at the lake – Lake Lascelles, meant that it was no longer easy to identify someone who was new to town.
When asked if there was any resistance to her being a woman in her role as a police officer, Sgt Edwards responded that it has never been an issue here.
Her offsider is LSC Sharlene Baldock and also female.
And before this there was a time of three female police officers in town.
She was concerned before she arrived how she would be accepted.
She reported that she has been overwhelmed by the community support.
One of the characteristics she values about the people in Hopetoun is how good they are at observing what’s out of the ordinary.
And letting this be known: the Police have numerous support services and referrals available to assist people in need.
Sgt Edwards is particularly thankful for the unwavering support and assistance given to Police from community groups and volunteer agencies within our community such as Red Cross, CFA, SES, Ambulance Victoria & many more.
Some of the most difficult and demanding issues that policework has in this town are neighbour disputes.
Some disputes can be settled, and resolved with discussion, and making an agreement.
When this isn’t the case, they go to court.
People make complaints to the police about a range of matters and one that is constant is when people trash where they live, and live in unsuitable conditions.
Sgt Edwards commented that this is a matter for the Shire, and not the police.
It was also stated that the Shire works very hard on solving these issue , that while they take time, but they are working towards it, and results are achieved.
Sgt Edwards said that people in town and the region are very proud of the town, and of the community.
They are upset when they see behaviour having a negative impact, and want to have it changed.