45 years of service in frontline roles
Correctional Officer Mr John Farlow formally received his 3rd Clasp of the National Medal in Alice Springs last week. The clasp was presented by Commissioner Matthew Varley at a recent Trainee Correctional Officer graduation. The 3rd Clasp reflects his 45 years of service in police, corrections and emergency services in Australia.
Before arriving in Central Australia, Mr Farlow worked as a Police Officer and then as a Correctional Officer in a number of prisons across Queensland. He worked in the far north at the Capricornia Correctional Centre in Rockhampton and the Townsville Correctional Centre with short stints at the Maryborough Correctional Centre. Nearly 20 years on John left tropical north Queensland to start a new life in the Red Centre.
John was eager for a challenge and having been to Alice Springs before it was an easy decision for him to make the move. So on the 4 February 2013 John was appointed as a Correctional Officer (fast tracker) to the Alice Springs Correctional Centre (ASCC).
When asked what he prefers about Alice Springs over Darwin his response was the weather and the country town feel. The Top End’s humidity has zero appeal to John as he prefers the dry desert climate.
“I do prefer Alice Springs over Darwin as I worked during the transition from Berrimah to Holtze and did not like the humidity nor the layout of Holtze as a prison.”
He remarks that crime has been an issue of late, however, controls have been put in place to remedy this. John likes the caring and supportive nature of the staff based in Alice Springs and has worked with a number of people over the years and has found if officers get through the first 12 months they become good operators.
“Mostly the work culture is great but recently with a shortage of staff the time off here is lessening, as officers are feeling compelled to come in on call-backs to make up the shortfall and are becoming weary which is not good.”
Earlier this year John was awarded the NT Correctional Services Long Service medal for his commitment and dedication to NTCS for the past 10 years at the ASCC facility.
In this time, he has worked in all areas of the ASCC facility gaining comprehensive knowledge of the operational environment and its people.
John loves the job it’s what he’s good at and what he knows. However, all good things must come to an end as John walks out of prison and into retirement later this year.
“It will be a sad day for me when I walk out of ASCC for the last time in June 23.”
Service history
Mr Farlow’s service record for the National Medal/Clasps is as follows:
| Queensland Police | 14 January 1974 – 17 June 1990 |
| SES | 6 January 1974 – 21 December 2000 |
| Queensland Corrective Services | 15 August 1994 – 13 January 2013 |
| NT Correctional Services | 4 February 2013 – present |
He has been awarded the following awards from Government House:
| National Medal | 26 February 1999 | 15 years |
| 1st Clasp | 27 February 2001 | 25 years |
| 2nd Clasp | 26 May 2011 | 35 years |
| 3rd Clasp | 16 December 2022 | 45 years |
