Since returning to the region that raised her, Constable Tayla Dempster has hardly had a chance to put her feet up.

But you won’t catch her complaining about it.

“I’ve loved it,” Tayla said.

“Knowing the area, you know the people you come across while you’re walking around. You’re waving to people, you’re talking to people who you know on a personal level.”

Fresh out of the Victoria Police Academy, Tayla is currently on placement at the Cobram Police Station.

She grew up on a farm in Invergordon, is the first in her family to wear the uniform and knows the Cobram district like the back of her hand.

Since starting her placement about three weeks ago, she’s had a taste of just about everything to do with policing: from highway patrol and attending call-outs, to building rapport with the community through foot patrols.

It’s on those patrols that she gets a chance to connect with many faces — some new, some already familiar.

“A lot of those people have watched the journey from the start, and they’ve followed the whole way along,” Tayla said.

“I ran into my aunty the other day, and she was down at my graduation.

“Having them see me out on the job is pretty rewarding.”

Tayla went to school in Nathalia, and played netball with the Strathmerton Football Netball Club.

When she realised she could combine her passion for her job with her love of her home area, she jumped at the chance to have her placement in Cobram.

Coming here, straight out of the academy, brought its own set of hurdles and learning curves.

“You always question whether you are ready,” Tayla said.

“Country policing is very different to metro policing. The academy is very different to the job as well, so coming out, to put it in place, has been a bit of a shock, and there’s been lots to learn.”

But since day dot, Tayla’s colleagues at the Cobram Police Station, under Senior Sergeant Nathan Ractliffe, have had her back.

“The members here have been brilliant,” Tayla said.

“They’ve all been through the exact same thing, so they understand where you’re at.”

After getting over initial nerves, one of Tayla’s favourite duties while on placement in Cobram has been highway patrol.

“My end goal is to join the major collision unit, so road policing is what I want to do,” she said.

“I’ve had a really good time with them. All the crew have been amazing.”

Before coming to Cobram, Tayla had an 18-month stint as a police custody officer in Shepparton.

She enjoyed her time there, and gained a useful insight into what life as a police officer might be like.

But her heart was always set on answering the call of her country home.

“I’ve always wanted to come back to my area, knowing the area and the people,” Tayla said.

Soon, she will head to Wangaratta, where she’ll serve for two years.

“But hopefully, I can get back here,” Tayla said.

“That’s the plan.”

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Sunday, 14th December 2025

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