POLICE, retired police officers, family and friends yesterday farewelled former detective and popular Tablelander Vicki-Leigh Wall at St Joseph's Catholic Church at Atherton.
The 54-year-old died suddenly on January 1 and yesterday former colleagues lined Mabel St and formed a guard of honour in a touching tribute to a life led serving the community.
The packed church remembered and celebrated an "excellent officer and a loyal and trusted friend" committed to justice and serving the community.
Ms Wall joined the police force in 1973 and worked her way up the ranks to sergeant before retiring in 1990.
She was also the state co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Watch, which has developed into a vital crime-fighting tool.
But eventually the pull of a rural lifestyle proved too strong and policing gave way to dairy farming at Butchers Creek, where she and husband Alan lived and worked for 18 years.
At the service, Ian Church said Ms Wall learnt how to be a dairy farmer in three months and having never touched a cow before she "went from 6am drug raids to 4.30am milking in the blink of an eye".
Friend Jan Cameron described Ms Wall as a leader who never put herself on a pedestal and gave herself totally to the community.
"The community will be poorer for her passing," she said after the service.
"I have achieved an enormous amount through Vicki’s mentorship and guidance and she did that for a lot of
people."
Far Northern Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor said yesterday Ms Wall was a committed police officer and a dedicated community member.
"She will be missed by family and friends and also all those who have been touched by her," he said.
"It is obvious the large volume of diverse members of the community at the ceremony that she was highly regarded.
"Vicki contributed to the community as a whole and it will not be as strong without her."
