Tricia Hitchen

My parents were ten-pound Poms and emigrated here in the early '60s.  We lived in two migrant hostels and then settled in Penrith.  Our street was the last street in what was then the town of Penrith.  I went to Penrith Primary and Penrith High School.  While in Year 12 at Penrith High I stood as an independent candidate for the Penrith Local Council.  At the time I was part of a youth committee trying to establish a Drop-in-Centre in Penrith.  We approached Council and asked for a small donation towards some amenities for the Centre and we were told that as we didn’t vote we didn’t really count. I decided there and then that it was time to make the youth voice count and nominated for the upcoming elections.

I ran my own campaign, such as it was. The Art Teacher at my school made posters for me and I door knocked for about two months.  I wasn’t elected, however I did make it through to the seventh recount before being eliminated.  After the election we were given some funding for our Centre.

Shortly after leaving school I joined the Commonwealth Police, changing to the NSW Police Force in 1980.  My first posting in the Police Force was Penrith.  Other than when I was a Duty Officer at the Olympic and Paralympic Villages, all my service was in the western suburbs of Sydney, predominately Penrith and St Marys. 

During my service I was involved in the attempted rescue of a four-year-old boy from a burning townhouse in Minto. I was awarded the Queens Commendation for Bravery, the Commissioner's Commendation for Brave Conduct and The Royal Humane Society’s’ Bronze Medallion for my part in the rescue.

Receiving the Bronze Medallion

I received my Commission in November 2000 and was promoted to Chief Inspector in January 2001; the rank I held upon my discharge from the NSW Police in January 2004 due to an injury I received whilst on duty. My last posting was also at Penrith.

Since my discharge I have become more involved in our family business, Hitchens Removals Pty Ltd.  A small business, we have been operating in this area for 49 years. I have also been volunteering at D Sport, the disability sports council for NSW and at Sailability and Learn to Row, sporting programs for the disabled.  I am a Community Representative of the Penrith City Council Disability Access Committee.

I have also spent several years as the President of the Orchard Hills Public School P and C Committee and a member of the School Council.

I am a founding member of “Aussies For Orphans”, a group of local  people who are in the process of building an orphanage in Sri Lanka.  As of this month we have finished two of  the three houses and have housed 20 children.

I was a guest lecturer for five years at the Penrith Drug Information, Counselling and Education Centre.  I have spoken at many Rotary and Lions Clubs, Schools and Community Groups.  I worked with Ken Marslew from Enough is Enough on his anti-violence program that was used extensively through the schools and NSW Gaols.

Tricia and Trevor with Ryan, Lauran and Liam

I have been married for 18 years and have three children 17,14 and 7.  I have two children in private schools and one in a public school.  My youngest son has Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheel chair.  My parents still live in the Penrith area.  I played competitive sport (basketball and netball) in Penrith, only retiring in 2000 due to the same knee injury that forced my departure from the Force.

In 2004 I was approached to run on an Independent ticket for the North Ward in the Penrith City Council elections.  I ran 2nd on the ticket and we were successful in having our primary elected onto Council.  It was during this time that I met several of the Local Liberal Party members and I was impressed by their focus and dedication and decided that I wanted to be part of this group.

I believe that the residents of Penrith deserve a local Member that they can relate to; someone they know understands and empathises with them.  I believe that I am in a unique position to do this. I have shared the same experiences as other Penrith community members. I have had to work and struggle to pay off a mortgage.  I had to raise a family as a shift worker and the wife of a small business owner.  I have been a working mother juggling the cost of child care, lack of placements and strictly enforced hours.

I have spent countless hours at sausage sizzles and fundraisers trying to raise enough money to buy sunshades and air conditioners for my childrens' schools.

I am better placed than most to understand the needs of those caring for the disabled or elderly.

I know too well the struggles of small businesses trying to meet the ever-increasing costs of Workers Compensation and the impost of OH & S compliance.

I have had a life long interest and commitment to law and order and I have worked hard to improve the safety in my community.

I know the people of Penrith and I know that we deserve better.  I want to be part of the team that makes Penrith  a better place for families to live.