Rock Band

The "Rock Patrol" is a group which continues to amaze audiences with its energy and style quite removed from anything usually heard from the Band of the South Australia Police. The Band's public need not fear, though - the purpose of such a loud group is not to convert its current listeners into grunge rock fans, but to reach different audiences and build bridges between teenagers and uniformed police officers.

The Police Rock Band was formed in 1993 due to an apparent gap perceived by founding members and vocalists Todd Martin and Neil Conaghty. It was felt the Band should be reaching teenagers with a rock band, and giving positive police messages as part of a community policing program.

With the co-operation of the Adelaide Football Club and SAGASCO, the 'Rock Patrol' set out with the new concept, 'Kids, Cops and Crows' - promoting leadership, quality of life, community safety and crime prevention to youth. The lunch hour show began with the 'Rock Patrol', all uniformed police officers, playing music from the 1960's to the 1990's, followed by an interview with two high profile footballers. The aim was to deliver serious messages about prevention of drug and alcohol abuse in a relaxed way. A $17,000 sponsorship by SAGASCO was used to fund promotional items such as banners, t-shirts, caps, posters, stickers and brochures. In 1993, 20 high schools were visited and the *Kids, Cops and Crows' program reached approximately 25,000 students.

1996 saw a change of name to 'Stars and Stripes' which coincided with the inclusion of many different sporting groups to the program such as netball, basketball, and beach volleyball as well as football. Over the years, the 'Rock Patrol' has changed some members and introduced new songs to its repertoire. The show has now been moved to the hour prior to lunch break Despite minor changes, however, the focus has continued to be the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle using young sporting identities as role models and the enhancement of police/youth relations. Student involvement is encouraged, with prizes of Band merchandise given for both dancing, and a Boral Basketball goal shooting competition. Students are quizzed as to popular musical influences so that the Band can continually update their song list, which currently includes anything from Ginger Spice and Vanessa Amorosi, to the Offspring and Deep Purple.

The Band still visits an average of 20 schools per year, encompassing some country areas and an annual show at Regency Park Centre for the Crippled Children's Association of South Australia Inc. 'Stars and Stripes' has also become a regular visitor to the Adelaide Secondary School of English. This school caters to refugee and migrant teenagers who are making the transition into Adelaide High Schools.

More recently, with its continually evolving song list, the 'Rock Patrol' has featured at the Police Ball, Bluey Day (nee Crop-a-Cop) celebrations, Royal Adelaide Hospital's Christmas lunch and fund-raiser and has been invited to play for numerous corporate functions, thus expanding its use within the Band of the South Australia Police.

Rock Patrol members at present include:

Melissa McCaig – Lead Female Vocal

Neil Conaghty – Lead Male Vocal and Lead Guitar

Craig Menzel – Bass Guitar and Vocals

Colin Archibald – Electric Piano

Matthew Macdonald – Tenor Saxophone

Robert Booth – Trumpet

Dave Gardiner – Trombone

Paul Simpson-Smith – Drum Kit

Adam Buckley – Sound Engineer