But it’s good to be back in the chair. Thanks to Chad Gillies for looking after the local area command while I was away – it was in good hands.

This week, with school going back, I’ve been pushing staff to patrol school zones.

We’ve been making sure all the parents are doing the right thing, as they take their kids to school, and also keeping an eye on everyone else passing by.

Be aware that you will see more police officers around school zones, making sure our young people are safe.

This is a continuing strategy as part of Operation Chrome, which aims to make our roads safer places to be.

While on the topic of schools, it was a shame that there were a few reports of minor malicious damages on school property during the school holidays.

All in all, though, the schools were mostly not touched during the break, so that is good.

Turning to the accident on the Hume Highway this week, two elderly females in their 70s tragically lost their lives in Sutton Forest.

They were both residents of the Southern Highlands.

I want to take this opportunity to urge all of our road users to take a little bit more attention and time in their driving.

A moment’s inattention causes a lifetime of grief.

The accident occurred at 6.30pm, when it would have been fully dark, and I can’t stress enough that drivers should slow down to suit the conditions.

We all need to understand that some of our roads – particularly the Hume Highway – are major arteries, used by trucks and buses, and especially busy during snow season.

Finally, I’d like to welcome our new regional commander Peter Barrie, who takes over from Garry Warboys in charge of the Southern Region. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, and has worked here before so he has local knowledge of the needs of the area. I look forward to working alongside him into the future.