Jacqueline Keppel (centre) celebrates her appointment as Aurukun’s newest Police Liaison Officer with her family during a special event at PCYC Aurukun last week. Photo: Facebook (PCYC Aurukun).
From a youth leader at PCYC Aurukun and a teacher aide at the local school, to now the community’s newest Police Liaison Officer (PLO), Jacqueline “Q” Kepple has already inspired many young people in the remote western Cape York community.
In the role, PLO Kepple said she hoped to do what former Aurukun Senior PLO Waal Waal Chevathun did for her before she tragically passed away in mid-2023.
“Waal Waal inspired me to help my community,” she said.
PCYC Aurukun youth support worker Norma Armstrong-Ravula said she believed PLO Kepple’s role as a foundation member of its Kang Kang Youth Leadership Team would serve her well in the new job.
“She’s very motivated; whatever she says she’s going to do, she does,” she said.
“She goes above and beyond, she turns up and is very reliable, which can be hard sometimes in community.
“She is very well connected with the kids and the families, so she’s been able to bring in some young people [to PCYC Aurukun] over the last few years.”
Ms Ravula-Armstrong said PLO Kepple was an incredible inspiration to her community.
“I believe that Q can help her community by continuing to be a good role model, but also when she’s out and about in the community, she’s showing young people that these positions are not impossible to get, that they are very possible for people in her community.
“Hopefully, they can strive for more, and she can help me more because I don’t speak the language; she can speak the language and she’s embedded in the Wik Mungkan culture, so that’s able to be added to the role we play in the community for our young people.”
PLO Kepple said she never imagined obtaining the role would be possible, adding she was proud of herself for going after her goal and encouraged her community to do the same.
“Chase your dreams,” she said.
New Police Liaison Officer Jacqueline Keppel (centre) is congratulated on her appointment by PCYC Aurukun’s Senior Constable Leigh Oakley and Sergeant Steve Armstrong-Ravula. Photo: Facebook (PCYC Aurukun).
