Faces of PVV | Meet Police Veteran Sandra Lording

“The change from ‘ex police’ to ‘police veteran’ might sound small, but it acknowledges the contribution we made and that we still belong.”

Sandra Lording graduated from the Victoria Police Academy in December 1987 at just 20 years old, at a time when women were still issued a handbag as part of their uniform. She trained at South Melbourne before posting to D24 and Malvern, later moving into intelligence roles at Moorabbin and Dandenong.

Her pathway into policing was shaped by practicality as much as purpose.

“I left school not really knowing what to do,” Sandra says. “Career paths were fairly limited for girls in the mid eighties. I tried teachers college, then office work, and quickly realised the nine to five desk job was not for me. Policing offered variety, shift work, public contact and paid training. It felt like the right fit.”

After 12 years of service, Sandra resigned and moved to ESTA, working for five years as an MFB and CFA call taker and dispatcher, later cross trained as a police dispatcher. But the pull of policing was still there. In 2005, with her children older, she returned as a re appointee and re-entered the Academy as a recruit, graduating for a second time despite her previous years of service.

She worked at Nunawading before transitioning back into intelligence, this time with Ethical Standards Department. While she says her career was not filled with headline moments or high rank, it carried the same operational pressures and exposure to trauma that many frontline members know well.

“I don’t have lots of war stories and I didn’t rise through the ranks,” she says. “But of course I attended my share of traumatic incidents working the van. I was well equipped to deal with those, but less so with some of the internal challenges and injustices I experienced within the organisation.”

During her time at Ethical Standards, Sandra was diagnosed with PTSD and spent 12 months off work, followed by a six month return to work program. She credits her recovery to the support around her, including one supervisor in particular.

“My Senior Sergeant recognised the signs and refused to let me return to work until I sought medical advice. I was angry and in denial at the time, but his intervention was instrumental. With the support of my doctor, psychologist, family and friends, I made a full recovery.”

Her intelligence background later led to further work with Victoria Police as a subcontractor on the Blue Connect project, helping upskill analysts across the state.

Today, Sandra speaks with pride about being a police veteran and the sense of shared identity it carries.

“Being a police veteran brings a sense of pride and connection,” she says. “Whether someone served one day or a whole career, we are part of a group that contributed to the Victorian community and shared unique experiences.”

For many years she felt her connection to the organisation was fractured, but a turning point came when police veterans were invited to attend the funeral of Chief Commissioner Mick Miller and stand alongside serving members in the guard of honour.

“Since then, I have seen wonderful changes in how police veterans are viewed and included.”

Life after policing has taken Sandra in a completely different direction. Eight years ago, she and her husband, also a police veteran, moved to Mansfield. There she built a photography studio and business, photographing weddings, newborns, families, pets, farms and commercial projects.

She has held exhibitions and produced books including The Mansfield Farm Project, Mini Farmers Book Project and Dogs of Mansfield. Running her photography business part time during her later policing years helped make the transition smoother.

“My life now is simpler and slower,” she says. “I choose when and how much I work. If I want to spend the afternoon on the golf course, I do. It took some getting used to, but I am very grateful for the life I have now.”

Sandra believes Police Veterans Victoria plays an essential role in connection and recognition.

“PVV has been instrumental in the positive changes I’ve seen,” she says. “It helps ensure veterans are not forgotten and provides links back to the organisation, to other veterans and to support services.”

After recently attending a PVV photoshoot at the Academy, Sandra was surprised by how meaningful the day felt.

“We started reminiscing about our Academy days and sharing our experiences, both good and bad. Some people had not been back there for decades. I left with a smile on my face. It reminded me how important belonging and connection are. Being with people who understand, in a place that feels familiar and safe, really matters.”

Her message to other veterans and serving members is gentle but clear. Stay connected in whatever way feels right at the time. Even small connections keep the door open to support, when it’s needed.