As Australia prepares to celebrate the inaugural National Police Legacy Day, the Cubillo family is reflecting on the life-changing support they received from Northern Territory Police Legacy following the death of their husband and father, Alberto Cubillo. That included NT Police Legacy paying in full for two of Alberto’s daughters to obtain their bachelor’s degrees, allowing them to start their careers without a HECS debt.
Alberto was an Aboriginal Community Police Officer who continued working through cancer treatment because he loved his job so deeply. His father was a Larrakia man, and his mother was a Warumungu woman.
Since his passing in 2008, NT Police Legacy has been there to support his widow and their three Indigenous daughters, Demi, Abby and Tyla, who were aged just 13, 8 and 4 when he died.
Alberto had only recently secured his dream role with the Northern Territory Police Force when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Despite the devastating news, he scheduled chemotherapy around his rostered shifts. He remained on duty for as long as he could.
He passed away at age 46, leaving behind his shattered wife, Teri and their three devastated daughters.
Alberto defied expectations, living three-and-a-half years beyond his initial six-month prognosis.
“He was still working (while he was sick),” Teri said. “He absolutely loved his job. It’s what kept him going.”
Teri, now 59, said the support NT Police Legacy provided after her husband’s death was “incredible”.
“Within one to two days (after Alberto passed), Tony Fuller from NT Police Legacy was at my house, helping with funeral things,” she said.
“Oh, it was amazing, like you just felt like you were, as they say, part of the Police family,” Teri said.
The NT Police Legacy’s support of the Cubillo family continued for many years after Alberto’s passing.
“The kids got their schooling paid for, and two of them have completed university,” Teri said.
“Karen Cheal (from NT Police Legacy) would always say, ‘Do you need anything for the girls, you know, like a computer, a laptop…you know, anything for them?’ She would always be reaching out to go, ‘Do you need anything? Do you need help? Do they need assistance with a sporting trip?’”
“Demi’s done a teaching degree, and Abby’s done a degree in sports business management. NT Police Legacy paid for their university. Those two don’t have a HECS fee,” Teri said.
“For young people starting out, that’s absolutely incredible.”
“Police Legacy has been instrumental in our lives since Dad passed,” said Demi, now 27, said.
Demi completed a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Teaching at Charles Darwin University.
“So, every course that I did was in my degree, NT Police Legacy paid for. The whole thing, I didn’t pay anything, which was the most incredible thing. And I could never be more thankful to them, because I finished with a degree and no HECS debt,” Demi said.
Demi has been teaching for eight years. She loves her job at Wulagi Primary School. And thanks to having no HECS debt, she is in the process of trying to buy a house.
Demi and her sisters Abby and Tyla are passionate about their Indigenous heritage. They are proud to be part of the Larrakia mob.
“Me and my sisters hold that very dearly, in memory of our Dad and our whole side of our Dad’s family,” Demi said.
NT Police Legacy was established in 1990 and continues to provide long-term care, connection and financial support to NT police officers and their loved ones.
Its services include education and career grants, social events, and critical assistance for those in the police family facing life without a loved one.
National Police Legacy Day will be held annually on 17 June — the anniversary of the founding of Queensland Police Legacy, Australia’s first such organisation, in 1971.
Today, eight Police Legacy organisations across the country are working to ensure that no police family faces loss alone.
NT Police Legacy Provisional Vice Chair Marcus Tilbrook said the day was an opportunity for Australia to celebrate the work of Police Legacy organisations.
“We hope that through National Police Legacy Day, we can celebrate and highlight the life-changing work being done by Police Legacy organisations around the country,” Mr Tilbrook said.
“The mission of Police Legacy is not only to honour the memory of those who served, but to ensure that the lives of those they leave behind are not defined by tragedy, but shaped by hope, resilience, and possibility.”
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP officially launched National Police Legacy Day at Parliament House in Canberra.
“When tragedy strikes, Police Legacy is there – not just in the immediate aftermath, but in the months and years that follow. It provides emotional support, financial assistance, and – just as importantly – a deep sense of ongoing connection. These organisations check in, stay close, and remind families that they remain part of something larger,” Assistant Minister Leigh said.
“When we mark the first National Police Legacy Day on 17 June 2025, we’ll be shining a light on work that has, for years, been carried out locally – with dedication, discretion, and deep humanity,” he said.
The logo for National Police Legacy Day is inspired by the Michaelmas daisy. The Michaelmas daisy is the flower of St Michael, the patron saint of police who protects those who have sworn to serve and remembers those no longer with us. We are proud to call it the Police Legacy Daisy.
Police Legacy Daisy
For further information about NT Police Legacy visit: NT Police Legacy Inc
Full media kit containing photos and video available at: NPLD.org
