‘Absolute Saviour’: How charity helped police family
For the Schremmer family, the support of Northern Territory Police Legacy was a lifeline after the tragic loss of their beloved husband and father, Justin Schremmer.
Justin Schremmer with Madison and Bailey. The Schremmer family has been supported by Police Legacy since Justin’s death in 2022. Pic: Supplied.
Senior Constable First Class Justin Schremmer joined the NT Police Force in 2003 serving across the Northern Territory including remote communities, regional centres, and most recently in Darwin.
He died in February 2022 aged 44, leaving behind his wife Deanne, their children Bailey, 8, and Madison, 5, and two children from a previous relationship, Zoe and Jake.
Since that day, NT Police Legacy – a charity supporting the families of police officers who have suffered a loss – has provided education and sporting grants for Bailey and Madison, helping to give peace of mind the children can pursue their goals without the pressure of having to pay for it alone.
“The support NT Police Legacy provides throughout all fields is incredible. Being thankful for it is an understatement,” Deanne said.
‘The help with the school fees has been an absolute saviour. The stress without this would be considerable.”
Deanne said she could see the benefit to her children’s mental health doing what they loved.
Bailey, now 12, even made it overseas to represent the Territory in football.
“Police Legacy helped pay for my soccer trip to Singapore, which made my family really happy,” Bailey said.
Madison, now in Year 3, said “I am able to learn the guitar and have lessons thanks to the money mum gets from Police Legacy; this makes me happy as I love to play”.
Madison at National Police Remembrance Day service, supervised by Mounted Police Members.
Bailey as prepared for his Soccer activities in Victoria
Thursday is National Police Legacy Day, celebrating the work of the organisation around the country.
Chair of the NT Police Legacy board Superintendent Drew Slape said it was a day for hope.
“One of our goals and aspirations is that we want our legatees to be defined not by the tragedy that’s occurred in their life, but by hope, resilience and possibilities,” he said.
“So for me, Legacy Day is very much about the recognition, thanking the people who are involved, and the work that we continue to do as a as a benevolent organisation, but also recognising hope for our legatees.”
