A baton relay through the streets of Orange signalled the start of the centenary event, and police cars lined the northcourt where there were also mounted police demonstrations and a historical display.

Canobolas Local Area Command Superintendent Shane Cribb said the local celebrations were about showcasing the history, past and present achievements of women in the force.

“We now have hundreds of committed and successful women working in diverse roles such as the dog unit, rescue squad, mounted unit and detectives,” he said.

The first female police officer in Orange, Superintendent Doreen Cruickshank, also returned to the city to speak of her experiences as a young woman in a male-dominated police force.

Superintendent Cruickshank is now the commander of the North Shore Local Area Command but came to Orange in 1976 when she was 25 and had five years’ policing experience.

She said she wanted to become a police officer to overcome challenges set by those who said it was not a woman’s job.

During her early career she was a plain-clothes officer and came to Orange in an election year when the Liberal Party brought female police to regional areas.

“It was very different [coming to Orange] because I came here because of a political appointment,” Superintendent Cruickshank said. “I just fitted in with the detectives and worked with them ... it was no different to working in Sydney.

“I’ve been very lucky, I’ve always worked well with the males, probably because there is an acceptance of plain clothes.”

When Superintendent Cruickshank came to Orange the officers not only worked together but they and their families also socialised together.

“It was the first time I got on a force of local police knowing all the local criminals,” Superintendent Cruickshank said.

She said in early in her career it was also about knowing who to be around. 

“The girls had to get over the stigma of this is not a woman’s job,” Superintendent Cruickshank said.

“There were diehards but as many diehards saying this is not a woman’s job there were as many who were supportive.”

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au