“People all over the world travel out here and you are paid to be a police officer out here,” Inspector Kidd said. 

“So make the most of it. Enjoy it and see things. Go to the territory, go to the gulf, go to Birdsville. 

“Have a good time. Don’t sit in your room and think the world’s come to an end because you’ve been sent to Mount Isa. Make the most of the opportunities.” 

Inspector Kidd, 58, goes on long service leave before the Queensland Police Service’s mandatory retirement age of 60. He has worked for QPS for more than 40 years. A quarter of that time has been based in the Mount Isa District, which covers a quarter of Queensland.

His last day stationed at the Mount Isa district police station was on Friday, and he left to a piping ceremony that is traditional for retiring commissioned police officers.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Townsville’s acting Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge, and Acting Superintendent Chris Hodgman were among senior officers to see Inspector Kidd leave.

 Retired friends returning to Mount Isa to watch the piping ceremony included former Mount Isa Police Superintendent Russell Miller, former officer-in-charge Col Henderson, and former Queensland Ambulance Service Superintendent Evan Kaddatz. 

Inspector Kidd hugged his wife Lyn before sharing a salute with Commissioner Stewart. The Inspector left in a police car driven by the station’s junior officer, Constable Leanne Ernst. It’s the QPS’s tradition to symbolise passing on the baton to a new generation of police officers. But Inspector Kidd hurriedly left the car to ensure he hugged his mother Gladys, before getting back in the vehicle.

Commissioner Stewart described the Inspector as “a wonderful country copper, a great bloke, and a real professional police officer.” 

Normanton Police Station’s officer-in-charge Duane Amos acts as Inspector until Inspector Kidd’s position is filled. “Mate, I’ve got a lot to live up to,” Acting Inspector Amos said in a message directed to Inspector Kidd. 

Townsville’s acting Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge, who normally is stationed at Mount Isa, said; “to say a man like Trevor Kidd is one in a million is an understatement. He’s been an exceptional leader, an exceptional community leader in this part of the world. 

“We will never replace him. He’s an unbelievable individual. We’re going to miss him incredibly. He has contributed so much to this part of the world.” 

The retired Superintendent of the Mount Isa Police District, Russell Miller, said that Inspector Kidd had been good at his job because of his care towards staff. 

“Nothing else really mattered but his commitment and his care for his people that he worked with and worked underneath him,” Mr Miller said. 

“And nothing was ever too much trouble if staff or family needed some assistance. 

“Trevor would be here day or night 24 hours a day, and I think particularly in the remote area out here it’s very important that the management support the staff, because it’s mostly young staff. 

“And Trevor was...the man for that sort of job without a doubt.” 

Mount Isa Police District’s acting Superintendent Chris Hodgman said that Inspector Kidd had made many friends in 10.5 years stationed in the Isa. “I consider him my friend and mentor. It’s very sad to see him go today (Friday) but happy for him to start his retirement.” 

The former officer-in-charge of Mount Isa Police Station, retired Senior Sergeant Col Henderson, said that Inspector Kidd was “the cool head”. 

“He was a very cool, calm and collected type of officer. He always made sure he knew his stuff properly,” Mr Henderson said. 

“And you could always trust the decision he made. He was always cool when we had big incidents.”