"Graduation Day" (Official Music Video)

[@KevinHalsted]

I am a Veteran Victorian Police Officer, and a speaker for Police Veterans Victoria. John and Polly performed at our recent corporate fund raiser, brilliant!

[@timmaslen4766]

How’s it feel to have sold out your own people for a wage ? How many pedos are out free because you couldn’t be a man

[@stevewebb6512]

I retired 15 months ago from the Queensland Police after a career lasting 37 years, 26 of those years as a Crash Investigator. One of my last jobs involved a little 8 year old girl killed in a crash. She haunts me. That was the job that did me in I think. I was happy to age retire at 60. I have personally investigated over 500 deaths and when he sang about carrying a dead baby it really hit home. I have investigated many deaths but kids always got to me. I also investigated the death of one of my colleagues on a police motorcycle after the was run over by a truck. That was devastating and I relive that moment often. It NEVER goes away. The faces NEVER go away. A great song and he nails it, just like "I was only 19". I too served in the Army before the police.

[@Consumerify]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

Yep, i still see the face of the 18 yr old girl that chose to drink and drive without a seatbelt in Windorah and got crushed under the vehicle... That was years ago now, but i remember that view like it was 5 minutes ago. Unfortunately a good kid that made a really stupid mistake.

[@bretts8430]

Thanks Steve, 37 years in the job is a long haul mate. Nobody expects thanks for doing the job but we expect respect. 27 yr stint at Major Collision, you’ve got my respect mate. Some of the best detectives in the game. Hope you can enjoy ur retirement brother, you should be honoured you had the courage to do what many don’t. Hope those memories fade for all of us

[@stevewebb6512]

@@bretts8430 Thanks mate. Most memories have faded but there are a lot that don't and I will carry with me to the grave. I will not share those memories with those that I love as they are too painful and too graphic for those who have never been touched by such tragedy. On the whole though, my policing career was great. I loved my country service and I did a lot. Almost 32 years of my service was in regional Queensland.

[@bretts8430]

@@stevewebb6512 There is honour in taking on the jobs most in the community can’t or won’t. friend’s and family didn’t join the job like us, they have no frame of reference if u tel them too much, horrified at what happened and horrified u went through it. Country policing is demanding mate, I did it for a short while, death messages to friends or family, I saw it snatch the guts out of a mate one night and he was never the same. Stand tall mate, you have done more for ur state than most. There probably isn’t a copper that doesn’t have a few faces in the night, but you do the best job you can and you can take pride you did what could be done. Stand tall mate, you’ve done more than ur share

[@MichaelShillabeer-je8vs]

Son of a retired South Australian cop. Saw John & the Vagabond Crew perform this @ the Gov on the 24 June 2023 for my first time. Shared this video with my siblings after. This is our life story - not only our father's. From pulling kid's out of a car crash, to being held at gunpoint & my mother (not a cop) disarming offenders & so much more. This song bought tears to our eyes - we've lived this experience as I'm sure many other police families have.

[@rnharp]

I am a 28 year veteran Deputy Sheriff, in the USA. I hold the rank of Sergeant, and the title of Field Training Officer. I did not know "civillians" could get it. Understand, or feel what it is like. Twice though, I have been brought to tears by what a clelbrity has to say about my profession. the first was Paul Harvey in his essay "What is a policeman?" the second is John Schumann and the Vagabond Crews "Graduation Day"! Both are powerful messages. One of my stress management options is singing Karaoke. I hope that there is a Karaoke version of this song soon- althought I doubt that I can manage it without blunnering.

[@gerryalty2697]

Listen to his other song called I was only 19, it also made people aware of ptsd and the Vietnam war,,,and I think he also released it around 1980..powerful song..the band he was in is called Redgum.

[@Scanners75]

Hey mate 4th Generation officer - Best ever when someone from public recognises us. I cant sing karaoke but have been dancing on the inside since 99 watching old songs I have taped.

[@craigwlliams2415]

John is one of our national treasures in my opinion. Certainly one of the best songwriters in the country today.

[@milangrzin5353]

I am police officer from Croatia with +23 y of service. This song brings back in memory many situations. I can tell that police forces all over the world share same issues. Mr. Schumann and the Crew, great song and performance!

[@roryread9985]

As an ex Queensland copper I can attest that this so spot-on, it really hits the mark. Thank you John Schumann.

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

As a current QLD copper i can echo your comments, spot on is exactly it.

[@reddog167]

@@CaseTheCorvetteMan Aussie Veteran here, thanks for your service mate.

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

@@reddog167 thanks mate, i appreciate that :)

[@theshire1485]

I am a simple Australian citizen, but my heart felt thanks goes out to every Police officer in this country. This song is so heart rendering. Thank you John Schumann for bringing attention to the trauma our emergency service personal endure every day! 🙏🏻

[@stevenpascall7604]

Congratulations John Schumann. John Schumann was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2022 Australia Day Honours for "significant service to the veteran community, to music, and to the community"

[@SadmanStudios]

Thanks John. Sitting on a bus when I chose to watch this. tears streaming down my face as it brought back 30 years in the job. Great song.

[@gabhudson9141]

worry about my daughter but so proud..

[@kevinsmith4570]

Thanks John, 28 years I had hoped to do 35 but won't make it. In the words of the witch doctor "you're cooked" I never thought that would be me but there you go. Your understanding and just taking the effort to write a great song about it helps. Thanks again.

[@johnsontravis47]

Look after yourself and be kind to yourself mate

[@andrewwebb5170]

I am ex-Queensland Police, left with an unhealthy dose of PTSD 13 years ago, John Schumann has captured it very well...…. To a degree a law enforcement version of 'I was only 19' which was almost like an anthem to many of us who also did military service.

[@stevewebb6512]

And I am Andrew's older brother. I too served in the Military (Army) and later, 37 years in the Queensland Police before retiring last year with the rank of Sergeant. I agree with Andrew, this song hits the spot. As a former crash investigator, I saw some pretty ordinary stuff. Far too many deaths. Young and old lives lost on our roads. I try to forget but I simply can't. PTSD is a terrible thing to live with, I know, because I too suffer from the bloody thing. Even though you go into the job with your eyes open, nobody can prepare you for the trauma and grief that you will experience. When you see young children dead in front of you, it's something that never goes away.

[@LadyRad2000]

Thank you to all who serve their communities despite the personal tolls. May God bless you all.🙏

[@oz4mee]

Thanks John for the tribute to us who served and are serving

[@stevematthews1293]

WoW ... Jesus i know my job as a courier driver can be dangerous on the roads sometimes........But This Song puts a shiver down my spine ..Great Job To John Schumann and his crew......To All of you in the South Australian Community .. The Next Policeman you See Over This Easter Period Just Simply Say To Them .... THANK YOU ..

[@gsd4me00]

Hopefully, Johns next song will be about courier drivers, and their daily dices with death.

[@Spock5563]

Thank you John, you hit the nail on the head with this very powerful song. Many X and serving cops like myself can identify with everything in this song. Thank You mate.

[@tonestar0183]

To ALL police officers and their families both past and present, from just your average Dad, my family say thank you. Thank you for everything you do. I am trying my best to raise my boys with the utmost respect for all first responders.

[@Taipan77]

Legend John Schumann ..I hope one day I meet you while I'm in Adelaide .. hopefully at an match watching Port Adelaide

[@paulettemurphy9430]

Love this song going to see John schuman at the gov hotel in adelaide on the 24th of June can not wait

[@Milney10]

The best day in the job is graduation day. 😬😬 Often thankless but will always be honourable.

[@EKV8Productions]

This is a good song👍I like police cars fire truck ambulance

[@angelabastow380]

Unbelievable song.

[@plate2plate160]

I love this. Thank you.

[@Jay-pf2en]

Brilliant!

[@curtisk07]

As a cop I can tell you this speaks so much truth about the job

[@joeyphaahla]

God bless you for keeping us safe

[@joannehill9000]

Bravo! Every member of the public should be made to hear and watch this, as well as watch "Dark Blue".

[@mickcummins4130]

Brilliant work...

[@gabhudson9141]

My baby is a cop cant be more proud

[@nearl3760]

Brilliant song... cops are the best people when they rescue little girls like cleo but when they get into a fight to arrest some scumbag that most ordinary people would run away from, they are bad cops because they do their best to get to get on top of the situation....

[@bretts8430]

That’s about as accurate a statement can be

[@billy4734]

Coppers dont get the respect they deserve; you see it all the time some poor guy gets shot, or some doped up fuckoff goes on a spree. You guys stop this with the courage of an ANZAC. I can't express how much I appreciate you guys keepin the peace, absolute heroes of the world; truely the closest we have to the comics. God bless the Thin Blues, giving us peace like heaven you guys are angels

[@damianoehme5391]

Excellent work!

[@thestigmatickreature]

Perfect.

[@apitoahkhi1]

❤️

[@angelabastow380]

A great song. We'd be lost without the police. Merry Xmas to them all and stay safe

[@leannefredbuchanan6491]

Love it!

[@100mmtubeofjustice7]

I'm not a cop but several members of my family were, this vid is a truly "real' vid, there are many stories they wont or cant tell of in their profession.

[@john-di1mz]

Man .....what a number this is....and where would we be without the Police Services I can believe all the comments below from ex Servicemen and Women....they are treated like our returned soldiers...with total and utter contempt. I would love to see a list of politicians (read bottom feeders) who have children serving in the either the Australian Armed Forces or the Police Force....anywhere To the readers....ask your selves this...could you or would you do their jobs....?? No....??? I thought as much..... Then show them the utmost respect, for they truly deserve it Do Unto Others ......

[@eshry]

They deserve contempt

[@DavidMartin-du6jd]

Awesome. Very Red Gum

[@gabhudson9141]

when i see red and blue i think safe, even if i stuffed up

[@no.5429]

He’s still got it 👌🏻👌🏻

[@sargeusm_84]

Could someone write the lyrics of the song here ? Can't find it anywhere on the internet.

[@Jus7aguy]

Nice.

[@lukemcintosh3971]

(Sigh)....dayum that hits a spot

[@carlstubbs3167]

I wish they portrayed this in reality with 2 men in the car.

[@gabhudson9141]

I don't understand this comment

[@carlstubbs3167]

@@gabhudson9141 female police is the most ridiculous failed experiment of all time. It's a man's job.

[@simonmacdonald888]

Bar humbug the thin blue line …24

[@bakernater77]

Thank you

[@Kangawallapossumbat]

More must be done for cops with PTSD. I am retired from the job and can,t get any help.

[@johnsontravis47]

Where did u work?

[@melissagole9493]

Blue hope is 1300 00 BLUE and available nationally if you want to talk to anyone. They have counselling and career transition. If you’re NSW there’s Back up for life too.

[@gazzman4264]

@@melissagole9493 Crap Melissa. The NSW Police Service has the longest history of maltreatment of PTSD Officers serving and retired. Read the major numerous reports like NSW Ombudsman Reports, the Federal Senate Committee report of 2019 re NSW. Absolute crap Melissa! Do you work for the NSW Police?

[@bigredinfinity3126]

march does it get hot nights

[@TigerMica]

cameron Gibbs Depends what state you live in. NT and Northern Qld would have them, and I think we had a few in SA this year.

[@donnaambler3866]

Thankyou

[@leannefredbuchanan6491]

Alice Mulla please put in a claim you are entitled to help, get assessed by the best professional you can afford and put in with you claim. Please

[@gazzman4264]

Typical - wait for the Australian Police Services to use this re-hash ad nauseum. As an ex-cop, I know full well that all Police Services are full of crap when it comes to real employee assistance. I know only full well after successfully suing the Queensland Police Service for not one seconds assistance and also complete disregard for HRM Critical Incident Policies. There are thousands who have left the QPS due to unsupported attendance at critical incidents and so many have committed suicide. Police in general see many times trauma than do defence but defence suffer real potential physical harm. Imagine the Paramedics and Fire Officers who see serious trauma almost weekly, more than the Police. Dragging the dead children out of vehicle wrecks who are in pieces.They too have a bullshit support system and will like the QPS fight you to the death when you issue writs. The most recent Senate Committee on Emergency PTSD was as expected a whitewash, money grabbing enterprise by the Senate Committee members involved. Read the so called final report (Feb 2019) and decide whether Kleenex should roll it up for sale. If you want loyalty and support in any emergency service, than buy yourself a Labrador. Police Services in Australia refuses to offer any support to any ex-members, refuse to accept that the extraordinary trauma they now face and previously faced, and is more than the job they signed up for. The Emergency Services and the Qld Crown on behalf of the QPS & QAS, love to extract false Affidavits from witnesses contrary to previously taped conversations. I have a number of these false Affidavits and tapes. Also love to see the Qld Police hierarchy wear totally undeserved wall to wall medals. They will need load vests soon for their plastic medals from the Commissioner down. Disgraceful, when you take into account Defence Force personal who have been shot at, bombed at, endured IED explosives on every tour. They deserve the medals, unlike most of the cowards in the QPS. The odd QPS member has demonstrated bravery and been awarded but the majority are simply brassy jerks whose egos exceed their abilities by 10 to 1.. I can imagine now this new beaut tune is out, the hierarchy will gather in all their glory wearing multitudes of these plastic medals, drink, toast and back stab as they brown nose their way up the career ladder. The QPS love to close off streets, every September, for the morning as they march to a non secular church and pray to the fictitious almighty for the soul of a member killed every 4-5 years. Those deaths are sad but the QPS has caused more suicides of its current and former members, than members killed in the execution of their duties. Bit different to the Defence force who suffer quite a few killed a year, and the 60,000 killed in the Frist World War let alone WW2, Korea, the Asian Conflict, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. The QPS is not a dangerous job in any stretch of the imagination but they wrongly must close the streets, create many more colour parties that never existed before bar one, and dress like para-military. Their danger is mostly in their imaginations. Many more die yearly in construction and transport than any police. Those occupations are the dangerous ones, not policing. The QPS want the public to believe that it is special but in reality carries on with little integrity, loves cover-ups and feeds the public a P.R. shovel of crap.

[@johnsontravis47]

Untempered Schism there was a saying about a crusty senior connnie TJF but, I hope you get the support to get to 35 years.

[@johnsontravis47]

Untempered Schism when I joined there was senior constables who were known as old and crusty generally by appearance and had let themselves go. And they would always tell you “ the jobs F;:&$D” it was probably time they got out to be honest. I was in for16 years and you never know when the black dog PTSD will hit. Some people are negative for a reason and probably bitter yes. We all want to retire. Some just don’t make it. I hope you get the support to last 35 years.

[@drjones1736]

It’s strange reading the comments. There are a lot of good people leaving remarks. I have a mental illness and am house bound for anxiety. I live in a small town and never cause anyone any trouble or break the law. I get beaten up by the police and arrested a few times a year. I don’t have a criminal record as I haven’t ever broken the law. The randomly turn up, often I’m asleep in bed they beat me up and I spend a night in jail. Personally I hate the police, but in the comments there are some good people in the police force….makes me think.

[@davo-h1t]

shame about the lady shouting down the microphone but.............nice!

[@karpig8939]

May the 4 cops killed rest in peace

[@fraserihle4847]

Disappointing to see him writing a song about an issue that should be way down near the bottom of the list of problems in australia

[@alonsocushing2398]

Had a few run ins with the coppers I gather?

[@bretts8430]

If you don’t think serving and retired police committing suicide because of the trauma they suffered serving the community is a social issue you are either misinformed or left ur humanity on the bus

[@fraserihle4847]

@@bretts8430 bet you lick boots like no one else hey bud?

[@bretts8430]

@@fraserihle4847 you would be the one to know about boot licking I’ll defer to your expertise. An insult, top effort

[@trentbell5931]

There is no way that policewoman is an actor. That’s definitely a real policewoman, you can tell by her head. So many of them have this look about them, it’s like a kind of dumb look.

[@mresch8]

So, are you saying the police in general are dumb???

[@joeyphaahla]

@@mresch8 no the hair

[@eshry]

Shame on this song, of all the social issues in australia he writes a song about the police and their troubles. Long time redgum fan severely dissapounted

[@joannehill9000]

No, shame on you! Disgraceful comment.

[@fraserihle4847]

@@joannehill9000 Shame on you joanne! You are no doubt an over 50, highly prejudiced white woman

[@joannehill9000]

@@fraserihle4847 haha, if only you knew! Get a speeding fine lately perhaps?

[@gazzman4264]

Joanne. It's a piece of cheesy crap!

[@johnsontravis47]

Ashleigh he was approached by the police federation of Australia to address mental health. It also compliments a teleseries