The Mudgee winery has been selected to host the 2017 Shades of Blue exhibition – which encourages officers to use creative pursuits as a positive and rewarding way of managing stress.

Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie attended the opening night on Thursday, describing the work as ‘impressive’.

“Some of the stories, around the artists, are really inspirational,” he said.

Commander of Orana Mid-Western Police District, Superintendent Peter McKenna explained the exhibition also honours fallen officer Sabine Altmann, who initiated the concept.

“It’s a really nice way to remember someone who was important to the police family and who encouraged officers to pursue a creative release,” he said. 

“Police have a stressful job and anything we can do outside of the workplace to alleviate that stress, to bring back a little bit of normality, is very important.”

Creative art works, including paintings, drawings, photography, and textile art, are now on-display free to the general public until December 12.