Chris Duke and Alex Switzer are both now police officers, Duke a detective first class in the Western Australia Police Homicide Squad and Switzer a constable based in Redfern.

They have remained close friends since growing up in Eden and enjoyed the chance to team up for the sporting event.

The APES games involve police and emergency services from across Australia and New Zealand and this year drew around 3000 competitors to Mandurah, south of Perth.

Duke and Switzer won a doubles silver medal and teams bronze in the ten-pin bowling, while Mr Switzer won a further three silvers in track and field disciplines of shotput, discus and javelin – “I’m not built for speed, just throwing things,” he quipped this week.

In a nod to their home town, they wore the red of the Eden Whalers Aussie rules club while competing – “I fly the flag whenever I can,” Duke said.

The APES games have been running every two years since 1984 somewhere in Australia. This was Duke’s first time attending, but likely not his last.

“It’s always been a bit too far,” he said.

“Next time it’s being held in Wollongong so I’m hoping to get across and visit home while I’m there.”