The 1st Class to have brought the Registered number system over into the 10 thousands
New South Wales Police Force
Commonwealth Police
Brother to Michael – NSWPF
Brother to Danny – AFP
NSW Regd. # 10002
NSW Police Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 29 May 1961 ( aged 24 years & 21 days )
Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 April 1967
Resigned from NSWPF in November 1968
NSW Stations: ?, North East District,
NSW Police Service: From? ?Pre May 1961? to? November 1968 = 7+ years Service
* * * * * * * * *
Australian Federal Police ( AFP ) Regd # AFP197
Commonwealth Police Rank: Commonwealth Police from 22 October 1973 ( then AFP on its formation in 1979 where he was assigned to Eastern Region ) to 3 July 1992
AFP Stations: ( Commonwealth ) ?, Eastern Region, Eastern Region Sydney – Investigations ( 1983 – Retirement on 3 July 1992.
Attained his Detective designation on 11 February 1982 and promoted to the rank of Station Sergeant on 27 January 1986.
Commonwealth Police Service: From 22 October 1973 to 3 July 1992 = 19 years Service
Loved father and father in law of DENIELLE and DARRYL, GREG and CAROL.
Adored Grandad.
Family and friends are warmly invited to the Celebration of BRIAN’s life in the North Chapel at Newcastle Memorial Park on WEDNESDAY 11th July 2018 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Institute of Haematology may be left at the Chapel.
Published in The Newcastle Herald on July 9, 2018
Leon Miller CREAGH
| 13/07/2018
Leon Miller CREAGH
AKA Sam
Brother to Terry CREAGH – Regd # 5851 ( born 300127 )
Late of Gladesville
NSW Police Cadet # 0604
New South Wales Police Force
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 5779[/alert_yellow]
Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced 8 March 1946 ( 17 old )
Probationary Constable – appointed 15 September 1947
CREAGH, Leon Miller ( Sam ).
Passed away on 9th July 2018 at Ryde Hospital. Late of Gladesville. Born in Gloucester NSW.
Aged 90.
Loving husband to Elizabeth (deceased). Wonderful dad to Julie and Ray. A great Pop and doting great-granddad.
Sadly missed and always in our hearts
Second son of Ernest and Olga Creagh’s five sons Terry, Alan, Roger (all deceased) and John.
Highly regarded, respected and loved by his many nieces and nephews.
A proud career member of the NSW Police Force and life member of the NSW Police Association and over 50 years member of the Masonic Lodge.
Family and friends are kindly invited to attend his funeral service on Tuesday 17 July 2018, in the East Chapel, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, 199 Delhi Rd, North Ryde, commencing at 1.30 p.m.
Published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 12, 2018
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Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 4 April 1975 (No.52), page 1330
IN the Supreme Court of New South Wales.— Probate Division Re will of ERNEST MILLER CREAGH, late of 52 Osgathorpe Road, Gladesville, deceased.— Probate was granted by the Supreme Court of New South Wales on the 23rd January, 1975.— Pursuant to the Wills, Probate and Administration Act, 1898 – 1940, Testator’s Family Maintenance and Guardianship of Infants Act, 1916-1954, and Trustee Act, 1925 – 1942, Olga Alexandra Creagh and Leon Miller Creagh, the executrix and executor of the will of the said Ernest Miller Creagh, who died on the 27th August, 1974, hereby give notice that creditors and others having any claim against or to the estate of the said deceased are required to send particulars of their claims to the said executrix and executor c.o. Winston M. Readford, Solicitor, 245 Victoria Road, Gladesville, on or before the 6th June, 1975, at the expiration of which time the said executrix and executor will distribute the assets of the said deceased to the persons entitled, having regard only to the claims of which they then have notice.—
Dated 26th March, 1975.
WINSTON M. READ FORD,
Solicitor, 245 Victoria Road, Gladesville, N.S.W. 2111.
THIS ARTICLE IS ‘NOT’ VERIFIED AS BEING ‘OUR’ LEON CREAGH BUT THE AGE IS NEAR CORRECT, HIS FATHER’S NAME WAS ERNEST – ERNIE BEING SHORT FOR ERNEST. HE WAS BORN IN GLOUCESTER
The Truscott Flying Club’s plane, Robin, was wrecked when it made a forced landing in a paddock near Hollywood holiday resort ( Lansdowne – 2163 ) on the George’s River on Wednesday. The single occupant of the aircraft, Mr. Leon Creagh, 21, of Botany, a student pilot, was unhurt. Creagh ‘undershot’ the paddock he had selected for a forced landing
and stalled the aircraft to avoid hitting overhead wires. The plane dropped into the paddock in an almost straight and level position from a height of 40 feet and hit the ground with such force that it fell to pieces. Robin, a De Haviland 60 Gipsy Moth, was used for years by Dr. Clyde Fenton on aerial medical trips in the Northern Territory. ( Leon is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Creagh, of Gloucester ).
Ray was a V.I.P. Cyclist with the Sydney District HWP.
His nickname was ‘Pin Head’ because the troops reckoned that he had the smallest Police hat at the time.
Ray worked a lot around Manly and French’s Forest areas.
Around 1990 – 1991, he had a fall from his Police Motor Cycle, in the Redfern area in heavy rain, which resulted in him going to hospital with a busted collar bone.
Ray eventually left NSWPF and had attempted suicide on previous occasions leading up to his death.
His death was discovered by his wife.
His family blame the cause of his death upon the NSWPF and requested that no official representation of NSWPF be present at his funeral i.e. – no Police uniforms or Police vehicles.
May Ray have found the peace that he sought and may his family and friends remember the good times with him.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Thursday 1 April 1999 (No.39), page 2649
NOTICE of intended distribution of estate.- Any person having any claim upon the estate of FREDERICK WILLIAM THOMAS SHEAN, late of Dee Why, in the State of New South Wales, retired fire officer, who died on 19th October. 1997, must send particulars of his claim to the executor, Raymond William Shean. c o Harris & Company Solicitors, level 11, 99 Bathurst Street. Sydney, within one ( 1 ) calendar month from publication of this notice.
After that time the executor may distribute the assets of the estate having regard only to the claims of which at the time of distribution he has notice.
Probate was granted in New South Wales on 16th June, 1991. HARRIS & COMPANY, Solicitors. Level 11, 99 Bathurst Street, Sydney, N S W 2000 (D X 724, Sydney tel<02> 92611533
Passed away 17-06-2018 after a courageous 3 year battle with cancer
Aged 82 Years
Late of Harrington Formerly of Cessnock
Beloved husband of MARLENE.
Loving father and father-in-law to LES and KATHLEEN, RHONDA and MARK.
Much loved Poppy to 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
A loved and respected member of the MILLWARD and KING FAMILIES.
Relatives and Friends of BILL are warmly invited to attend his Funeral Service in St. John’s Anglican Church, Westcott St., Cessnock this MONDAY, 25-6-2018 at 11.00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Cancer Research may be left at St. John’s. C. R. SMYTH & SON One Firm, One Family Since 1925
Published in The Newcastle Herald on June 23, 2018
Bill was involved in the investigation of Crump and Baker whereupon Bill was shot in the head whilst in pursuit of the offenders in 1973 – for which he received the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1974.
Kevin CRUMP & Allan BAKER killed Ian James LAMB & Virginia MORSE with a .308 rifle.
On the 13 November 1973 they were both arrested and are both currently doing LIFE Sentences in gaol.
Kevin Crump and Allan Baker were convicted criminals who had met in prison whilst serving sentences for such offences as breaking and entering, and larceny. After they were released, they met up and opted for a life of robbing for a living – and as it turned out, murder. Their new life began on November 3, 1973.[1]
On that date, and whilst driving a previously stolen vehicle, they used a .308 rifle to murder Ian James Lamb, 43, who was sleeping in his car next to the road to save accommodation costs while he was in the area to look for seasonal work.[2] The murder appeared to be a thrill killing as the pair did not know Lamb.[3]
Three days later they camped near the home of Brian and Virginia Morse in Collarenebri, where one of them had previously worked, as a migrant farm labourer. After watching the house for two days, they abducted 35-year-old Virginia Morse when her husband and their three children left the property. The men drove via back roads towards Queensland, stopping at hotels and garages along the way, and buying beer and petrol with the $30 they had stolen from the Morse homestead. They drove mainly at night to avoid detection. During the journey, Morse sobbed and pleaded for her life. The men stopped south of the Queensland border, tied Virginia Morse to a tree and took turns raping her repeatedly. They then threw her back in the car and continued on their journey.
When they stopped by the Weir River near Moonie they tied Virginia Morse to another tree. They raped and tortured her repeatedly before one of the men shot her between the eyes in an execution style killing. They rolled her body into the river, burnt her clothes then drove back to their camp site.
Arrest
On November 13, ten days after Lamb‘s murder, the pair headed towards the Hunter Region, intending to commit a burglary. However, after their stolen vehicle was spotted near Maitland, the pair took flight from the scene. A police vehicle responding to the attempted burglary intercepted their vehicle en route and a high speed chase ensued. The police car was rammed off the road, and the chase taken up by a second police unit. A police officer in this vehicle was seriously injured when the fugitivesshot him in the face. The car chase culminated at a police roadblock at Woodville, where the pair ran off, shooting at police as they fled into the bush. An intensive ground and air search of the area followed, and the two men were eventually arrested in a nearby river three hours later.
After their capture, Crump tried to evade responsibility for Morse‘s murder in his police statement. “I was forced to kill Mrs. Morse by Baker, because he wanted me to be in as deep as him. He said he was going to kill me if I didn’t. I admit that I was prepared to kidnap Mrs. Morse and even to sleep with her, but once again, as with Mr. Lamb, I did not want to be a part of her death… It was a choice of either me or Mrs. Morse.”[4]
Even though there was compelling evidence that Crump had murdered Virginia Morse, he was not charged with this crime, as she had been murdered in Queensland, outside the jurisdiction of the Government of New South Wales. However he was charged with the murder of Ian James Lamb and with rape and conspiracy to murder Virginia Morse.[3]
Trial
Crump and Baker were tried in the Supreme Court of NSW. At their trial, Crump and Baker pleaded not guilty to the four charges of murdering Ian James Lamb, conspiracy to murder Virginia Morse, maliciously wounding a police officer with intent to prevent lawful apprehension and shooting at police with intent to prevent lawful apprehension. It took the jury an hour and 45 minutes to convictBaker and Crump on all charges. Bakershowed no emotion at the verdict, while Crump appeared to stare at the floor and shudder.[2]
Mr. Justice Taylor then sentenced both men to life imprisonment plus 55 years. The judge said: “You have outraged all accepted standards of the behaviour of men. The description of ‘men’ ill becomes you. You would be more aptly described as animals, and obscene animals at that. … I believe that you should spend the rest of your lives in gaol and there you should die. If ever there was a case where life imprisonment should mean what it says – imprisonment for the whole of your lives – this is it.”[5]
Details of the torture Virginia Morse endured at the hands of Baker and Crump were suppressed during the trial as the information was deemed too graphic and disturbing for the public.[citation needed]
Parole, legislation and court appeals
In 1997, Kevin Crump successfully applied to the Supreme Court of NSW to convert his life sentence into a minimum term and an additional term. McInerney J sentenced Crump to a minimum term of 30 years and an additional term for the remainder of his life[6][7]
In response to this determination the Parliament of New South Wales passed legislation that was intended to ensure that 10 named individuals remained incarcerated for the rest of their lives. The people named in Parliament were Baker and Crump, together with Michael Murphy, Leslie Murphy, Gary Murphy, John Travers and Michael Murdoch who were convicted of the murder of Anita Cobby and Stephen Jamieson, Matthew Elliot and Bronson Blessington who were convicted of the murder of Janine Balding.[8] The legislation required the Parole Board to give substantial weight to the recommendations, observations and comments made by the original sentencing court.[9]
Baker challenged this legislation in the High Court of Australia arguing that it was invalid and incompatible with the integrity, independence and impartiality of the Supreme Court. In October 2004 the High Court rejected his challenge, holding that there was nothing repugnant to the notion of judicial power in requiring significant weight be given to a past judicial recommendation.[10][11]
The effect of the 1997 determination by McInerney J was that Crump had some prospect, however minimal, of being released on parole after November 2003. In 2001 the Parliament of NSW passed further legislation that was intended to ensure that Baker, Crump and other never-to-be-released prisoners could only ever be released on their death beds or if they were so incapacitated that they would pose a threat to nobody.[12][13] In 2003 Crump sought parole; however, this was rejected by the Parole Board due to the 2001 legislation. In May 2012 the High Court rejected Crump‘s challenge to the 2001 legislation, despite the ad hominem component of legislation apparent in the Second Reading Speech.[14][15]
In February 2016 the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed Crump‘s application for leave to appeal the 1997 sentence determination of McInerney J.[16][17]
Kevin Crump was convicted of the murder of Ian Lamb and conspiracy to murder Virginia Morse in 1973.
With his oversized spectacles, balding head and stubby hands, Kevin Crump bore little resemblance to someone described by former premier Bob Carr as “evil incarnate”.
As he rifled through reams of paperwork and struggled to enunciate his arguments, Crump, 66, looked quite ordinary.
Crump is one of the state’s current longest-serving prisoners, having been in jail for more than 42 years for the callous rape, torture and murder of housewife Virginia Morse, 35, and shooting murder of itinerant worker Ian Lamb, 43, in 1973.
In sentencing Crump and his co-offender Allan Baker in 1974, Justice Robert Taylor said the pair should never be released.
“If ever there was a case where life imprisonment should mean what it says – imprisonment for the whole of your lives – this is it.”
However, prior to “truth in sentencing” reforms in 1990, life did not mean life and people sentenced to life imprisonment were released on parole after serving an average of 11 to 12 years.
In 1997, Crump’s sentence was re-determined to a minimum of 30 years, expiring on November 12, 2003, with a maximum of life imprisonment.
Justice Peter McInerney said expert psychiatric reports found he was largely rehabilitated and would not be a danger if released.
Following a public outcry, the NSW government made several legislative changes to ensure Crump and nine others – the men who killed Anita Cobby and Janine Balding – are virtually never released on parole.
The changes provide that if a “non release recommendation” has been made by the original sentencing judge, the offender is to remain behind bars until he is so physically incapacitated or close to death that he poses no risk to the community.
In introducing the laws, Mr Carr said the changes would “cement them to their cells”.
As a result, he remains in Wellington Correctional Centre in protective custody despite becoming eligible for parole almost 12 years ago.
Appearing via video-link in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on Wednesday, Crump pleaded for another chance to appeal against his sentence. First, he has to convince the court grant him an 18-year extension of time to seek leave against the 1997 judgment.
He said he was representing himself in court because he was unable to get Legal Aid assistance and apologised several times for “not having me paperwork in order”.
He told Justices Anthony Meagher, Geoffrey Bellew and Stephen Rothman: “I believe the sentence I received is over the limit of what I should have received.
“I believe that I should never have received a life sentence because it was not in the worst category of murder cases.”
Ms Adams said that, even if Crump won the right to be re-sentenced, the effect of the 1999 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act is that whatever non-parole period the appeal judges thought appropriate, the court would still have to impose a head sentence of life, which is what he already has.
Crump and Baker killed Mr Lamb at Narrabri on November 4, 1973, by shooting him four times to the head. Soon after, they abducted Mrs Morse, a mother of three, at her homestead, subjected her to 22 hours of atrocities including sexual assault, before shooting her once they were across the border in southern Queensland. They threw her body into a billabong.
Crump was convicted of conspiracy to murder Mrs Morse in NSW and in theory could still be tried in Queensland for her murder, although that is unlikely to eventuate.
The court reserved its decision and told Crump to expect a judgment in two to three weeks.
Always loved, ever remembered and forever in our hearts
Family and friends of Michele are invited to attend her funeral service to be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church Bulli, 50 Park Road, Bulli on Friday 6th July, 2018 commencing at 2.30pm.
In Lieu of Flowers donations are invited to The McGrath Foundation & Breast Cancer Network Australia.
At Michele’s request, we ask you to wear a splash of colour to celebrate her wonderful personality and colourful life‘
Early this morning the night sky gained one of its most brightest additions. Mum passed away, sleeping peacefully after a very brave fight.
Our hearts are broken at the universe’s need to take back someone so special but we are forever grateful for the small amount of time we had left to spend with her. There is no amount of time that would have ever been sufficient before we had to say goodbye, and the hole in our hearts that has been left behind will never be filled. No words can describe just what she meant to those who loved her and a life without her seems incomprehensible, but how lucky are we to have had such a beautiful person in our lives, one who lit up any room when she entered, knew all the right things to say and who always knew how to laugh at herself.
Today I lost my best friend, my mum and the other half of my heart, but I am forever thankful to whoever or whatever sent me to her, because there are very few people who have such the effect mum did, and I am truly proud to be her daughter.
Sean, Carly and myself are overwhelmed with the amount of love and support from every person we have spoken to, who’s visited and who sent their love over the last, very quick, few days. We tried so hard to get in contact with as many people as we could, but time kept moving and we just didn’t have the chance to get to everybody.
Details for Michele’s service will be sent out in the coming days – please contact us if you would like any further information. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Hello Everyone,
Below are the details for Mum’s service should you wish to attend.
At Michele’s request, we ask you to wear a splash of colour to celebrate mum’s vibrant personality and colourful life.
Friday 6th July 2:30pm St Joseph’s Catholic Church. 50 Park Road Bulli
Followed by a celebration of mum’s life at Towradgi Beach Hotel. 170 Pioneer Rd, Towradgi.
Please feel free to contact myself or any of the family should you want/need to. A notice will also be placed in the Illawarra Mercury.
Thank you for all of your love and support over the last few weeks and we look forward to celebrating just how wonderful a person mum is and was xx Olivia Michele Southam-Byrnes
My memories of Michele:
When I, and other mates, transferred from Cabramatta / Fairfield to Wollongong G.D’s around 1982, Michele was a Public Servant working the front counter of the very old Wollongong Police Station in Church St, Wollongong.
We worked with Michele most shifts and she was a great girl and we were always laughing.
One shift that we were working with Michele, we had loaded a couple of her cigarettes with bits of a sparkler.
She finished her late shift and left to go home to Bulli where she was living with her parents, Kath & Reg, at Bulli Police Station residence.
Southam’s, at the time I lobbed up at Wollongong Police Station, were a local police identify.
Reg was a SenSgt at Bulli and, later, Wollongong whilst his brother, Darrell was a Senior Constable with the Police Prosecutors at Wollongong Police Station. Both were lovely and likeable blokes.
On our next shift together Michele related a story about how she was driving north, along the Princes Hwy, North Wollongong, and decided to have a cigarette.
As she was driving, she lit her cigarette and was enjoying drawing back on the thick smoke entering her lungs ( as most of use smokers did back in those days ).
She said she was driving along and next thing, her cigarette started to sparkle and shoot sparks out everywhere and she nearly crossed to the wrong side of the road as she tried to comprehend what was happening before throwing the cigarette out the window in disbelief.
We all laughed at the way she described it and, to this day, I’m not sure whether we told her how it happened or not.
We used to have great times with practical jokes and the old telex confetti over the years.
Michele worked with us, at Wollongong, for many years before she finally pulled the pin and went onto other, and greater, things in her life.
The cigarette mischief was well over 30 years ago and I still laugh about it.
The next time I met up with Michele was at either Darrell’s funeral or her father, Reg’s funeral, and it was like yesterday. She was a bit older but still the same Michele from back in 1982.
May you forever Rest In Peace mate. Your smile and humour will always be remembered.
Love
Greg Callander
Retired NSWPF
1975 – 2004
Stephen William OFFEN
| 13/07/2018
Stephen William OFFEN
Late of Hawkins Village, Edgeworth ( Newcastle )
NSW Police Cadet # 1995
NSW Redfern Police Academy Class 115
New South Wales Police Force
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 13314[/alert_yellow]
Rank: NSW Police Cadet – Commenced 22 February 1965
Probationary Constable – appointed 28 June 1968
Constable – appointed 28 June 1969
Detective Senior Constable – appointed 28 June 1977
May 1984 – became sick
Passed his Sergeants Exam about 1982 but due to his illness, was never promoted because he was on ‘Light Duties’.
Stations: Bondi GD’s ( 1969 ), Hamilton GD’s, Detectives Course – 1978, Newcastle Detectives – Newcastle Drug Squad – Newcastle CIB ( Light Duties due to illness – Retirement
Service: From 22 February 1965to 4 October 2001= 35years Service
It is reported that Steve collapsed, at work, whilst carrying a type writer in 1980 – 4 years prior to a spot being found on his brain via scans.
Steve was off work for 3 months prior to this ‘spot’ being found.
As a result of this incident and dropping the type writer, the matter was classified as Hurt On Duty ( H.O.D. ) until the Commissioner of Police eventually reversed that decision causing Steve to have to fight for his entitlements during such a hard time in his life.
Being the policeman that he was and dedicated to “the job”, Steve was more concerned and disappointed about NOT being granted his Sergeant’s rank than he was of the Commissioner reversing his H.O.D. status. Steve had already passed his qualification exam but because he now found himself on ‘Light Duties’, he was deemed not able to fulfil the role of Sergeant and thus, was not promoted past the rank of Detective Senior Constable.
Steve, having being diagnosed with the blood clot at age 34 and having Served NSWPF for 35 years, was eventually Medically Retired from NSWPF, aged 51, on 4 October 2001 due to his continuing health decline.
During his early Retired years, Steve worked at the local Police Boys Club with the Bicycle Safety program, which he developed, with the RTA ( now RMS ) providing the push bikes and helmets that he used at local schools to teach the young students bicycle safety on our streets. Since Steve could no longer provide this service due to his illness, no-one has taken up the slack to provide this useful service to the local youth.
Steve, due to his severe debilitating illness, spent his last few years in the full care of his wife, Lorraine.
Steve, in his healthier years was a strong swimmer and represented NSWPF in the Police Olympic pool at Narrabeen and won Gold.
May Steve forever Rest In Peace.
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Anthony Phillip DOGGETT
| 13/07/2018
Anthony Phillip DOGGETT
AKA Tony
Late of Winston Hills
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 13357
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 16 September 1968
Prior to joining the NSW Police Force, Tony did his Paint trade at the Snowy Hydro project.
From all reports, Tony was a much liked Policeman and was especially liked by junior Police because of his nature and the time he would given them.
Retired Sergeant of Police
DOGGETT
Anthony Phillip (Tony)
05.12.1938 – 29.06.2018
Late of Winston Hills
Beloved husband of Doreen (dec). Dearly loved father and father-in-law of Catherine and Nicola, Tony and Debra, Simone, Lucette, Cameron and Chiho. Grandfather to Ashley, Caitlin, Kaisei, Akito and Mikako.
Sadly missed by the rest of his loving family and friends
Relatives and friends of Tony are warmly invited to attend his Funeral in St Monica’s Catholic Church cnr Church Street and North Rocks Road, North Parramatta, FRIDAY (6th July 2018). Prayers to commence at 10.30 am.
A wake will be held from 12:30 pm at Liverpool Golf Club, Hollywood Drive, Lansvale.
Tony will be laid to rest in the Rydal Cemetery at a later date (TBC).
TREVOR LEE & SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Australian Owned
All Suburbs 9746 2949
F.D.A of N.S.W.
Published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 3, 2018
Thursday 22 September 1977 The Sydney Morning Herald
There is a civil action, against Adrian, by William Roy Dowden, 47, company manager of Sunshine Parade, Peakhurst South, who was accused of using unseemly words at a traffic incident on 28 April 1975 and charged by Adrian at Bankstown Police Station.
This incident happened outside of Bankstown Paceway and, it appears, Adrian was Off Duty at the time.
The Charge against Dowden was dismissed at Court, then Dowden sued Adrian for Damages. Dowden lost that matter.
I am unable to get into the Sydney Morning Herald to extract the full story.
Cal
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Nothing further could be readily found for Adrian’s working life.
May he Rest In Peace.
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Brian Patrick SCAYSBROOK
| 13/07/2018
Brian Patrick SCAYSBROOK
AKA SCAYS
Late of Valentine
New South Wales Police Force
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 10261[/alert_yellow]
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 26 February 1962
Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 April 1967
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 28 April 1978
Senior Sergeant – appointed 28 June 1986
Inspector – appointed 27 July 1988
Stations: ?, North East District, Newcastle area, OIC – Forster ( Sgt ), Newcastle – Retirement
Service: From? ? pre Feb 1962? to 2 August 1997= 35+years Service
Passed peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family 27th May, 2018
Aged 76 Years
Dearly loved husband of Mary.
Much loved father & father-in-law of Kim and John, and Simone.
Cherished brother of Marie, John (dec’d), Terry, Helen, and Paul,
brother-in-law and uncle to the Scaysbrook and Lambert Families.
The Relatives and Friends of Brian are warmly invited to attend a Celebration of His Life to be held in The Chapel, 444 Pacific Hwy, Belmont (Parking via Henry St)
this Monday 4th June, 2018 service commencing at 12.30pm.
No flowers by request.
‘Forever In Our Hearts’
June 6, 2018
Mary & Family…I became aware of the passing of Brian early in the week from details on 2RE.
It was 1962 when he & others, including yours truly joined the COPS and trained together at Redfern.
We met up again in the Newcastle area and I went west & returned to find him still there in 1985. In 1995 I retired and from there we did not come across each other again. I always respected his work and enjoyed his company.
I now live in Wingham (where a ‘lot’ of us originate from)
FIRE MEN GAGGED OVER CRITICAL QUAKE REPORT
by Mark Riley, senior police reporter
Firemen have been threatened with instant dismissal if they comment on a leaked report critical of police handling of the rescue operation at Newcastle Workers Club after the December 28 earthquake.
The report, leaked to a Sydney radio station yesterday, said earthquake victims could have been saved had it not been for the police’s ‘confusion and bungling’ during rescue attempts.
Newcastle Fire Brigade District Officer Bob Tait, who is also president of the NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union’s Newcastle branch, said yesterday he could not comment on the report because of the threat that he would be sacked.
‘ Many of the critical comments in the report are believed to have been attributed to District Officer Tait. ‘
The fire brigade inspector for Newcastle and the Central Coast, Insp Tony Hunt, was reported in The Newcastle Herald on February 2 as having told a rescue services debriefing session at City Hall the previous day that firefighters had not been used to their full capacity at the club.
Mr Tait told the debriefing that he was the first rescue official on the scene.
A rescue officer, Mr Gerard Buchtman, said in the same Herald report that he had been ‘frustrated’ by police who refused to allow him into the club to use a heat-seeking camera to locate trapped people.
He said he was eventually allowed in at 1.30pm, some three hours after the earthquake, and within 15 minutes had found one body. He later found where two others were buried.
The controversial fire brigade report is based on transcripts of comments made at a fire brigade debriefing session at Newcastle Fire Station two days after the earthquake and had been sent to the Sydney office of the Chief Officer of the NSW Fire Brigades, Mr Bill Reay.
It criticised police for:
— Ordering rescue personnel out of the rubble for
15 minutes while victims were still trapped
inside;
— Not allowing fire brigade personnel to use heat-
seeking cameras to search for survivors, then
later using less-sophisticated cameras and
asking firefighters for help in working them;
— Acting too slowly in co-ordinating rescue
services;
— Driving through the city ‘like cowboys with
sirens blaring and almost causing multiple
accidents’.
The Minister for Police, Mr Pickering, referred the report yesterday to the State Coroner, Mr Waller, who has expanded the terms of his coronial inquiry to examine its complaints.
‘I am not in a position to accept these untested statements,’ the Minister said.
‘Up until this morning I was of the view … that everyone was very, very pleased at the level of service provided in Newcastle by all the emergency service organisations. ‘
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Avery, said he had heard ‘nothing but complimentary remarks’ about the performance of all emergency organisations in Newcastle.
But the Chief Officer of the NSW Fire Brigade, Mr Reay, while expressing regret at the release of the document, stopped short of giving his full support to the police actions.
Newcastle police operations commander Insp Brian Scaysbrook defended yesterday the co-ordination of the rescue operation at the Workers Club by the Newcastle patrol commander, Insp Ian Cleary.
‘Insp Cleary was told that there was a risk of an aftershock and that a section of the collapsed building above where the rescuers were working could collapse,’ Insp Scaysbrook said.
‘He ordered everyone out of the basement section of the club and then reorganised them into teams of four and six, to go back in as the situation demanded.’
‘What he was doing was coordinating a rescue effort which at that time was very unco-ordinated.’
The officer-in-charge of the Newcastle Police District, Chief Supt Russ Cook, said yesterday that he could not comment on the specifics of the report because it was now subject to a broadened inquiry by Mr Waller.
Ambulance paramedic Mr Malcolm Martin, who headed a team of paramedics, said the allegations were ‘totally unwarranted’.
‘I reject the statement that the police bungled the operation,’ he said.
‘It was one of the most efficient rescue operations I have been involved with.
He firmly rejected accusations in the fire brigade report that more lives could have been saved by a better coordinated operation.
‘Everything that could be done was done for those people who died in the club,’ he said.
‘The fact that they died was entirely due to their injuries and not to any element of human negligence or error.’
