Aaron David VIDAL

AKA  AZZA 

Late of  ?

Son of Serving NSWPF Chief Inspector David VIDAL # 24342

NSW Goulburn Police Academy Class # 332

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  52214

Rank:  Commenced Training at Goulburn Academy on ? ? 2017?

Probationary Constable- appointed 8 December 2017 ( aged 26 years & 13 days )

Constable – appointed ? December 2018

Constable 1st Class – appointed 8 December 2019

Final Rank =  Constable 1st Class

Stations:  Sydney City Police Area Command – Day St ( Pro Active Crime Team 2019 – 2020 )

Service:  From ? ? 2017?   to   18 June 2020  =  2 years, 6 months & 12 days Service

Employment prior to NSWPF:

Australian Regular Army – enlisted 2009 – aged 17

Served until 2013

2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Amphibious Light Infantry Unit

Police Awards:  No Find On Australian Honours

Born:  Wednesday  25 November 1991

Died on:  Thursday  18 June 2020

Age:  28 years, 6 months, 24 days

Cause:  MVA – Rider – Off Duty – Returning home from Duty – Not at Fault

Event location:   Schofields Road & Windsor Road, Rouse Hill, NSW

Event date:  Thursday  18 June 2020 about 5.45pm

ORGAN DONOR

Funeral date:  Monday  29 June 2020 @ 10am

Funeral location:  St Mary’s Cathedral,  College St, Sydney ( opposite Hyde Park ), NSW

• All friends and former colleagues are invited to attend
  

Future Wake location:  ??? TBA

( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 50 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

Future Wake date:  ???

( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( June 2020 )

 AARON is NOT mentioned ( BUT WILL BE ) on the Police Wall of Remembrance  *NEED MORE INFO

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

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NSW Police Force

https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair

Police officer’s family tragedy helps pave way for trauma support group

David Vidal is a shattered man.

In June last year his life changed forever.

“To lose a child it is a pain that’s impossible to describe to anyone unless you’ve gone through it yourself,” David told me.

The father of six is a Chief Inspector in the New South Wales Police Force.

His son, Aaron, followed in his father’s footsteps.

“To stand by him side-by-side in the uniform of the New South Wales Police was one of the proudest days of my life,” David remembers.

After serving his country in the army, Aaron fulfilled his dream – to wear the blue uniform.

“I knew he was going to be an amazing policeman … he had the qualities that you look for in a cop,” David said.

“I fully expected if I was in the police force long enough that he’d end up being my boss – he had the most enormous potential.”

Aaron was riding his motorcycle home after a night shift when he was hit by a car and killed.

“In that split second my life changed forever – my family’s life changed forever,” David told me through his tears.

“It was like a part of me had been torn from me.”

Aaron and his fiancé Jess were due to be married but had to defer because of COVID-19.

But they started their family.

Etzio was born after Aaron died.

“Not much positive has come out of COVID,” David said.

“But that’s one thing we are thankful for because otherwise we wouldn’t have Aaron’s son … my grandson.

“Etzio is our living part of Aaron that we still have.”

Aaron died when his motorbike collided with a car driven by Tommy Balla.

Balla pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

Judge Stephen Hanley heard he turned in front of Aaron’s motorbike.

But the court also heard the 28-year-old police officer had allegedly breached road rules by illegally lane filtering.

David has been at Balla’s every court appearance.

“The court process was very hard in a lot of aspects,” he said.

“Obviously hearing about the circumstances as to how your son is killed is difficult to hear, no matter how it happens.”

“We’re not looking for vengeance or revenge, we’re looking for justice.”

Facing 10 years in prison – Balla was sentenced to a two-year Intensive Corrections Order – no jail time.

On Friday the case is back before Judge Hanley to determine if Balla qualifies for home detention.

The Vidal family is determined to make a difference and is now helping establish a Road Trauma Victims Support Group to help others better understand the legal process.

“This is really a dire need … there needs to be much more support out there to help victims,” David said.

“They are already going through massive trauma, but to be further traumatised by the process is terrible, we can’t allow that to happen.

“(As a police officer) I’ve told parents that their child’s never coming home, and I’ve walked away.

“Whilst I felt their pain, I could never really understand their pain and now that I’ve gone through it, I know that nobody can understand that pain unless you’ve gone through it yourself.”

The support group is the brainchild of the Highway Patrol’s Crash Investigation Unit boss, Katie Orr.

“I started to think, how do we support these families,” she told me.

“And how do we help the police support these families (with) the ongoing trauma – I guess the police as well – we’re all human, have families, have children.”

She’s seen proof the support group is empowering families impacted by road trauma.

“We had our first Road Trauma Support Group meeting in March this year and we had about 40 families.”

The Vidal’s know nothing will ease their pain, but they want to ensure others facing the same trauma get the support they need.

They want that to be Aaron’s legacy.

“As hard as it is to do all this and it is hard because I’m still grieving – I do it for Aaron, so that his death is not in vain,” David said.

As David showed me a beautiful photograph of his grandson, I asked him: “what happens if Etzio, one day, says to his grandfather, ‘I want to be a policeman’?”

“I’d be really proud,” David replied.

“I’m sure Aaron would be too.”

For more information about the Road Trauma Support Group visit: https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-victims-of-road-trauma?source_location=topic_page

NSW Police Force Chief Inspector David Vidal’s tragedy after son’s death helps establish Road Trauma Victims Support Group

Petition · Justice for victims of road trauma · Change.org

 

 

Dead NSW off-duty police officer an expectant father

A motorcyclist who died in a crash in Sydney’s north-west has been identified as an off-duty police officer who was expecting his first child.

NSW Police constable Aaron Vidal, 28, died on Thursday afternoon after he was struck by a ute in Rouse Hill while travelling home from work.

He leaves behind a pregnant fiancée.

Police alleged in court that 37-year-old Tommy Balla drove the ute through a red light at an intersection.

Balla appeared in Blacktown Local Court on Friday on charges of dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.

He was granted conditional bail preventing him from driving a motor vehicle and is due to appear before the same court on August 14.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in a statement Constable Vidal had been recognised within the force for his commitment to protecting the community.

“On two occasions, he had been formally recognised for good police work by members of the community, which shows that he was held in high regard by not only his peers, but the community he served,” Mr Fuller said in the statement on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy said Constable Vidal worked alongside his father David, a duty officer, at the Day Street Police Station in Sydney’s CBD.

Constable Vidal had been confirmed as a constable in December 2018 and was attached to the force’s “proactive crime team“.

“He was a man of service – he was a member of the armed forces before he joined the police force and really, a 28-year-old young man on the journey of life,” Mr Loy said.

“There’s a lot of people around that young lady [Constable Vidal’s fiancée] today, also his father, and he has five other siblings – so it’s a big family.

“Police deal with tragedy and trauma but when we lose a young officer in really such a wasteful way in some respects … it really hits us in the heart.”

Police Minister David Elliott said Constable Vidal‘s passing left a significant mark on the police community.

“Mr Vidal was a dearly valued and loved member of the Sydney City Police Area Command since graduating in 2017, and worked alongside his father, Chief Inspector David Vidal,” Mr Elliott said in a statement.

“Both had previously served in the Australian Army and, as proud veterans, continued to serve the community as members of the NSW Police Force.”

Dead NSW off-duty police officer an expectant father

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Ute driver bailed over crash that killed young NSW police officer

By Lara Pearce • Senior Producer

4:55pm Jun 19, 2020

A ute driver accused of running a red light before hitting and killing a young police officer in Sydney’s north-west has been released on bail.

Tommy Balla, 37, was turning onto Schofields Road from Windsor Road in Rouse Hill during evening peak last night when he knocked constable Aaron Vidal off his motorbike.

Paramedics were called but the 28-year-old officer died at the scene.

Mr Balla wasn’t injured in the crash but is now facing charges of dangerous driving and negligent driving occasioning death.

The father of two told the court he believes the traffic lights were amber, not red, when he made the turn.

Police colleagues have today paid tribute to the slain officer.

Mr Vedal worked at Sydney City Police Area Command alongside his father, Chief Inspector David Vedal, since graduating as a police officer in 2017.

He had been involved with the force’s “proactive crime team”, which investigated criminal activity in the inner city and monitored street protests.

“He was a man of service – he was a member of the armed forces before he joined the police force and really, a 28-year-old young man on the journey of life,” Police Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy said.

Mr Vedal had been planning his wedding with his fiancée.

“There’s a lot of people around that young lady (Const. Vidal’s fiancée) today, also his father, and he has five other siblings – so it’s a big family,” Deputy Commissioner Loy said.

“Police deal with tragedy and trauma but when we lose a young officer in really such a wasteful way in some respects … it really hits us in the heart.”

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller also offered his condolences to Mr Vidal’s family.

“My thoughts are with Aaron’s family and fiancée, as well as his current and former colleagues at this difficult time,” Mr Fuller said in a statement.

“Aaron was one of six siblings and worked alongside his father, Chief Inspector David Vidal, at Sydney City.

 

“Dave has always been incredibly proud of his son following in his footsteps and walking the beat side-by-side with him.”

Mr Fuller said Mr Vidal had been formally recognised for good police work by members of the public twice during his short career, which “shows that he was held in high regard by not only his peers, but the community he served”.

Before joining the NSW Police Force, Mr Vidal served in the Australian Army.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/rouse-hill-crash-motorcyclist-identified-as-nsw-police-officer-aaron-vidal-ute-driver-charged/7cafba78-c8bf-4bbd-82b9-4d462c0259e5

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7NEWS Sydney

19 June 2020  at 6:51 PM ·

Police officer Aaron Vidal killed in Rouse Hill crash

Rouse Hill: Police, in their own words, are hurting tonight after a promising young officer was killed in a crash on his way home from work.

Remembered as an ‘outstanding’ young man, Aaron Vidal followed in his father’s footsteps, dedicating his life to the force.

The driver who hit the 28-year-old has been charged accused of running a red light.

More: 7news.link/3fA5xZp

https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSsydney/videos/3206415372916441/?v=3206415372916441

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Do The Work or Pay Later & we Remember Aaron Vidal

396 views

•Streamed live 11 hours ago ( Friday 19 June 2020 )

In The Trenches With Cas

5.13K subscribers

Do The Work or Pay Later is the message in almost all things but it doesn’t make sense until it’s to late let’s chat tonight and passively see how we are going in life as we head into the weekend.

Also tonight we shall be giving a minutes silence for the Thin Blue Line of the loss of Aaron Vidal former soldier turned Cop along side his father David like so many soldiers do.

Aaron RIP

Lest We Forget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLx-UbVuc4w

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Constable Aaron Vidal, an expectant father in his dream career alongside his father in the New South Wales Police Force, was killed on his way home from work in June 2020.

The four-year Army veteran’s motorcycle was hit by a car driven by wannabe rapper Tommy Balla, who had run a red light in an intersection in Sydney’s Hills District.

Jessica Loh, widowed by the crash, said her life of excitement had turned to a daily struggle, as she cares for their baby born after the crash.

She recalled receiving a doctor’s call confirming the gender of her baby minutes after saying goodbye to her husband at a funeral home.

• Heath Parkes-Hupton

  Court reporter

  

• NCA NewsWire
• 1:23PM July 5, 2021

A man is set to be spared jail time for causing a devastating collision that killed a beloved young police officer and father-to-be last year.

Constable Aaron Vidal died when his motorcycle slammed into the ute driven by Tommy Balla, who had run a red light at Rouse Hill in Sydney’s northwest on June 18, 2020.

Constable Vidal, 28, had just finished a shift in the city and was riding home to his pregnant fiancee Jessica Loh when his life was cut tragically short.

But the court heard Balla first needs to pass a home detention application in order to avoid the jail time. If unsuccessful he will serve his sentence behind bars.

The judgment came after Judge Hanley found Constable Vidal had himself breached the road rules by illegally lane filtering just before he hit the side of Balla’s Mitsubishi Triton as it turned across Windsor Road.

The court heard witnesses reported seeing the motorcycle moving “fast” past several stationary cars stopped at the intersection, travelling at up to 50 to 60km/h.

Judge Hanley said the speed limit for lane filtering – an “inherently dangerous” manoeuvre – was 30km/h and as a police officer Constable Vidal should have known better.

“I’m satisfied the (crash) would not have occurred if the victim was observing the rules … and in that sense contributed to the collision,” he said.

The court heard the young cop, however, was faced with a green light and was entitled to believe no vehicle would be illegally travelling across the intersection. The speed limit on Windsor Road is 80km/h.

Balla proceeded to turn across the “very busy” intersection at peak hour onto Schofields Road two seconds after the turning arrow had turned red, the court heard.

He claimed not to have noticed the red lights and said in his police interview he believed it was still amber.

At the time the father-of-two was speaking on the phone via Bluetooth and had his 21-month-old child in the front passenger seat.

Judge Hanley said Constable Vidal’s “tragic and unnecessary death … occurred as a result of (Balla’s) inattentiveness”.

He accepted Balla was “sincerely and profoundly” remorseful and had been living “in his own prison” due to serious mental health issues and public humiliation from media reporting.

“I accept he has excellent prospects of rehabilitation and I would be very surprised if he reoffended,” he said.

There was no evidence Balla was affected by drugs or alcohol, and he had a good driving record, the court heard.

Judge Hanley said the crash occurred in a “split second” and found neither Balla nor Constable Vidal would have seen each other coming.

Constable Vidal had followed his father, Chief Inspector David Vidal, into the NSW Police force in 2017 after previously serving in the Australian Army.

The father and son worked together at Day Street police station in the CBD at the time of Constable Vidal’s death.

At the time he was excitedly expecting the birth of his first child, a boy named Etzio, and was engaged to be married to his soulmate Ms Loh.

Judge Hanley said Constable Vidal’s family had suffered “immeasurable pain” from the loss of a “larger than life” young man who brightened every life he touched.

He said Balla’s family had also become “innocent victims” in the fallout from the crash, saying there were “no winners” from the tragic incident.

Balla has been granted bail as he awaits the outcome of his home detention assessment.

Aaron Vidal: Tommy Balla could be spared jail for crash that killed young police officer

Sally Elizabeth URQUHART

AKA  ?

Late of  ?

Partner ( fiancée ) of Senior Constable Trad THORNTON ( Bamaga Police Stn )

Queensland Police Academy Squad #  ? ? ?

Queensland Police Force

Regd. #  4014432

Rank:  Commenced Training on 19 February 2001

Probationary Constable- appointed 4 September 2001

Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

Final Rank =  Constable

Stations:  Metropolitan North Region – Hendra Police Stn ( 19 Feb 2001 – 13 Oct 2002 ), Cairns Police Stn ( 14 Oct 2002 – 10 March 2003 ), Aurukun Police Station ( 11 March 2003 – 21 August 2003 ),   Bamaga Police Stn ( 18 months ) – Death

Service:  From 19 February 2001   to   7 May 2005  =  4 years Service

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours

Born:  ? ? ?

Died on:  7 May 2005

Age:  28

Cause:  Passenger – Downed Aerotropics flight from Bamaga to Cairns, Qld

Event location:   rugged mountain terrain 11kms northwest of Lockhart River Aboriginal Commission, Qld

Event date:  7 May 2005

Funeral date:  ? ? ?

Funeral location:  ? 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: ?

SALLY IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/QueenslandFallenPolice/

In Memory of Constable Sally Urquhart

Constable Sally Urquhart registered number 4014432 was a Queensland Police Officer from the 19thFebruary 2001 until the 7th May 2005.

Constable Sally Urquhart was on-board an Aerotropics flight from Bamaga bound for Cairns when it crashed into dense rainforest and rugged mountain terrain 11kms northwest of Lockhart River Aboriginal Commission, killing all fifteen occupants on the 7thMay 2005. This tragic loss has affected the whole community in the Far North, in particular the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community of Bamaga and Injinoo.

Constable Sally Urquhart had been stationed at Bamaga Police station, with her fiancé Senior Constable Trad Thornton for the past 18months.

Sally was the eldest of three children born to Shane and Elizabeth Urquhart. She grew up as the daughter of School teachers and subsequently lived throughout Queensland.  Sally was a young lady born for success, she was school captain at both primary and high school; a model student.

In the words of her father,“ She touched the hearts of everyone she met from childhood to present, in the many parts of Queensland where we have lived ”.

After finishing school she went on to complete a double degree at the University of Queensland in Law and Science, winning the University prize for Family Law.

Whilst at uni, Sally shared accommodation with a police officer, Plain Clothes Detective Peta Ross and it was during this time that Sally set her sights on joining the Queensland Police.

After graduating from university, Sally commenced recruit training at the Queensland Police Academy at Oxley on the 19thFebruary 2001 and graduated on the 4th September2001.

Her first posting was to the Metropolitan North Region where she was stationed at Hendra. Even at this early stage in her Career Sally was showing signs of great potential. Her service history indicates that she excelled in all aspects of general duties and worked well in a team environment.

It was here that she met her finance, Senior Constable Trad Thornton. Trad was working in the Public Safety Response Team, (PSRT), at the time.

Sally was posted to Cairns Station on the 14th October2002, where she performed general duties in Team 4.  Her Supervisor / Team Leader identified early that Sally was an officer who was prepared to accept any responsibility or task and displayed a high work ethic.  She was well suited to general duties policing and excelled at all aspects of her work.

Sally’s professionalism and understanding towards all members of the public went beyond that of her duty as a Police Officer. She was always willing to assist members of the community and was commended by the then Assistant Commissioner Allan Roberts for her efforts.

Trad was transferred to Cairns a short time later and after 4 months, the pair were identified as suitable officers to work in the Aboriginal community in the Cape York Peninsular and were transferred to Aurukun Station where they policed from the 11th March until the 21st August 2003.

Aurukun is a station that has recently increased from 4 to 7 staff, with a population of approximately 1200. Most of the work involves policing aboriginal community which in itself is a huge task, the sacrifices that officers make to go there are enormous, however the life experiences are priceless.

Sally excelled in her work and she was involved with all levels of the community. Sally’s personality and demeanour ensured that she was readily accepted by the community. Sally had a presence about her that brought calm to situations that verged on mayhem and conflict. Whilst stationed at Aurukun her rapport with the community members was one of respect, trust and honesty.

These qualities and her dedication to duty ensured that The Queensland Police were respected, in a sometimes difficult environment. Sally’s attitude to work and her diligent and tenacious nature ensured that she was going to achieve whatever she desired.

Sergeant Andrew Clarkson ( current Officer in charge of Aurukun ) remembers Sally dealing with confronting and daunting situations that required great courage and composure. He remarks that Sally excelled in these situations, and it was reassuring to know that she was with you.

Sgt CLARKSON remembers her personality, her smile and her innate ability to say the right words at any given time making the rigors of policing Aurukun enjoyable. “ I will always remember the day that I was promoted to Officer in Charge, Aurukun not for the promotion, but for the way that Sally rushed over to me when she heard the news, gave me a hug and a kiss and then made a fuss over it all ”.

Sally was a selfless person who ensured that others would always come first. She was a dedicated police officer who values ensured that justice was served. When I heard of the tragedy, I pondered as to why could one who’s light shines so strong and bright be taken from us.

Policing within any Cape Community within the Far Northern Region is a daunting experience for police officers to say the least. Officers within these communities develop the ability to foresee behavioural changes within the community. Officers are exposed to a myriad of situations and events that test their abilities. To be tenacious, resourceful and professional at all times is sometimes a feat within itself.

Since the implementation of Alcohol Management Plans (AMP’s) communities have undergone a dramatic metamorphosis. With the lifting of the ‘veil’ of alcohol, policing within the communities has changed tact from the much talked about reactive policing style to a more proactive community based approach. This change has been embraced by the community and supported by both elders and councils.

Policing for female officers is compounded further by local culture and tradition. Male’s in these communities are reluctant to deal with female officers.  From my observations all the females that I have worked with at Aurukun have been able to establish a rapport and gain respect within the communities, that some male officers have failed to achieve. These officers have utilised their various skills and instincts to finesse and diffuse potentially volatile situations.

The ability to arbitrate, negotiate and resolve situations are attributes that police utilise everyday. Working within remote and isolate communities ensures that these skills are honed and developed to there absolute potential. The ability to endear oneself to a community and make a difference was never more evident, with the tragic loss of Sally. Elders and councillors from the community stopped me to talk to me about Sally and how ‘ good a person she was ’. Silas Wolmby an elder and traditional landholder of Aurukun stated to me that “ she made him smile, and he knew that she would always do the right thing. ”

From Aurukun she was transferred to Bamaga Police station. This area consists of 5 police. Sally was one of two female officers in Bamaga. The second being Senior Constable Joanne Bailey, the following comments are from Jo.

Sally was nothing more than a champion. She would undertake any task with such enthusiasm, whether it be major criminal investigations such as rape and indecent dealings to minor jobs that are required to efficiently run a small station. Sally was instrumental in organising court days and her organisational and leadership skills were way above her policing years.

Besides her policing skills, Sally had an amazing quality of ‘ brightening up the room ’. She was always genuinely happy to see you at any time and nothing was a bother. Her laughter could be heard across the houses, which would straight away make you smile.

Trad and Sally made many friends in Bamaga. Since they were engaged in June 2004, she shared her excitement with her closest friends. Her wedding plans were all sorted out, again she was organised down to the jelly beans on the table!

But it was not to be, and like many people from the Far North the 7th May 2005 will remain as the worst day they have ever experienced. But things are getting easier, and as a good friend of ours said recently, we are truly more blessed to have known Sally, even if it was only for a short time. She is sadly missed.

The Journal for Women and Policing

Pages 12 – 14

https://acwap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Issue16.pdf

THE owners and operators of a commercial plane involved in one of Australia’s worst air disasters have launched legal action that could stop the victims’ families ever getting answers.

Two pilots and 13 passengers were killed in the May 2005 Lockhart River tragedy when an Aerotropics commercial flight crashed into a ridge line and exploded in flames, killing all on board during a flight from Bamaga.

In the latest roadblock for victims’ families, owners of the doomed aircraft have launched an appeal in a bid to block a wrongful-death lawsuit in the US state of Missouri, just weeks after the victims’ families won a legal battle to allow the case to go to trial in July next year.

Brisbane man Shane Urquhart lost his policewoman daughter Sally in the crash and said the long-running legal hurdles were “frustrating” and “ludicrous”.

“We’re talking about human lives here, ordinary people and they were all good people going about their daily business,” he said.

“There’s no such thing as closure, there’s no closure when you lose someone but there may be justice but that certainly hasn’t happened here.”

The horror crash was the worst air disasters in Queensland in more than four decades and claimed the lives of a leading scientist, a popular policewoman, three key members of a football team, and a 25-year-old mother of six.

The families allege in the Missouri court action that the aircraft had several defects and that the crash was “the direct and proximate result” of one of more of those defects.

The alleged defects include claims the plane did not contain an effective ground proximity warning system, it was not equipped with autopilot and flight instruments were either hard to read, confusing, or not in proper view.

Lawyers for the plane’s owners and operators who are being sued by 61 family members of the crash victims, the majority of whom live in Queensland, launched an appeal on September 6 against last months’ Brisbane Supreme Court ruling allowing the Missouri case to go ahead.

The appeal argues the Supreme Court ought to rule that the Missouri action is “vexatious and oppressive” and that “nothing relevant” could be gained in the overseas action over and above what could be gained in Australia.

The families are pursuing legal action in Missouri where they claim the aircraft was delivered, inspected and placed into operation.

The 61 family members are expected to fly to Missouri to give evidence or testify via video link.

In Missouri, a jury will determine the amount of damages awarded instead of a judge and there are no orders for costs as there are in Australia.

However it’s not yet clear whether the US case will run according to Queensland or Missouri law.

Toowoomba lawyer Pat Nunan has been representing the victims’ families for more than a decade and said the delays were difficult.

“It’s terrible and it’s had a great impact on the families of the victims,” he said.

“Litigation is one of the great stressors of all time and it has been horrendous for them.”

He said the families were desperate for answers.

“We’re trying to get their day in court to determine what actually did go wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

“It’s like a hot dagger into a wound every time something comes up in these cases.”

Brisbane man Shane Urquhart lost his policewoman daughter Sally in the crash and said the long-running legal hurdles were “frustrating” and “ludicrous”.

“We’re talking about human lives here, ordinary people and they were all good people going about their daily business,” he said.

“There’s no such thing as closure, there’s no closure when you lose someone but there may be justice but that certainly hasn’t happened here.”

The appeal returns to the Court of Appeal tomorrow.

Fresh blow to air crash victims’ families | Morning Bulletin

‘I’ll never forget the words’: Father reveals the chilling phone call he received moments after plane crash which killed his daughter and 14 others on board in mysterious circumstances

A father has revealed the chilling phone call he received moments after the horror plane crash which killed his daughter and 14 others on board.

The crash, considered one of Australia’s worst aviation disasters, led to the deaths of 15 people in 2005 after a plane struck a ridge in the Lockhart River, Queensland.

Grieving families of the passengers are still asking for answers after a Coroner’s Inquest and Senate inquiry failed to conclusively reveal what caused the crash.

Constable Shane Urquhart, whose daughter Sally was one of the passengers on the plane, has revealed the haunting words he heard immediately after the crash.

‘The phone rang and when I answered, it was Sally’s fiance Trad and I’ll never forget the words…He just very, very quietly said ”Shane, Sally’s plane is missing”,’ he told A Current Affair.

Since the devastating incident, loved ones have been looking for answers to what happened on the plane which caused it to crash.

Mr Urquhart said there’s ‘no such thing as closure’ and all the families’ victims deserve answers.

‘They don’t deserve or didn’t deserve what happened to them.’

The policewoman was due to marry Trad four months after the incident, but instead her fiancée and family were left with the heartbreaking task of burying her.

An inquiry into the crash found 19 different factors led to the fatal collision, with the main one being pilot error.

But Mr Urquhart does not accept this, saying the inquest took the easy decision to blame someone who is not around to defend themselves.

‘In aviation accidents where everybody has not survived, who are they going to blame? The pilots, because no-one is available to tell the story and it’s very, very easy to do that,’ he told the network.

The victims’ families lawyer Patrick Noona alleged there was something already wrong with the aircraft, revealing they would be taking legal action against the plane’s owners in the United States.

The insurers are fighting to stop the legal proceedings but nothing will occur until the case appears in the Brisbane Supreme Court next month.

If the families win then a wrongful death lawsuit will be heard in Missouri next year.

Mr Urquhart said his daughter would be cheering on the families saying, ‘don’t let the bastards win’.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/ill-never-forget-the-words-father-reveals-the-chilling-phone-call-he-received-moments-after-plane-crash-which-killed-his-daughter-and-14-others-on-board-in-mysterious-circumstances/ar-BBNVHOV?fullscreen=true#image=4

Lockhart River air disaster

The Lockhart River air disaster occurred on 7 May 2005, when Aero-Tropics Air Services Flight 675 crashed while on approach to land at Lockhart River Airport in Queensland, Australia, on a ridge known as South Pap 6 nautical miles (11 km) north-west of the airport.^[2] All fifteen on board died as the aircraft was completely destroyed by impact forces and subsequent fire. The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner commuter aircraft, registered VH-TFU,^[3] was owned by Transair Ltd and operated by Aero-Tropics. The flight was scheduled from Bamaga on Cape York to the regional centre of Cairns, with a stopover in Lockhart River. It was the worst air crash in Australia in 36 years since MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750 on 31 December 1968.^[4]

Investigation

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: “Lockhart River air disaster” – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The Queensland Coroner’s Inquest in 2007, found that, despite evidence that there were a number of issues leading up to the crash, pilot error was the prime cause. Families of those who lost their lives in the disaster have been highly critical of the Coroner’s findings and the deficiencies in the operations of the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and the poor company structure and practices of Transair Ltd.

The investigation was aided by flight information from the aircraft’s flight data recorder. As the cockpit voice recorder was unserviceable, and had been for some time, the conversations occurring between the flight crew will never be known.

Senate inquiry

As a result of intense lobbying by the father of one of the victims, Constable Sally Urquhart, and others, the Australian Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, its operations and other matters. The Inquiry was convened on 2–3 July 2008 at Parliament House, Canberra. As well as Mr Shane Urquhart’s submission, there were sixty others which were considered by the Inquiry. The vast majority of the submissions were highly critical of most aspects of CASA’s operations.^[who?] Several people and organisations, including Mr Urquhart, supported their submissions in person at the Inquiry. In September 2008, the Committee Chair, Senator Glenn Sterle, released the report of the inquiry to the Transport Minister Mr Anthony Albanese and the public.

The recommendations from the report are:

1. That the Australian Government strengthens CASA’s governance framework and administrative capability by:

a. introducing a small board of up to five members to provide enhanced oversight and strategic direction for CASA; and

b. undertaking a review of CASA’s funding arrangements to ensure CASA is equipped to deal with new regulatory challenges.

2. In accordance with the findings of the Hawke Taskforce, that CASA’s Regulatory Reform Program be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible to provide certainty to industry and to ensure CASA and industry are ready to address future safety challenges.

3. That the Australian National Audit Office audit CASA’s implementation and administration of its Safety Management Systems approach.

Further incidents

Following the Lockhart River crash, Transair in Australia went into liquidation in late 2006.^[5] Aerotropics also no longer operates because the Civil Aviation Safety Authority cancelled its Air Operator Certificate due to ongoing safety breaches. Transair continued to operate its PNG business until 31 August 2010 when the company’s Cessna Citation ran off the runway on landing at Misima Island near Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The previous owner of Transair in Australia, Les Wright, died along with three others in the ensuing inferno. There was one survivor.

Notes

• Accident history for {{{1}}} at Aviation Safety Network
• “Aviation Occurrence Report 200501977 Final”. Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
• “CASA Aircraft Register (VH-TFU)”. Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
• Ten Worst Air Crashes in Australia since 1968. Retrieved 2011-09-11

References

• Sydney Morning Herald
• Finding of Inquest: Inquest into the Aircraft Crash at Lockhart River. Office of the State Coroner 17 August 2007 Brisbane, Queensland
• Senate Committee Report: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport. “Administration of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and related matters” September 2008

Lockhart River air disaster – Wikipedia

Respect Aussie Police & Emergency Services

May 8, 2016 ·

Constable Urquhart, a 28-year-old police officer, based in Bamaga and celebrated for her strong sense of social justice, was on her way to Townsville for a constable development course when she died.

Sgt Thornton will attend a memorial service at Oxley Police Academy for Constable Urquhart, who was killed only weeks before she was due to marry the fellow officer.

“She was an absolutely amazing person and an exceptional police officer,” he said.

“It’s just one of those days that I suppose is going to be etched in my mind for the rest of my life like the day we were going to get married and the day we got engaged.

“I’m very happy that she will be remembered but it is my opinion you don’t ever get over something like this but you learn to live with it.”

He said Constable Urquhart was such an exceptional police officer that after only three years in the service she had the Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner travel more than 1000km to talk to her about her career progression.

“It was very impressive to see two high-ranking police fly 1000km to talk to someone about their police career,” he said. “She was very well educated with law and science degrees and she was very capable.

“She had the perfect personality to be a police officer.” Sgt Thornton now has a family and two young boys but he said he would never fully recover from losing his fiancée.

“In my mind I am able to separate the emotion from the plane crash and talk about the investigation but when it comes to Sally it’s a closed book,” he said.

“I see things and try and do things I think Sally would want me to do.

“Instead of wasting a day grieving and dwelling on the past I’m going to try and think about the good times.”

Father, Shane Urquhart said he would never fully recover from the tragedy.

“We live with it every day still, 10 years on – it’s always there,” he said. “There’s no such thing as closure.

“The memorial is about remembering Sally and thinking of the 14 other innocent people who were just going about their lives.”

.au/news/honouring-victims-of-shocking-fatal-flight/news-story/7ac2cd090f61f20854e8520b89d20960

A Call From Lockhart River

A Call From Lockhart River – Australian Story

FAMILIES of the victims of one of Australia’s worst ­aviation disasters have been blocked by insurance giant QBE from long-running legal action in the United States.

Fifteen people died in the 2005 Lockhart River crash on Cape York, but relatives yesterday told The Courier-Mail how they were “shocked and appalled” by a court order to end a nine-year lawsuit in the US against part-owners of the ill-fated Cairns-based Aero Tropics airline.

Lawyers for QBE obtained an order from the Supreme Court in Queensland restraining the Lockhart River families from taking any action other than to dismiss the damages claim before the US courts.

Twelve years on from the tragedy, the father of police ­officer Sally Urquhart, who died in the May 6, 2005 crash, said families had been victims of “bully boy tactics” and “intimidation” by Australia’s biggest insurance company.

Brisbane schoolteacher Shane Urquhart, who lived in Caboolture at the time of the accident, said none of the families or their lawyers had been notified of the latest legal action before the court order.

“We’ve been fighting for justice for our lost loved ones for so long, and now we feel the judge and the legal system has been duped,” he said.

“It’s not just us, but anyone who gets on a plane in Australia needs to know the sort of bastardry one of the biggest aviation insurers in the country will use against victims of air disasters and their families,” he said. “None of the plaintiffs were informed. None of our lawyers contacted.”

QBE, according to its website, provides insurance to airlines, aircraft, airports, pilots, refuellers, baggage handlers and maintenance operators.

Reverend Mary Eseli’s son, Fred Bowie, and sister-in-law, Mardie Bowie, were among six victims of the air crash from the tiny indigenous communities of Injinoo and Bamaga, at the tip of Cape York.

“It has been an open wound in our hearts that has never healed,” she said.

“QBE has paid compensation and costs, where appropriate, in respect of the claims by relatives of the deceased passengers against the operator of the aircraft.”

Plane crash families fight for justice | Queensland Times

John Douglas HARDAKER

AKA  ‘ Hard Arse Hardaker ‘

Late of Moonbi, Armidale & Macksville, NSW

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  “possibly” 149

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  17125

Rank:  Probationary Constable – appointed 25 August 1975

Constable – appointed 25 August 1976

Senior Constable – appointed 25 August 1984

?

Final Rank = ?

Stations:  ?, Lakemba ( 13 Division ), Ashford, Gunnedah HWP, Cootamundra, Broken Hill, Armidale,

Service:  From ? ? pre Aug 1975?  to ? ? ? =  ? years Service

Awards: National Medal – granted 17 March 1992 ( SenCon )

Born: Saturday  26 May 1956

Died on: Tuesday  22 June 1999

Age: 43yrs  27days

Cause: Motor Vehicle Collision – Upper Hunter region

Event location: ?

Event date: ?

Funeral date: Saturday  26? June 1999

Funeral location: ?

Wake location: ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

Memorial located at: ?

John is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  *NEED MORE INFO

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

Nothing further is known, or can be found, about this man at the time of publication.

Cal

110919

Peter Lee HAZLEWOOD

AKA  ?

Late of Heathcote, NSW

His father was also, possibly, a member of NSWPF

NSW Goulburn Police Academy Class #  “possibly ” 267 – 271

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  32092

Rank:  Commenced Training – 17 August 1997

Probationary Constable – appointed 13 February 1998

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank = Constable

Stations:  ?, Macquarie Fields, ?

Service:  From ? ? 1997  to ? ? 1999 ( Resigned ) = 2+ years Service

Awards: No Find on Australian Honours

Born: Wednesday 25 October 1978

Died on:  Sunday 13 October 2019 about 11.30pm

Age: 40 years  11 mths  18 days

Cause: Motor Vehicle Collision – Veh 1 – Driver

Event location: ?, Heathcote Rd, Engadine, NSW – abt .5 km west of Princes Hwy

Event date: Sunday  13 October 2019

Funeral date: Wednesday  23 October 2019 @ 2pm

Funeral location: Menai Anglican Church, Broughton Pce, Barden Ridge, NSW

Wake location: TBA

Funeral Parlour: TBA

Buried at: TBA

Memorial located at: TBA

PETER is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

He was a Teacher at my daughters school, Wollondilly Anglican College. He had a lot to do with my daughter. He saw her through two bouts of depression. Peter was a lovely human being and a true Christian. When he said he would pray for you, he really meant it.

My heart goes out to his wife and children.

Warm regards,

Emma Clisdell.

• 

  Debra Thomas So so sad ???? my thoughts & prayers go out to Emily & the kids. RIP Peter ????????

   

• 

  Top Fan

  Julianne Sharan Oh Emily…..my heart goes out to you and your children. My deepest sympathies and love to you and please never forget, that the AF family will be there if you need us. My prayers are with you daily ????????

   

• 

  Paul Duggan Condolences to his family ????

   

• 

  Astrid Drury Such sad news. R.I.P Peter.

   

• 

  Michael Lobo Oh My….so sorry to hear this sad news…will keep Emily and the kids in our prayers
• 

  Penny Genge So so sad. Thinking of Emily and the family at this very sad time! ????

   

• 

  Mick Maroney Oh dear, I’m heartbroken 🙁 All my love and support to Emily and the kids and sending up prayers to Pete. .

   

• 

  Liz Paine So sorry to hear this terrible news. Thinking of Emily and her family xxx

   

• 

  Brooke Duggan Oh that’s such sad news, my thoughts and prayers go out to the gorgeous Emily and her kids ❤️❤️❤️
• 

  Ally Karkowski Oh my goodness……. so sorry to hear that news….. love and support to Emily and her beautiful children…… life can be so cruel and unexpected ????

   

• 

  Michelle Speakman Such a terrible tragedy. Our love and support to Emily and her 4 gorgeous kids xx

   

• 

  Paolo Wilkinbosch No way! One of the nicest guys in the gym, one of the first to talk to me when I was new in there. RIP

   

• 

  Emily Haz Thank you to you all at AF for your kind messages and support for myself and our family ????

   

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  Matt Baker

  ❤️❤️❤️
• 

  Kelly Kearney Devastating ????

Peter Clifford Neal MATHEWS

AKA  ?

Late of Lambs Valley, NSW

‘passed’ whilst returning home from the 10th annual Police Wall To Wall Ride for Remembrance – 2019.  We lost a VicPol member on the 9th Ride in 2018

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  172

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #   19717

Rank:  Initial Training – commenced 25 May 1981

Probationary Constable – appointed 14 August 1981

Constable 1st Class – appointed 29 August 1986 * 2 weeks loss of Seniority

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank = Inspector

Stations:  ?, Maroubra, Newcastle, Hunter Region SWOS, S.O.Gs – Maitland, Central Hunter L.A.C. – Retirement

Service:  From 25 May 1981  to 29 September 2008 =  27+ years Service

Awards:  National Medal – granted 6 June 1997 ( SenCon )

Born:  Monday 23 August 1954

Died on:  Monday 16 September 2019 about 12.10pm

Age: 65 yrs  24 days

Cause: MVA – Rider – Private Motor Cycle -v- Private Motor Cycle from opposite direction

Event location: Bylong Valley Way, Bylong – north of Rylstone, NSW

Event date: Monday 16 September 2019 about 12.10pm

Funeral date: Thursday  26 September 2019 @ noon

Funeral location: St Peters Anglican Church, 47 William St, East Maitland, NSW

#in lieu of flowers, donations to NSW Farmers’ Drought Relief may be left at the church.

Wake location: TBA

Funeral Parlour: Fry Brothers – 02 4933 6155

Buried at: TBA

Memorial located at: TBA

PETER is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED

Funeral location: TBA

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

One man has died and another is fighting for life after a motorcycle accident at Bylong

17 September 2019

One man has been killed and another is fighting for life after a motorcycle crash at Bylong.

Police say just after midday yesterday a 65-year-old man was riding a motorcycle north along the Bylong Valley Way when he collided with another motorcyclist travelling in the opposite direction.

Tragically the 65-year-old died at the scene.

The 54-year-old male rider of the other bike suffered internal injuries and was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

Officers from Orana Mid Western Police District attended the scene and commenced an investigation.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner and investigations are continuing.

https://www.981powerfm.com.au/news/local-news/92812-one-man-has-died-and-another-is-fighting-for-life-after-a-motorcycle-accident-at-bylong

• 

  Larry Hoffman R.I.P. brother.
• 

  Stevenson Scott It was a tragic day, “The Newy Crew” will miss our brother and he will Rest in Peace, many members tried hard to try and get him home!!

  Sadly we were unable to help him….a wonderful friend and colleague.

  RIP Mate.  Peter MATHEWS …Love ALWAYS Tangles XO

• Robert Redfern Stevenson Scott thoughts with you all and the family.

  

  Rodger Newman Stevenson Scott. Kudos to the riders who were with him. A sad day indeed.
• John Novak R.I.P.
• 

  David Crane RIP ????

•  

• 

  Chris Harriss R.I.P

•  

• 

  Peter Gould So bloody sad. Rest in Peace.

•  

• 

  Robert Redfern Terrible news. Never forgotten. Rest In Peace Peter.

•  

• 

  Peter J. Johnson Rest in Peace Brother.

•  

• 

  Rodger Newman RIP brother.

•  

• 

  Mal Brown Rest In Peace.
  Enjoy the highways you now ride.

•  

• 

  Les Cooper Very sad. Condolences to all. R.I.P.

•  

• 

  Jeff Rey RIP

•  

• 

  Vic Chin Rest in Peace

•  

• 

  Garry William Morgan Sad to hear, Rest in Peace ????

•  

• 

  Bijay Chand R.I.P.

•  

• 

  Rene Markerink R I P ????

•  

• 

  Graham Lovelace RIP

•  

• 

  Mark Jones Rest In Peace..

•  

• 

  Bill Whitlow Rest in peace Sir!

•  

• 

  Robert Norval Rest In Peace.

•  

• 

  Kris Dundee RIP

•  

• 

  Craig Price RIP Brother

• 

  PG Bags RIP

•  

• 

  Eoin James Peters Sad news indeed. RIP.

•  

• 

  Russ Lang RIP

•  

• 

  Robert Carmody RIP Peter

•  

• 

  Steve Barnes RIP Peter

•  

• 

  Jim McCabe Thoughts and prayers.

•  

• 

  Don Roberts RIP Peter

•  

• 

  John Cooke RIP Pete my friend

•  

• 

  Neal White So sorry to read of another brother lost to us. All sunny rides now. RIP Peter.

•  

• 

  Mark Doubleday RIP brother in blue

•  

• 

  Bob Moran RIP

•  

• 

  Aloysious Thumb RIP Blue Brother

•  

• 

  Steve Papworth Rest in Peace

•  

• 

  Stuart Macpherson Shit

•  

• 

  Stuart Macpherson RIP Pete

•  

• 

  Rob McClennon Tragic News, RIP…

•  

• 

  Mark Góòdwin Very sad. Two years in a row now! Thoughts are with Peter’s family & his Newcastle riding buddies. RIP brother in blue.

•  

• 

  John Ludewig Sad time…really hits home when it is one of us….rest In Peace Pete!

•  

• 

  BIlly Joe RIP

•  

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  Brad Donald RIP brother

•  

• 

  Felicity Harley RIP…so tragic, again…
• 

  Jazza Jazzmania RIP

  Lee Howell:

  Way Too Sad after a great event focused on support and remembrance. RIP fellow rider and fellow brother in blue.

  ---

   

https://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/theherald-au/peter-clifford-neal-mathews-condolences/193953922?cid=full

Beloved brother and brother in law of KEVIN and HELEN, MAREE, SUE, JUDITH, COLIN and KAREN. Much loved member of the MATHEWS and MOORE families and dedicated, long serving Police Officer.

Family and friends are warmly invited to the Celebration of PETER’s life at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Williams St, East Maitland on THURSDAY, 26th September, 2019 at 12noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations to NSW Farmers’ Drought Relief may be left at the church.

Published in The Newcastle Herald on Sept. 21, 2019

 Robert John FLAVEL

AKA Pinhead, Pin

Late of Tullamore, NSW

NSW Police Cadet # 2830

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  “possibly” 143 ?

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  NIL

Rank:  NSW Police Cadet – commenced Monday  1 May 1972

Final Rank = Police Cadet

Stations:  NSW Police Academy – Redfern

Service:  From  1 May 1972  to  24 September 1973 = 16 Months Service

Awards:   Nil recorded on Australian Honours

Born:  Wednesday  15 June 1955

Died on:   Monday  24 September 1973 about 1.30am – Orange Base Hospital, NSW ( Headstone has incorrect date upon it )

Age:  18 yrs  3 mths  8 days

Cause:   Motor Vehicle Accident – Driver

Event location:   ?, Blayney, NSW

Event date:  Sunday  23 September 1973 about 2.10pm

Funeral date:   2 October 1973 @ 11am

Funeral location:   Tullamore Presbyterian Church

Wake location:  Tullamore Hotel

Funeral Parlour:  Cocks & Sons, Parkes, NSW

There were approx. 150 Police in Tullamore for the funeral (a town of 250 at the time)…. Police were billeted out to residents of the town to stay the night…. every house had a copper in it.

Buried at:   Tullamore General Cemetery, The Bogan Way, Tullamore NSW 2874

 Memorial located at:   ?

Estimated Grave Location:  GPS:  Lat: -32.607551371058676    Long: 147.5702006622795

ROBERT is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  *NEED MORE INFO

Estimated Grave Location: 

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

HARRY GRUGEON 

AKA  HENRY

Late of Deniliquin

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ‘Q‘ 3415

For the purposes of this website ‘Q’ represents those Police joining between 1862 ( commencement of NSWPF ) – 23 February 1915 ( Commencement of NSWPF current numbering system )

Rank:  Constable – appointed 22 February 1879

Senior Sergeant – appointed ? ? ?

Sub Inspector – appointed ? ? 1897

First Class Sub Inspector – appointed April 1903 at Hay ( could this ‘possibly’ be ‘Q’ # 3036 ??? )

First Class Sub Inspector – appointed 1 April 1906

Superintendent 3rd Class – appointed 1 July 1909

Final Rank = Superintendent

Stations:  Narrandera ( 1897 – Sub Inspector ), Hay ( 2nd Class – 1st Class Sub Inspector – 1903 ), Parramatta ( 1906 – 1909 Inspector ), Deniliquin ( July 1909 – Supt ) – Death

Service:  From 22 February 1879  to  10 January 1911 =  32 years Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Born:   ? ? c1855 at Edmonton in England

Died on:   Tuesday 10 January 1911 about 6am

Age:  56

Cause:   Vehicle accident – Horse Buggy – Driver – Ejected – Head injuries

Event location:  Mathoura Rd 3.5 miles from Deniliquin, NSW

Event date:  Tuesday 10 January 1911

Funeral date:   Thursday 12 January 1911

Funeral location:   ?

Wake location:  ?

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   Deniliquin Cemetery, Wirraway Dve, Deniliquin, NSW

 Memorial located at:  1/ Deniliquin Cemetery – Marble tombstone over grave

2/  Memorial Wall plaque – Deniliquin Police Station – 2018

HARRY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED

HARRY IS mentioned on the Deniliquin Police Station Memorial Wall – 2018

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

Timothy David PROCTOR

AKA TIM

Son, Brother, Husband, Father to be – May you Rest In Peace

Late of Prestons

NSW Goulburn Police Academy Class #  333

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  52561

Rank:  Probationary Constable

Final Rank = Probationary Constable  Promoted to Constable

Stations:  Liverpool – Death

Service:  From  ? pre 27 April 2018  to  3 February 2019 =  10 MONTHS Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Posthumously Awarded the National Police Medal

Born: Thursday  15 June 1989

Died on:  Sunday  3 February 2019 at Liverpool Hospital

Age:  29

Cause:   Motor Vehicle Collision – Driver – Private vehicle “On Duty”

Event location:  Heathcote Rd – north of New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Hts

Event date:  Thursday  31 January 2019 about 2pm

Funeral date:   Monday  11 February 2019 @ 11am

Funeral location:   All Saints Catholic Church, George St, Liverpool, NSW

“Private vehicle parking is available”  Contact Cal@AustralianPolice.com.au for details

Wake location:  ?TBA

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

  TIMOTHY IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

Rob Sasagi Cup flyer 2019 – in support for Tim

NSW Police Legacy – Tim Proctor Appeal

WARNING:  VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC VISION & AUDIO

Dashcam footage of the incident shows a Honda Civic, travelling south on the road, crossing a lane of traffic and then onto the wrong side of the road.

The vehicle first nudged an oncoming Toyota Yaris before smashing head-on into a Honda Jazz, driven by 29-year-old male probationary police officer Timothy Proctor from the Liverpool City Area Command.

Both the officer and the 65-year-old female driver of the Civic had to be cut free from their vehicles, and remain in critical conditions today at Liverpool Hospital more than 24 hours after the crash.

It is understood the officer had just completed a training exercise at a facility in the area and was travelling in his private vehicle to Liverpool Police Station to drop off his firearm, at the time of the incident.

After being pulled from the wreckage of his vehicle, he was placed into an induced coma at the scene.

Following the initial point of impact, a Mitsubishi Triton driven by a 19-year-old woman crashed into the woman’s Civic.

The teenager, her 18-year-old male passenger and the 63-year-old driver of the Yaris all escaped injury.

“Obviously, police turning up to a police officer injured is extremely upsetting for first responders – and it was a devastating accident,” acting inspector Melissa Thompson told reporters yesterday.

The horror collision forced the closure of Heathcote Road for six hours yesterday afternoon as major crash investigators examined the scene.

Kamran Rowshanzadeh

Witness Kamran Rowshanzadeh, an electrician from Moorebank who was on his way to a call-out job at the time of the incident, said he first thought the Civic was trying to cross into his lane at about 100km/h.

“It was split second, and the next thing I know is the high impact,” he told 9News.

“The car literally came off the ground and the back kicked up and I dodged it.

“I just heard (Mr Proctor) brake at the last second. It’s like 200km/h int a wall.

“Just thinking about it shakes you.”

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019

https://www.9news.com.au/2019/02/01/15/17/sydney-news-lucas-heights-car-crash-dashcam-video-police-officer-driver-critical

Timothy PROCTOR

Three people, including an on-duty police officer, have been hospitalised after a multi-vehicle crash in Sydney’s south.

Just after 2pm today, police, paramedics and fire crews were called to Heathcote Road, north of New Illawarra Road in Lucas Heights, after reports three vehicles were involved in a serious crash.

Seven ambulance crews and a medical team were called to the location and NSW Fire Rescue were required to help free one person trapped.

A police officer aged in his 30s, and a female driver of another vehicle were both taken to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition.

A third person was taken to Sutherland Hospital.

The officer had just completed a training exercise at a facility in the area and was travelling in his private vehicle.

Traffic is heavy in the area and Heathcote Road remains closed in both directions with diversions in place at Alec Campbell Drive and New Illawarra Road.

Police are warning drivers to expect delays and make alternative arrangements if possible.

The crash investigation unit is currently at the site.

CAUTION: VIEWER DISCRETION:

VIDEO OF ACTUAL MVA SCENE

e

Francis DRUM

AKA  ?

Late of Marengo, NSW

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ‘P‘ 0086

For the purposes of this website ‘P‘ = represents those Police joining Pre 1862 when NSWPF “Officially” commenced

Rank: Constable – commenced 24 February 1862

Senior Constable

Final Rank = Senior Constable

Stations:  ?, Morangarell ( 1875 ), Murringo, Marengo – Death 

Service:  From  24 February 1862  to 12 January 1882 =  20 years Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Born:   31 March 1838, Auchandinard, Bally Connell, Fermanagh, Ireland

Died on:  Thursday  12 January 1882

Age:  45

Cause:   Fall from horse whilst On Duty – Fractured neck

Event location:  near Warrangong Station, Marengo

Event date:  Thursday  12 January 1882

Funeral date:   Tuesday  17 January 1882

Funeral location:   Murringo Cemetery, Murringo Rd, Murringo, NSW, 2586

Wake location:  ?

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at: Murringo Cemetery, Murringo Rd, Murringo, NSW, 2586

 Memorial located at:   ?

Widow:  Mary Agnes DRUM & 6 children of Marengo in the Colony of NSW

FRANCIS is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  * BUT SHOULD BE

On Friday 27 September 2019 an omission was rectified with the name of Senior Constable Francis DRUM being added to the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance together with the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

Burrowa News (NSW : 1874 – 1951),

Friday 20 January 1882, page 2

INQUEST ON SENIOR-CONSTABLE DRUM.

The coroner (Mr. S. Robinson) and a jury of five held an inquest at the dwelling house of the late Senior-constable Drum, Marengo, on Tuesday, touching the death of that officer.

John McSpadden deposed : I am boundary rider to Mr. W. B. Suttor ; I know the deceased Senior-constable Drum ; I saw him yesterday morning ; be called at the station and asked me the road to Beplate‘s ; he was collecting the electoral roll ; I went on horseback with him ; we had ridden about three quarters of a mile from Warrangong station ; there was a storm rising ; Drum said he would turn back ; his horse gave two or three turns round ; Drum stuck the spurs into the animal ; she made a bound and deceased’s hat fell off ; the mare then bolted ; deceased could not hold her ; after going about 300 yards I saw the mare fall right through a six-wire fence, on the top of the rider ; I galloped up, and found deceased bleeding copiously from the mouth and ear ; he was quite dead ;

I then went and reported the circumstances to the overseer of the station ; Mr. Johnson, I, and my wife, went to where the body was ; we then took the body to the station ;

Mr. Woodbridge, who is a neighbour, afterwards reported to the police, and the body was then brought to Marengo, by order of the coroner ; the mare from the start was restless ; she appeared to be a very fiery animal ; I thought she was not a safe animal to ride ; I brought the mare here from Warrangong this morning ; she is marked in several places by the wire fence.

Charles Henry Thompson deposed : I am a constable stationed at Marengo ; Senior-constable Drum was in charge of the Marengo station ; from information I received I went yesterday to Bang Bang, distant from here about 25 miles ; I there saw Constable Drum ; he said he had been sick, but that he was then all right ; Mrs. Drum spoke to me on Wednesday night ; she said she had heard her husband was sick at Bang Bang ; she further requested me to take a buggy and bring him home ; I and Mr. Connor, inn-keeper, started at 12 o’clock on Wednesday night, and got to Bang Bang at 5 on Thursday morning ; Drum was better, and started to finish the electoral roll at about a quarter past eight in the morning ; while I was with deceased he had one glass of brandy ; he said he had a touch of sunstroke on Monday last ; I arrived home about noon yesterday, and about two hours afterwards news came to me that Drum had been killed ; I telegraphed to the police, and also to the coroner, and upon the order of the coroner, I had the body brought home ;

he, deceased, left home on Monday morning : I have been ten weeks here ; I have known Drum for nearly four years ; I never saw him drunk ; when he started from Bang Bang on Thursday the mare was very fidgetty, and was prancing about ; I told Drum if the mare was too much for him that I would ride her and finish taking the roll ; I don’t think the mare is safe to ride ; she is flash and has a bad temper ; I would not care to ride or have charge of her ; Drum used to say that she required watching.

Michael O’Connor deposed : I am an innkeeper, residing in Marengo ; I knew the deceased, Senior-constable Drum ; I have known him on and off for about twelve years ; on Wednesday evening about 10 o’clock Mrs. Drum came to my house and said she had heard that her husband was sick at Bang Bang ; she asked me if I would go with my buggy and bring him home ; she said that Constable Thompson would accompany me ; I consented to go ;

I started with Constable Thompson about 12 o’clock, and arrived at Bang Bang at five in the morning ; when we arrived I saw Drum coming out of the stable ; Drum said, “Where are you going ?” I did not tell him my object in coming ; he appeared to have been sick, but not from drink ; I only saw him have one drink that morning ; the mare Drum rode was very fidgetty ; we afterwards left and came home ;

Drum was a very regular man, and not in the habit of drinking.

The verdict of the jury was that deceased met his death by falling from his horse over a six-wire fence on the 12th instant, which fall dislocated his neck.

The jury added a rider to the effect that they were of opinion that the mare was not a fit animal to be supplied to the police force.

The funeral of Senior-constable Drum took place on the evening of the inquest, and was followed by a large concourse of people, vehicles and horsemen.

The burial service was read by the Rev. Father Long, of Burrowa.

A public subscription is being raised for the purpose of erecting a memorial stone over the grave of the deceased.

There is no doubt that the primary cause of the accident was the temper of the mare, which appears to have been very bad. She has passed through several hands and was given up each time by the possessor as being unsafe to ride.

It is said that she killed a man sometime ago in another district, and was brought over here for the use of an officer of rank in the service, who declined to have her, since which she has been sent away from place to place with the object of exchanging her.

Under these circumstances it is not creditable to the authorities to allow animals of this class to be ridden by the police, who, of all men, require horses which can he kept thoroughly under control. It is to be hoped that the rider to the verdict will have some effect in the proper quarter.

Assuming however, that the horse had been a quite animal, then the Government would still be blameable for permitting the use of wire fences without a top rail, at any rate along public roads.

Only a few months back another trooper lost his life over a similar fence to the one in question. And so the affair as usual, rests, until death after death at last compels the selfish red taped authorities to move in the matter.

There is a fence of this class on a main road not many miles from Young, and as a matter of course, it is impossible for man or beast to see it by night, nor indeed often by day. What is of more common occurence than, for say a vehicle to run slightly off the track of a bush road on a night, not necessary dark, and if the fences are not discernible, what guide is there for a driver. A matter of this kind could be easily regulated by a brief Act, and would prevent many an accident to life and limb. — Argus (Young.) .

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107930196

Burrangong Argus (NSW : 1864 – 1913),

Saturday 1 August 1868, page 2

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.

Thomas Evans was brought from Murrumburrah by constable Francis Drum, charged with the above offence. Fined 10s., or three days’ imprisonment.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE.

Thomas Evans was charged with using obscene language. Constable Francis Drum deposed that, when attempting to arrest defendant, he made use of the language complained of, a repetition of which would be unfit for publication. Fined 1/., or fourteen days’ imprisonment.

ASSAULTING POLICE.

Thomas Evans was charged with assaulting the constable in the execution of his duty. Constable Francis Drum deposed that, when arrested, defendant refused to walk, after which he got up, kicked him in the stomach, and tried to turn his thumb back. Eventually he had to obtain the assistance of Mr. Dillon. Defendant resisted all the way to the lockup. He was the worst man he (constable) ever had his hand on. Fined 2/., or one month in gaol. Locked up in default.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247265628

The Hume Police District

Friday 27 September 2019 ( National Police Remembrance Day )

Young Sector – Police Remembrance Day

Today on duty and off duty police from Young Sector gathered at Murringo Cemetery to commemorate Police Remembrance Day and the addition of the Late Senior Constable Francis Drum, Officer in Charge of Marengo, (as it was then known) to the NSW Police Force Roll of Honour.

Senior Constable Drum was killed on duty in a horse riding accident in 1882.

Research and hard work from the Murringo First Families Group, Young and District Family History Group and Leading Senior Constable Pat Smith of Young Highway Patrol, supported by the Mayor and Local Member, saw Senior Constable Drum included on the Roll in time for this year’s Remembrance Day.

A message from the Deputy Prime Minister was read, our Local Member Steph Cooke MP made the opening remarks and a prayer service was officiated by Fr Allen of St Mary’s Young.

Wreaths were laid by our Local Member, our Mayor, the great-grandson of Senior Constable Drum and also by Leading Senior Constable Smith.

We paused for a moment at the grave of another police officer who died of illness in 1904 before we gathered for lunch at the Murringo Memorial Hall.

A day in remembrance of our fallen colleagues.

(Thanks to the Young Witness for the photos)

Joshua PAROCI

AKA  Josh

Husband to Service NSW Police Force member

Late of  ?

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ?????

Rank:  Detective Senior Constable

Stations:  ?, State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad – Parramatta,  – Death

Service:  From  ? ? 2008 to  19 May 2018=  10 years Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Born:   ? ? 1987

Died on:   Saturday  19 May 2018

Age:  31

Cause:   Drowned

Event location:   Shotover River, Queenstown, New Zealand

Event type:  White water rafting accident

Event date:  Saturday  19 May 2018

Funeral date:   ? ? ?

Funeral location:   ?

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

[alert_blue]JOSHUA is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED

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 Funeral location:  TBA

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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

[divider_dotted]

May they forever Rest In Peace

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He was helped by a safety kayaker through another rapid and then to shore, but lost consciousness and could not be revived.

NSW police Commissioner Mick Fuller said Paroci would be missed.

“The hardest part of my job is when we lose one of our own and my thoughts are with Detective S/C Paroci’s wife, who is also a police officer, family, friends and colleagues,” he said in a statement.

“Detective S/C Paroci was well respected by all those who knew him, and the police family will rally around his loved ones during this difficult time.”

It was the second death on the same section of the river within two months after guide Keith Haare, 62, also known as Chief, died from a medical event in late March.​

Tiffin said Challenge Rafting offered its “deepest sympathy to [Paroci‘s] family and friends”.

It was not unusual for rafts to overturn on grade four or five rivers, like the Shotover, Tiffin said. Customers were issued with equipment to help keep them warm and safe, including a wetsuit, neoprene jacket, booties, spray jacket, lifejacket and helmet.

Another member of the same group was injured and was flown to Lakes District Hospital for treatment. The rest of the group were flown out by helicopter and all flew back to Australia on Monday morning.

The weather was fine and sunny on Saturday and the river was at a medium to low flow at 16 cubic metres a second, well within standard operating parameters, Tiffin said.

Challenge Rafting worked closely with Queenstown Rafting, whose general manager, Luke Taylor, said he and his staff were devastated.

“Our hearts go out to our guests and the families of those involved in this. Both our companies wish to offer the group our sincere condolences and ongoing support,” he said.

Queenstown Rafting and Challenge Rafting have voluntarily suspended operations on the river until further notice.

NSW child abuse and sex crimes squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec described Paroci as a great man and an excellent detective, who would be sorely missed by the team.

“Professionally, Josh was a tireless worker; dedicated to investigating some of the most heinous crimes against children,” he said.

“His passion was justice for victims. Not only was he a police officer, he was completing a law degree, which he intended to use to create better outcomes for young victims.

“Josh was inspirational, and everywhere he worked, he turned colleagues into mates; today, we mourn the loss of our good mate.”

Police said they were investigating the cause of Saturday’s incident, and Maritime New Zealand was conducting a separate investigation.

An autopsy was expected to be carried out in Invercargill on Monday.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104047806/one-dead-in-rafting-accident-near-queenstown?rm=m

Australian police officer dies in rafting accident near Queenstown, New Zealand

Updated 21 May 2018, 7:34pm

Photo: Joshua Paroci, 31, was a member of the NSW Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad. (Supplied: NSW Police)

An Australian man who died during a rafting trip in New Zealand’s South Island has been identified as 31-year-old Joshua Paroci of New South Wales.

A New South Wales police officer, Detective Senior Constable Paroci was reportedly with five other Australians on the raft, operated by Challenge Rafting, which overturned on rapids on the Shotover River, north of Queenstown.

Police colleagues have described him as well respected and an excellent detective who would be sorely missed.

In a statement, the rafting company said the raft overturned about 3:45pm on Saturday near the Toilet Rapids at Skippers Canyon.

The company said the rafters followed standard rescue procedures when they were pitched into the water.

Detective Senior Constable Paroci lost his grip on the rescue rope as the raft was being towed to a bank and he was swept through another rapid.

Attempts by paramedics to resuscitate him on the shore failed.

Another member of the same group was injured and received treatment at a New Zealand hospital.

Photo: Joshua Paroci was on a guided rafting trip on the Shotover River, similar to this one, when he died. (Supplied: Challenge Rafting – file photo)

Queenstown Rafting general manager Luke Taylor said he and his staff were devastated by the incident.

“Our hearts go out to our guests and the families of those involved in this. Both our companies wish to offer the group our sincere condolences and ongoing support,” Mr Taylor said.

In a statement, NSW Police said Detective Senior Constable Paroci joined the force in 2008 and was a member of the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.

His wife is also a police officer.

“Detective Senior Constable Paroci was well respected by all those who knew him and the police family will rally around his loved ones during this difficult time,” Commissioner Mick Fuller said.

Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, the Commander of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, said the 31-year-old was “a tireless worker, dedicated to investigating some of the most heinous crimes against children”.

“His passion was justice for victims,” he said, adding that the young detective was completing a law degree which he had hoped to use to further help young victims.

“Josh was inspirational and everywhere he worked he turned colleagues into mates; today we mourn the loss of our good mate.”