( 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 ( April 2021 )
ELISE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
ELISE IS NOT mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills Although appears to be entitled to be mentioned.
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Campbelltown Touch regret to announce the passing of Elise Monjo. (Grommy).
Elise played with Campbelltown Touch some time ago and was well liked around the club.
Grommy also assisted with refereeing at club level as well as at local school gala days.
Please respect the privacy of the family in this sad time.
White Ribbon Day convoy travels through Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields to stop domestic violence
Emergency service workers, police, residents, community groups and students said no to domestic violence during the White Ribbon Day convoy through the Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields regions on Friday.
Luisa Cogno
less than 2 min read
November 27, 2017 – 3:34PM
Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown
Senior Constable Elise Carter (front), joins Lisa Brown from YOTS, Inspector Paul Kremer, Luanda Martin from YOTS and Senior Constable Troy Lewis during the White Ribbon Day convoy’s tug of war at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Picture: Simon Bullard
EMERGENCY service workers, police, residents, community groups and students said no to domestic violence during the White Ribbon Day convoy through the Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields regions on Friday.
A convoy of 10 vehicles carrying Campbelltown police, State Emergency Service members, Campbelltown Council staff as well as Burnside, Family and Community Services and Centrelink workers travelled from AB Central in Airds, to Campbelltown TAFE and Macarthur Square to spread the anti-violence message.
A similar convoy carrying groups including Macquarie Fields police travelled from Glenquarie Town Centre and visited Minto Marketplace and Eagle Vale Marketplace.
The two convoys met at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in a show of support before men took the White Ribbon Day oath to say no to violence against women.
Attendees also took part in a tug of war to build comraderie.
Campbelltown police domestic violence officer Sen-Constable Carolynn Walters said the day was excellent and a great opportunity to raise awareness that there is no place in the community for domestic violence and violence against women.
Raising awareness and showing their support during the White Ribbon Day convoy are Senior Constables Elise Carter and Dennis Hoyne with community members at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
“Everyone came together on the day for this very important issue,’’ she said.
“When we were driving around there were always people there supporting us on the route.’’
Now in its third year, the convoy aims to foster community cohesion, trust and respect for all participants.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Cal
20 April 2021
Donna Michelle HARDY ( MADDEN )
| 20/04/2021
Donna Michelle HARDY nee MADDEN
AKA Donna HARDY, Donna MADDEN
Late of Evans Head, NSW
NSW Goulburn Police Academy – Class # 233
Last of the Pre ’88ers in relation to Police Superannuation changing on 1 April 1988
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 25055
Service: From 4 January 1988 to? ? ? = ? years Service? ? ?
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Monday 4 January 1988 ( aged 24 years, 9 months, 14 days )( 2 months, 21 days spent at Academy )
Probationary Constable- appointed Friday 25 March 1988 ( aged 25 years, 10 days
Constable – appointed 25 March 1989
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( NO )
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank = Senior Constable ?
Stations: ?, Lismore ( GDs )( 2003 ), ?
Retirement / Leaving age: = ?
Time in Retirement from Police: ?
Awards: No Find on the Australian Honours system
Born: Friday 15 March 1963
Died on: Saturday 6 March 2021
Age: 57 years, 11 months, 19 days
Cause: ?
Event location: ?
Event date: ?
Funeral date: Wednesday 17 March 2021 @ 10.30am
Funeral location: Graveside, Evans Head Lawn Cemetery, Evans Head, NSW
( 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: Binney Family Funerals, Lismore, NSW 02 6622 2420
Donna Passed away suddenly, late of Evans Head, aged 57 years.
Much loved daughter of Christine & Edwin (bub).
Loving twin sister of Melissa, and Mark (Dec’d).
Loved by her family and friends.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Donna’s graveside funeral service, to be held at the Evans Head Lawn Cemetery, Wednesday 17th March 2021 commencing at 10:30 AM.
All guests will be required to comply with NSW government Covid legislation and Covid plan requirements. Please remain seated and ensure social distance standards are maintained during the service.
Attendees are also required to self-check in by mandatory QR Code. Please attend with a suitable mobile phone and ability or support to comply with this requirement.
Seating preferences will be given to family and their invited guests.
EVANS HEAD FUNERALS
JANET PAYNE
0412 955 574
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
No find from a Google search.
Cal
17 March 2021
Giovanna MONTES De Oca
| 20/04/2021
Giovanna MONTES De Oca
nee Giovanna VITELLI
AKA Jo
Late of Leppington, NSW
NSW Goulburn Police Academy – Class # 29? or 30?
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 43199
Service: From 4 September 2006 to11 February 2021 = 14 years, 5 months, 7 days Service
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on 4 September 2006 ( aged 22 years, 5 months, 9 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed 11 May 2007 ( aged 23 years, 1 month, 15 days )
Constable – appointed? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank = Detective Senior Constable
Stations: ?, Deniliquin, ?, Camden PAC, Campsie Detectives ( from July 2017 – Death )
Retirement / Leaving age: = 36 years, 10 months, 16 days
Time in Retirement from Police: 0
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system
Born: Monday 26 March 1984
Died on: Thursday 11 February 2021 @ 2.25am
Age: 36 years, 10 months, 16 days
Cause: Cancer – ( Breast )
Event location: Palliative Care ward, Camden Hospital, NSW
Event date: Diagnosed on ? ? ?
Jason, Laura & Jo. December 2020
Jo
Laura & Jo
Funeral date: Wednesday 17 February 2021 @ 2.30pm
Funeral location: South Chapel, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Camden Valley Way, Leppington, NSW
Chapel is LIMITED to 76 people & your name must be on the list to sit inside.
Currently 300 may attend funerals – so the remainder will be outside & can watch via the monitor(s).
There will be NO arranged Wake
It is requested that, instead of flowers, donation be made to the McGrath Foundation.
( 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 ( February 2021 )
JO is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED
Jo IS entitled to be mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
It is nice to know that the Blue Line was in effect during Jo’s illness with Leading SenCon Rice & Collings assisting Jo to attend her medical appointments since being diagnosed.
Jo regretfully leaves behind her husband, Jason, and their daughter, Laura, who only recently turned 3.
May she go with the Angels and Forever Rest In Peace.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person, by the author, at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Cal
16 Feb 2021
Renee Anne LONGFORD
| 20/04/2021
Renee Anne LONGFORD
NSW Goulburn Police Academy PREP Class # 268
Married to NSWPF Member Sgt Peter Cotton, # ?????
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 31467
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Sunday 17 November 1996 ( aged 19 years & 20 days )( spent 5 months, 29 days at Academy )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 16 May 1997 ( aged 19 years, 6 months, 18 days )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1/c – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? 2008?
Final Rank: Sergeant
Stations: ?, Liverpool GDs( 22 Division )( May 1997 – 2000 ), Cabramatta GDs( 34 Division )( 2000 – ? )( involved in Operation Puccini ), Picton GDs ( Sgt )( 35 Division ), Bowral ( 2008 – death )
Service: From 17 November 1996 to 24 January 2012 =15 years, 2 months, 7 days Service
This is a song I ( Tom Longford ) started writing for Renee when she was first diagnosed with Angiosarcoma.
After completing the first verse, I had optimistically hoped that each subsequent verse would be brighter than the last, and that the song would eventually include a happy ending.
Unfortunately, I was never given the opportunity to add anything positive for the rest of Renee’s battle.
I finished the song after we lost Renee and shared it with our Parents and our Brother.
I hope to one day record it properly with my band – but at this stage, if you’re interested in listening, you’ll just be hearing a version recorded via web-mic on my laptop.
Sergeant Longford, of Picton, died on January 24 after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer since late 2010.
She served as a police officer for 14 years and worked at Liverpool and Cabramatta before she began working at Bowral in 2008.
Superintendent Worboys said Sergeant Longford would be remembered as an excellent communicator who was positive about her duties, with no task ever too big or small.
“Sergeant Longford was the sort of officer that police commanders just want to have around,” he said.
“Renee was just as good at chasing and catching criminals as she was comforting victims of crime.
“She will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with her family.”
Will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.
Aged 34 years
Forever in our hearts
RENEE’s relatives and friends are warmly invited to attend her Funeral Service to be held in St John’s Anglican Church, Menangle Road, Camden on Friday, 10th February 2012, commencing at 12.30pm.
Following the service the cortege will proceed to Forest Lawn Crematorium.
In lieu of flowers, donations to cancer research would be appreciated, a donation box will be available at the church.
FAMILY, friends and colleagues of Sergeant Renee Longford said farewell to their friend and comrade at an official police funeral on Friday.
Sgt Longford died on January 24 after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer since late 2010.
She served as a police officer for 14 years and worked at Liverpool and Cabramatta before she began working at Bowral in 2008.
Sgt Longford and husband Peter Cotton, a police officer based at Picton, have three children, Dean, Jake and two-year-old Emma.
Sgt Cotton said his wife was also step mother to two of his children from a previous relationship.
About 500 people attended the service at St John’s Anglican Church in Camden, among those Sgt Longford’s colleagues, some wearing plain clothes and others in uniform.
Sgt Cotton said the rain stopped when his wife was brought to the family home before the funeral and the wet weather held off until after the service.
A police guard of honour saluted Sgt Longford as she was taken into the church and Sgt Cotton said it was only when leaving that he realised how many people had come to pay their respects to his wife.
“They lined the road way and it surprised me on the way out because I knew how many people we had left behind (in the church).
“I’ve done a lot of police funerals in my time and it was one of the biggest I had been to let alone been involved with.”
Sgt Cotton said a second service was then held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Leppington, where the police guard of honour continued the display respect.
He said Goulburn LAC commander Superintendent Gary Worboys and family friends Ben and Tim Mallott were among those who spoke about Sgt Longford at the service.
Supt Worboys said Sgt Longford’s funeral was a fitting tribute to her dedication to her job as a police officer.
He said Sgt Longford would be remembered as an excellent communicator that was positive about her duties, with no task ever too big or small.
“Sgt Longford was the sort of officer that police commanders just want to have around,” he said.
“Renee was just as good at chasing and catching criminals as she was comforting victims of crime.
“She will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with her family.”
Sgt Cotton said the service was the best the family could have hoped for.
“It was quite humbling and quite fitting.
“I’m very proud that she’d touched the hearts of so many people.”
Sgt Longford being taken into St John’s Anglican Church in Camden on Friday for an official police funeral service. Photo by Jeff de Pasquale
Colleagues of Sgt Longford, led by Senior Constable Natalie Innes, speaking at the funeral service on Friday. Photo by Jeff de Pasquale
RENEE LONGFORD isn’t letting an aggressive form of cancer plaguing her body defeat her.
Tracey Bailey, Jill Linford, Dareen Farr ( # 23446 ) and Renee and Emma Longford catch up at Bowral Police Station last week.Photo by Ben McClellan
Picton bowling day organisers Constable Leisa Faulkner and Constable Kim Rutley, Renee Longford, Picton Bowling Club GM Debbie Egan and Mens Bowls president Bob Lang last December. Photo by Jonathan Ng
The Bowral police sergeant, who has been off work since September last year, dropped in on some of her colleagues last week to thank them and the community for all the money raised to help her family.
A fundraising dinner at Mittagong RSL last November along with a host of smaller events and donations raised $47,255.
The family lives in Picton and a fundraising bowls day, where everyone was asked to don Ms Longford’s favourite colour yellow, was another success last December.
Ms Longford’s partner Peter Cotton, also a police officer , has retuned to work at Camden. The couple have five children between them.
The couple has three children, including a one-year-old, and Mr Cotton has two children from a previous relationship.
The 33-year-old has been an officer for 13 years and served at Liverpool and Cabramatta before moving to Bowral as a sergeant in October, 2008.
Ms Longford used the visit to publicly thank the Highlands community.
“Thanks to the business community for their donations and all my colleagues who have been fantastic,” she said.
“Thanks to Graeme Day for hosting the night and Tony Fountain for running the auction.”
Ms Longford has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and she said the cancer around her hips and spine has stopped growing.
She said she was considering using an experimental kidney transplant drug that could help.
While she would never walk the beat again she was focused on getting back to work.
“I’d love to get back to work,” she said.
Bowral colleague Jill Linford said the station had been overwhelmed by the support the community had shown.
“It’s really, really nice,” she said.
Sergeant Darren Farr, one of the longest serving officers at Bowral, said he didn’t realise how much support was out in the community for the police.
Longford appeal
A BANK account has been opened with the BDCU to help Renee Longford and her family:
The Club hosted a Cruise Night on Saturday 15 January 2011 with proceeds going to Renee Longford, the daughter of one of our life members, John Longford.
Renee was recently diagnosed with an aggressive type of bone cancer. The Club members decided to help by organising a cruise night at our clubrooms with all proceeds going to Renee.
The night started about 6.00pm and it wasn’t long before the car park was filled with Hot Rods, Customs and American Muscle Cars. There were many more vehicles parked in the street. All in all there were in excess of 100 cars.
The Flattrakkers provided the music for the evening and the kids were entertained with a giant jumping castle. The members were kept busy cooking the BBQ for the crowd of over 500 people. A monster raffle was held during the night with prizes donated by various members and other supporters of the evening.
It was a great night which was enjoyed by all and we thank everyone for their support. We were able to hand Renee an amount of $3000.00 which will assist her and her family during this difficult time.
A special thanks must go to Mick and Pam Cooley who co-ordinated the night as well as all the members who donated items for the raffle.
( 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: Guardian Funerals
Buried at: ? TBA
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2021 )
LISA 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.
Condolences to her partner, Grant Gibson & his two children, family and friends.
Lisa was the eldest child of parents, Ian Roderick Parrish and Marilyn Ann Gibson and Stepmom Judith Parrish.
Sister to Jody and Amanda and Aunty to their children.
Mother of Dayna, Hunter, Kade and Tamsyn.
This was published 13 years ago
Officer who found Byrne’s body grilled
The policeman who found Caroline Byrne dead at The Gap has told a Sydney court that in almost 20 years of rescue work, he had not seen any other bodies so far out from the cliff face.
Senior Sergeant Mark Powderly ( # 14425 ) gave evidence at the committal hearing for Gordon Wood, who is defending the charge that he murdered his former girlfriend.
The body of the 24-year-old model was found wedged head-first in rocks at the bottom of The Gap at Watsons Bay, in Sydney’s east, on June 8, 1995.
Wood, who was stockbroker Rene Rivkin‘s chauffeur at the time, is accused of throwing her from the 29-metre high cliff.
Exactly where Ms Byrne landed is central to the case, but her death was initially treated as suicide and no photographs were taken of her body at the scene.
Sgt Powderley told Burwood Local Court he and Constable Lisa Camwell retrieved Ms Byrne‘s body from a crevice next to a pyramid-shaped rock.
The officer, who spent 19 years in the Police Rescue Squad, said he had recovered up to 20 bodies from The Gap but had never found anyone that far out from the cliff.
Research by physics expert Rodney Cross allegedly shows that Ms Byrne could only have landed at this point, 11.8 metres from the cliff face, if she was hurled using a spear throw.
But a different place was nominated as the point of impact in a 1996 police video, which was played to the court.
In the video, Sgt Powderley narrates from the cliff top as Constable Camwell indicates a place several metres from the pyramid rock.
Sgt Powderley said he “wasn’t really concentrating” when the video – intended to publicise the Byrne case – was recorded.
He had only realised in 2004 that it showed the wrong place.
“If we were there to do a Forensic Services assessment of the scene and pinpoint the exact location … things would have been done differently,” he said.
Sgt Powderley said he saw the video for the first time at the 1997 inquest into Ms Byrne‘s death, but did not notice the position was wrong because he “just wasn’t paying the attention to it that I should have”.
Police initially gave Prof Cross the wrong information about where Ms Byrne landed and he concluded she probably jumped, the court has been told.
Defence barrister Winston Terracini SC suggested measurements of the location had been “wrong for ages”, but were changed when police received a report “that doesn’t suit their purposes”.
Sgt Powderley denied having been asked by the detective heading the investigation, Paul Jacob ( # 18752 ), to reconsider the body’s location.
Earlier, Prof Cross told the court he had not considered information from 1994 about Ms Byrne‘s sporting ability when concluding she could not have jumped so far from the cliff.
Instead, he used reports from Ms Byrne‘s high school teachers that she had no athletic ability.
Mr Terracini asked why he had not taken into account the more recent information which, he said, showed Ms Byrne “excelled at a whole range of different sports” including basketball, swimming and aerobics.
“I presumed that that material was provided by Caroline Byrne herself,” Prof Cross said.
On 9 September 2008 the Daily Telegraph / AAP reported “Exact spot of model’s body ‘forgotten’”
It said a police officer who recovered the body of model Caroline Byrne has told a Sydney court she will never remember the exact location of the body. Senior Constable Lisa Camwell told the New South Wales Supreme Court a controversial 1996 video re-enactment was her best memory of the recovery operation.
Ms Byrne, 24, was found wedged head first in rocks at the base of cliffs at The Gap, in Sydney’s east on June 8, 1995. Her live-in boyfriend Gordon Wood is on trial for her murder. Sen Const Camwell was one of two police involved in retrieving Ms Byrne’s body. She was tasked with carrying a body bag and stretcher across to the recovery site.
The officer today told the jury her recollection of the morning was based solely on her own actions “which was carrying equipment and looking at the ground”. When she took part in a video re-enactment about a year after Ms Byrne‘s death, Sen Const Camwell said she determined the place she believed the body found was based upon an estimate of how long it had taken her to reach it that night. “Most of those large rocks found down the bottom there are mostly just large rocks to me,” she said. “I wouldn’t ever say I know exactly where her body was.”
Sen Const Camwell said she had no further involvement in the case until she was contacted about the video in 2004. She told the court the officer then in charge of the murder investigation said the position of Ms Byrne‘s body had become a ” significant issue ”, and where she had indicated on the video appeared to be incorrect. She agreed with Wood’s barrister Winston Terracini SC that her best memory of events was as recorded on the video.
The location of the body is essential to the Crown case that Ms Byrne was not pushed nor jumped, but was forcefully thrown to her death. Sen Const Camwell‘s partner Mark Powderly has told the jury the body was recovered from a different location which is consistent with the theory that Ms Byrne was murdered. The location indicated by Sen Const Camwell supports the hypothesis that Ms Byrne took her own life. The trial continues.
MICK BRUNETTA had heard a lot of screams during his 17 years of fishing at The Gap, but he had never heard anything like the one he heard on the night of June 7, 1995, he told a murder trial yesterday.
Mr Brunetta and his brother-in-law Norm Wano were not having much luck as they cast their lines into the darkness from the clifftop. About 11pm they heard what they variously described as a woman’s “freakish scream” and that she sounded “like someone who was panicked or scared”.
Mr Wano turned and said, “F— man, what was that?” and the pair continued fishing.
Gordon Wood, 45, has pleaded not guilty to throwing his girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, a 24-year-old model, from the cliffs at the notorious suicide spot in Sydney’s east.
Mr Wano said that he contacted the police 11 months later after seeing a re-enactment on television where police asked the two fishermen, who were potential witnesses, to come forward.
Wearing an olive-green bandanna over his dreadlocks and his sunglasses perched on top of his head, Mr Wano said that although he was not a keen fisherman, he often accompanied his brother-in-law.
He said he had heard the scream about 11pm and, “It wasn’t a scream of happiness. It was like a scared scream.”
He said that later three men had come by calling out the name “Caroline”. Upon being told of the scream, Mr Wano said, one of the men had said, “On no, she’s done it, she’s done it.”
Mr Brunetta, who gave evidence with the assistance of an Italian interpreter, said that he recalled seeing a lone man calling out “Caroline” and that later that night that same man, who had blond hair, had come back with two other men. After telling the group of the scream, they asked to borrow his torch.
Mr Brunetta said his torch was not very good because the battery “was a bit flat”.
He agreed that in his 2004 statement he had said that when he saw the men trying to shine the torch to illuminate the bottom of the cliff, he had said, “There’s no way that man will be able to see anything because the torch is not strong enough.”
The two fishermen stayed on until dawn watching the police recover Ms Byrne’s body. Mr Brunetta said no one had ever taken him back to The Gap to try to pinpoint the exact location of where Ms Byrne had landed.
Also yesterday, a police witness contradicted another on critical evidence against Wood.
One officer told the jury that she would never be able to pinpoint the exact location of the body, which is vital to proving that Ms Byrne’s death was murder.
The jury has heard conflicting evidence about where the body was found, with senior retrieval officer Mark Powderly testifying Ms Byrne was some 10 metres from the cliff face.
But his partner, Senior Constable Lisa Camwell, yesterday told the court she believed Ms Byrne was in a crevice closer to the shore.
No measurements or photographs were taken on the night of her death.
A 1996 video re-enactment of the rescue operation shows Senior Constable Camwell pointing to a spot, which is referred to as the “exact location” of Ms Byrne’s body.
The officer yesterday said she had estimated the site based upon how long it took her to reach the body on the night of the retrieval, and the video showed her best recollection of events.
“Most of those large rocks found down the bottom there are mostly just large rocks to me,” she said.
“I wouldn’t ever say I know exactly where her body was.”
During the trial, the Court was told of some uncertainty regarding the actuallocation where the body was found. Senior Constable Lisa Camwell, one of theofficers who retrieved Byrne’s body in 1995 gave evidence that she had in 1996participated in a video re-enactment in which she indicated the body’s location.She gave evidence that in 2004 she was contacted by an officer in charge of themurder investigation (Sergeant Powderly) and told that the position of MsByrne’s body had become a significant issue. She was told that the body positionshe had indicated on the video now appeared to be incorrect. Media reportsduring the second trial suggested the location of the body was an essentialcomponent to the Crown case that Ms Byrne was not pushed nor jumped, butwas forcefully thrown to her death [The12]
2.4.3.3
Deliberation and verdictAfter five full days of deliberation on 21 November 2008 they found Wood guilty.On 3 December 2008 Wood was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 17 years,with a minimum time in prison of 13 years. Wood lodged an appeal to theconviction.2.4.4Inquests, Investigations and TrialsTwo inquests were held into Byrne’s death by New South Wales State coronerJohn Abernethy, with Wood claiming it was suicide. The second inquest in 1998delivered an open finding. That same year, Wood left Australia.Police investigations continued from 2000 onwards as “Strikeforce Irondale“with hundreds of witnesses interviewed and resulting in a brief of evidencerunning to more than 350 pages. Caroline’s father Tony Byrne continued to pressfor action from the investigation eventually enrolling the assistance of New SouthWales politician Fred Nile who raised questions about the investigation in StateParliament up till 2004.In 2004 scientific reports relating to the physics of a body falling/jumping/beingprojected from the cliff produced by Professor Rod Cross were the principalelements of new evidence which encouraged the Crown to push for a trial ofGordon Wood. In March 2006 the New South Wales Director of PublicProsecutions Nicholas Cowdery QC agreed with police that there was enoughevidence to charge Wood with Byrne’s murder. Wood was detained in London inApril 2006, extradited to Australia and released on bail by a Sydney court on 4May. On 6 July 2007, Wood was committed to stand trial for the murder of Byrne.The first trial started on 21 July 2008 with Mark Tedeschi QC appearing for theCrown and Winston Terracini QC defending Wood. On 6 August 2008, JusticeGraham Barr declared a mistrial because of the alleged contact that a member ofthe jury had with 2GB radio host Jason Morrison. The juror, who remainedanonymous, claimed that some of the jurors were planning a secret night visit tothe crime scene (the Gap) being organised by a particular juror who was a “bully”and who had “already decided that Wood was guilty.” Justice Barr ruled “I had todischarge the jury … because some jurors disobeyed my instructions andmisconducted themselves.”The second trial commenced on 25 August 2008 and for the first time in NewSouth Wales court history a panel of 15 jurors was sworn in instead of the usual12 to provide some contingency.
Caroline Byrne (8 October 1970 – 7 June 1995), an Australian model, was found at the bottom of a cliff at The Gap in Sydney in the early hours of 8 June 1995. Her then boyfriend Gordon Eric Wood (b. 1962), who at the time of her death was chauffeur and personal assistant to businessman Rene Rivkin, was convicted of her murder on 21 November 2008 and spent three years in Goulburn jail. He was acquitted of the conviction in February 2012.[1][2]
Events of 7 June 1995
The Gap at Watsons Bay, location of Byrne’s death.
Born on 8 October 1970,[3] Byrne had been in a relationship with Wood since 1992. She was a model but principally worked as a modelling instructor for Sydney deportment and etiquette educator June Dally-Watkins. On 7 June 1995, she failed to turn up for work and for an appointment with a psychiatrist. There were three claimed sightings of her near The Gap at Watsons Bay that afternoon and evening, in the company of two men, one of whom matched Wood’s description. Two of the sightings – at 1 pm and 3 pm – were by local cafe owners, Craig Martin and Lance Melbourne. In 1998 John Doherty, an Irish artist who had been out of the country in the intervening years, came forward to say that around 8.30pm that evening he too had seen Byrne outside his studio window arguing with one man while another man stood nearby.[4]
Wood denied being present at Watsons Bay that afternoon. Evidence was sworn at both inquests by Wood’s friends Brett Cochrane and Nic Samartis that they lunched with him briefly around 1:15 pm in Potts Point before he was called away after a call from Rivkin.[5]:206 Wood claimed that he was asked by Rivkin to chauffeur prominent lobbyist and ex-federal minister Graham Richardson to an appointment and then spent the afternoon doing regular chores for Rivkin before going home around 7 pm. The Richardson alibi was compromised by Richardson when he was interviewed by police in 2001, when he advised that he had lunched that day with rugby league administrator Peter Moore.[4]
Wood’s movements in the afternoon have never been reported prior to the late evening, when Wood said he awoke on his couch having fallen asleep in front of the television and was immediately alarmed that Byrne was still not home. Wood has said he did not know Byrne’s whereabouts but was led by what he termed “telepathic communication” to The Gap. He had first driven to the beachfront car-park at Bondi Beach where he and Byrne had spent much time and then to a favourite park at Camp Cove where they had often picnicked. Heading back from Camp Cove he spotted Byrne’s white Suzuki Vitara parked in a lane at The Gap. It was when running about the cliff-top and shouting her name that Wood encountered two rock fishermen who verified his appearance around midnight.
Wood then rang Tony Byrne and Caroline’s brother Peter. He drove back into Sydney city and collected them and all three then went to the Gap and scoured the cliff-top. Peter Byrne later gave evidence that at about 1am Wood claimed to have spotted her body at the base of the cliff using torchlight. Byrne himself said he could see nothing and nor could the police who arrived soon after with police torches. The night was dark and the cliff misty. Peter Byrne claimed it was difficult to see the rocks below the cliff, let alone a body. The contention whether Wood had claimed he could see something in the darkness figured in much media speculation over the years and formed a key part of Crown evidence in the 2008 trial. In 2011 the Appeal Court felt that the Crown had presented speculation in this area posing as evidence. This was one of the grounds resulting in Wood’s 2011 appeal being upheld.
The identity of the second man supposedly sighted by Melbourne and Martin with Wood in Watsons Bay earlier in the day has remained unclear. With evidence contradicting the likelihood that the man was either of those whom the police considered in investigation (Byrne’s modelling agent Adam Leigh or Rivkin associate Gary Redding) the Crown chose to pose speculation without evidence on either during the trial and drew criticism from the trial judge and later the appellant judges.
Media interest
Byrne’s death was accepted as a suicide by local Rose Bay Police and others. No photographs were taken of the location of her body’s landing point.
In 1996, Byrne’s father begin to agitate against the notion of suicide such that from 1997 onwards the case and circumstances of Byrne’s death were regularly examined in Australia’s national newspapers and reported as “one of Sydney’s unsolved crimes”. The death of a beautiful model at one of Sydney’s notorious suicide spots, the connection to the flamboyant and newsworthy Rivkin, and a net of witnesses and commentators which included some prominent Sydney identities all added to the intrigue of the case.
Offset Alpine speculation
Attention was particularly heightened by the still unproven speculation of a connection with Rene Rivkin’s financial activities. The day before Byrne’s death, Wood and Rivkin were interviewed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission about the Offset Alpine fire of 1993 and the true ownership of share parcels traded in Offset Alpine owned by nominees related to Swiss bank accounts.[5]:203 Tony Byrne claimed that Wood had indicated to his daughter that the fire was a set-up for insurance purposes.
Ultimately in 2001 Rivkin was charged with insider trading (of Qantas shares) and his eventual conviction in 2003 had a devastating effect on his mental stability, culminating in his 2005 suicide.[6] However the ASIC investigation into share trading in Offset Alpine and the true beneficiaries proved an epic that outlived Rivkin, commencing in 1995 and continuing from 2005 with a focus shifted to Graham Richardson and Trevor Kennedy until eventually closed without outcome by ASIC in 2010.[7]
Peripheral celebrities
Adding to this intrigue was a list of celebrities with a peripheral involvement in the case. Byrne’s medical doctor who had referred her to the psychiatric appointment she did not keep on 7 June was television celebrity physician, Dr Cindy Pan.[5]:205Graham Richardson‘s diarised luncheon appointment that day (which caused him to question whether he may have been chauffeured anywhere by Wood) was with rugby league identity Peter Bullfrog Moore at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel and was set up to broker a peace deal in the Super League war which deeply divided Australian rugby league at that time. Wood always claimed that he had driven Moore from a noon meeting with Rivkin to what may well have been a lunch, though the press and (later) the Crown ignored this possibility. Moore died in July 2000 a year prior to the Strikeforce Irondale interview with Richardson, thus preventing corroboration of the luncheon timings and Rivkin too was dead before the trial.[8]
Byrne’s close friends included entertainer Tania Zaetta and actress Kylie Watson, a Home and Away cast member. It was the amateur sleuthing around Watsons Bay armed with photographs of Byrne in the weeks after her death which had Dally-Watkins and Watson uncover the Martin/Melbourne sighting lead.[5]:206 Other celebrity witnesses who figured in the case at some point included businessman John Singleton, journalist Paul Barry and paparazzo Jamie Fawcett.
Inquests, investigation and trials
Two inquests were held into Byrne’s death by New South Wales State coroner John Abernethy, with Wood claiming it was suicide. The second inquest in 1998 delivered an open finding. That same year, Wood left Australia.
Police investigations continued from 2000 onwards as “Strikeforce Irondale” with hundreds of witnesses interviewed and resulting in a brief of evidence running to more than 350 pages. Caroline’s father Tony Byrne continued to press for action from the investigation eventually enrolling the assistance of New South Wales politician Fred Nile who raised questions about the investigation in State Parliament up till 2004.[9]
In 2004 scientific reports relating to the physics of a body falling/jumping/being projected from the cliff produced by Professor Rod Cross were the principal elements of new evidence which encouraged the Crown to push for a trial of Gordon Wood.[10] In March 2006 the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas CowderyQC agreed with police that there was enough evidence to charge Wood with Byrne’s murder.[11] Wood was detained in London in April 2006, extradited to Australia and released on bail by a Sydney court on 4 May. On 6 July 2007, Wood was committed to stand trial for the murder of Byrne.
The first trial started on 21 July 2008 with Mark Tedeschi QC appearing for the Crown and Winston Terracini QC defending Wood. On 6 August 2008, Justice Graham Barr declared a mistrial because of the alleged contact that a member of the jury had with 2GB radio host Jason Morrison. The juror, who remained anonymous, claimed that some of the jurors were planning a secret night visit to the crime scene (the Gap) being organised by a particular juror who was a “bully” and who had “already decided that Wood was guilty.” Justice Barr ruled “I had to discharge the jury … because some jurors disobeyed my instructions and misconducted themselves.”[12]
The second trial commenced on 25 August 2008 and for the first time in New South Wales court history a panel of 15 jurors was sworn in instead of the usual 12 to provide some contingency. [12]
Trial evidence
Presentation of the Crown case
Following the aborted first trial Tedeschi, as Crown Prosecutor, presented the Crown case over a nine-week period from 26 August until 24 October 2008. Over 70 witnesses were called and the jury heard hours of audio and video evidence including taped interviews with Rivkin and Wood.[13]
Witnesses called by the prosecution included Pan, Richardson, Watson, Zaetta, Singleton, Fawcett, Bob Hagan and sports journalist Phil Rothfield. Tony Byrne, Peter Byrne, Dally-Watkins and her daughter Carol Clifford appeared. Doherty and Cochrane gave evidence via video link up from overseas. Police witnesses included Tracey Smit ( ProCst # 61020 ) and Paul Griffiths ( # 23770 ? ) (officers on scene), Sgt Mark Powderly ( # 14425 ), Sgt Neville Greatorex ( # 16136 )(who gave evidence on police procedures), Snr Const Lisa Camwell( # ????? )(who retrieved the body) and the first investigating officer of the case Sgt Craig Woods ( #22599 ? ) of Rose Bay who had first dismissed the death as suicide and who gave evidence that in the first weeks Tony Byrne too accepted the suicide verdict and was explicitly against the idea of an inquest. Another ex-policeman to appear was Byrne’s former boyfriend Andrew Blanchette ( # ????? ). At one stage Justice Barr counselled Blanchette that he ought consider taking legal advice before answering a particular question. Sensationally on his second day in the witness box, Blanchette admitted that early that morning he had phoned another witness – Melinda Medich, his girlfriend and a minor at the time of Byrne’s death – before she was due to give evidence later that day. Blanchette was reported to police by Medich who had not heard from him for a number of years. Blanchette denied that he had been attempting to influence her evidence.
Location of the body
Retired University of Sydney physicist Associate Professor Rod Cross spent two days in the witness box. Over a six-year period Cross had produced six reports on the case – with his initial findings being quite different to the later findings presented in the trial.[10] Although formally qualified in the field of plasma physics, Cross had experience working with biomechanists regarding sports research and had published and refereed many papers on biomechanics;[14] he was therefore proposed by police investigators as a forensic expert in fall dynamics. Between 1998 and 2004 Cross’ reports all concluded that Byrne could have jumped to her death, as he was told that Byrne’s body had been found at a distance of 9 metres (30 ft) from the cliff.[15] In 2005, when he was recontacted by the police that the position of the body was in fact farther away (11.8 metres (39 ft)), he conducted experiments which informed his speculation that Byrne could not have jumped that far and must have been thrown.[5]:210[16] The required launch speed, from the top of the 29 metres (95 ft) high cliff, was 4.5 m/s (see range of a projectile[17][18]), and the available runup distance was only 4 metres (13 ft) – although appeal submissions in 2011 called this into question. Cross tested eleven females from the New South Wales Police Academy and found that they could dive and land head first (in a swimming pool) at about 3.5 m/s after a 4 metres (13 ft) runup. A strong male could throw a 61 kilograms (134 lb) female at 4.8 m/s after a runup of only 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) or 3 metres (9.8 ft).
During the trial the Court was told of some uncertainty regarding the actual location where the body was found. Senior Constable Lisa Camwell, one of the officers who retrieved Byrne’s body in 1995 gave evidence that she had in 1996 participated in a video re-enactment in which she indicated the body’s location. She gave evidence that in 2004 she was contacted by an officer in charge of the murder investigation (Sergeant Powderly) and told that the position of Ms Byrne’s body had become a significant issue. She was told that the body position she had indicated on the video now appeared to be incorrect. Media reports during the second trial suggested the location of the body was an essential component to the Crown case that Ms Byrne was not pushed nor jumped, but was forcefully thrown to her death.[19]
Suicide history
The court heard that Caroline’s mother Andrea Byrne had committed suicide in March 1991 after she became depressed following a breast enlargement operation that went wrong.[20] Terracini also read to the court a letter Tony Byrne had previously provided to police in which he claimed that Caroline had made an attempt on her own life via overdose in 1992. In court Tony Byrne denied that Caroline had on that occasion intended to kill herself and instead was making “a cry for help”. At another stage of the cross examination, he claimed to suppose that had Caroline wanted to kill herself she would have copied her mother’s method rather than jumping from a cliff.[21]
Byrne’s doctor, author and television personality Cindy Pan, gave evidence that she had seen Byrne for two years before her death and had specifically discussed Byrne’s depression with her in the weeks leading up to her death. Dr. Pan told the court Byrne said she had felt depressed for about a month and the condition had worsened in the week leading up to their appointment on 5 June 1995. Pan said the model told her she could not put a finger on what she was unhappy about.
“I was trying to explore with her what she might be depressed about, but she was not really able to identify any one specific thing,” Pan told the court. She said Byrne told her she “had the same thing three years ago” and had been put on medication, which had helped. Pan said Byrne denied having thoughts of self-harm and she referred her to a psychiatrist, obtaining an appointment for 4 pm on 7 June.[22]
Presentation of the defence
One defence witness, Prof John Hilton, a forensic pathologist, was called during the Prosecution case, due to his later unavailability. Otherwise Terracini commenced the defence case on 27 October 2008 calling another physics expert Prof Marcus Pandy, a electromechanical engineer who conducted experiments on running and jumping speeds of two females. Only a handful of defence witnesses were called – two forensic pathologists, one psychiatrist, Prof Pandy, a stunt diver, and Wood’s sister Jacqueline Schmidt – and the defence case concluded within a week.
With the trial drawing to a close, the jury made a number of requests of Justice Barr that included a visit the Gap for a third time; for a transcript of Doherty’s evidence; and for video footage of Pandy’s running experiments.[23]
Deliberation and verdict
For the first time in New South Wales court history, a ballot was used to select the three jurors who would stand down so that twelve of the sitting fifteen would deliberate to a verdict. After five full days of deliberation on 21 November 2008 they found Wood guilty.[24][25] On 3 December 2008 Wood was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 17 years, with a minimum time in prison of 13 years. Wood lodged an appeal to the conviction.[26]
Appeal
Wood’s appeal hearing commenced on 22 August 2011 in the Criminal Court of Appeal before Chief Judge at Common Law Peter McClellan, Justice Megan Latham, and Justice Stephen Rothman. Wood’s barrister Tim Game SC submitted that the jury’s verdict was unreasonable and not supported by the evidence. His submission spoke of nine grounds for appeal. One was that the trial miscarried by reason of the prejudice occasioned by the Tedeschi’s closing address. Others related to criticisms of Barr’s directions to the jury.
Early media reporting of the appeal focused on Game’s submission that the scientific evidence used to convict Wood and presented by Associate Professor Cross was flawed. A photograph was presented in the trial and purported to be taken in 1996 showing that scrub near the fence line had limited Byrne’s possible run-up to the jump, supporting an argument that she would have needed to have been thrown to achieve the horizontal distance from the cliff wall that her body travelled. The appeal judges heard and the Crown acknowledged that the photo was in fact taken in 2003 and that photo’s quality meant that a shadow might have appeared to be scrub. The appeal judges heard that a 1996 colour photo which showed that there was no scrub limiting the run-up was available to the Crown during the trial but that the Crown had chosen to introduce the blurrier, non-contemporaneous, more ambiguous image.[27]
Game’s submission, consistent with so much of the trial evidence, concerned matters relating to the exact positioning of Byrne’s body at the base of the rocks and the orientation of her legs and torso and leading to questions regarding the contended launch point and the assumptions and assertions made by Cross in his pre-trial studies and reports and his trial evidence. Day two of Game’s submission focused on the police’s changed view between 1996 and 2005 as to Byrne’s landing spot and specifically trial evidence given by Sergeant Mark Powderly used to justify the reconstruction.[28]
The Criminal Court of Appeal delivered their opinion on 24 February 2012 acquitting Wood of Byrne’s murder and ordering his release from jail.[1] The appellate judges delivered a unanimous decision that there was insufficient evidence beyond reasonable doubt that Wood murdered Byrne and that the jury’s verdict was not supported. They dismissed the Crown evidence as being critically flawed and ruled that the possibility of her suicide ought not have been excluded.[1][2]
Justice McClennan described Cross’ experiments as “unsophisticated” and in the summation of his decision said that he was not satisfied by either of the two motives presented by the Crown.[1] Regarding the motive submitted by Tedeschi that Byrne had information about Rivkin’s business dealings that Wood was trying to hide, McClennan said “The exploitation of public rumour and the use of mere innuendo to compensate for inadequate evidence of motive is not consistent with the obligations of a prosecutor to press the Crown case “to its legitimate strength” by reliance upon credible evidence”.[2]:para 305 McLennan was also troubled that the notion Byrne may have been unconscious when she left the cliff top was introduced by the Crown late in the case.[2]:para 277 He described Tedeschi’s suggestion, first made in his closing address and mentioned at no other time in evidence, that a “shot-put” action was used to despatch Byrne as “an invention of the prosecutor…for which there was absolutely no support in evidence”.[29] McClennan also expressed some doubt as the reliability of evidence concerning the claimed sightings of Wood and Byrne at Watson’s Bay on 7 June 1995 noting that some of these witnesses had come forward years after the event and the initial investigations; he raised concerns that the Melbourne/Martin first identification of Wood and Byrne was based on a specific photos shown to them by Dally-Watkins rather than from being picked from a selection. Tedeschi was criticised by McClellan for presenting reasoning that was “dangerous” and “entirely without foundation”. Tedeschi contributed to the alleged miscarriage with his “50 killer questions” which took an “impermissible course” in asking the jury to consider rhetorical questions dealing with matters that had not been presented with in evidence.[29] McClennan ruled that he was not persuaded that Sgt Powderly’s evidence regarding the changed landing position of the body was entirely reliable.[2]:para 317
Wood was freed from prison on 24 February 2012; having served three years two months in Goulburn Correctional Centre, following an initial month in Parklea prison. Three weeks later the new New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions, Lloyd Babb SC, issued a press release simply announcing that “the OPDD will not appeal the Court of Criminal Appeal’s judgement in the matter of R v Gordon Wood . No further comment will be issued”.[30] This was 24 hours after meeting Tony Byrne and attending the Gap with him – a meeting which Byrne described as ‘fruitful’.[31]
Post-appeal
Wood left Australia after his release from prison and spent time in the United States and Britain. In 2014 he brought defamation actions against the Sydney radio stations 2GB and 2UE, Channel Seven Sydney, and The Daily Telegraph[32] which were all settled out of court in his favour for undisclosed sums.[33]
In 2016 Wood sued the state of New South Wales for millions of dollars plus costs for malicious prosecution and wrongful imprisonment, based on a number of grounds including a “hopelessly corrupted” and “ridiculous” police case against him.[34] In a witness statement filed as part of his lawsuit against the state, Mr Wood said that during his three years in Goulburn Jail he lived in constant fear of guards who dished out “therapy” and was king-hit (a term widely used in Australia, meaning a very hard punch, usually delivered to the head, that is completely unexpected) and knocked unconscious in the prison yard by an infamous rapist and killer.[35] The suit was dismissed on 10 August 2018, with Wood receiving no compensation.[36]
( 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 ( January 2021 )
Police identified the 39-year-old woman as serving NSW Police officer, Senior Constable Kelly Foster. Credit: NSW Police
KELLY is mentioned on the National Police Wall of Remembrance
KELLY IS mentioned on the Sydney Police Memorial Wall
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Kelly, prior to joining the ranks of NSWPF was a Teacher.
Chifley Police District
January 2, 2022 9.03PM
Remembering one of our own – Senior Constable Kelly Ann Foster VA
At a special, private ceremony held today ( Sunday 2 January 2022 ) at Lithgow Police Station, close family and colleagues gathered as a mark of respect, to honour Senior Constable Foster VA, one year after her passing.
In memory of Kelly, Lithgow officers, Leading Senior Constable Michael Barr and Senior Constable Jim McMillan, along with members of Kelly’s family and other colleagues built a special memorial garden.
The memorial would not have been possible without the generosity of donations from the local community also.
The garden was unveiled today by Kelly’s parentsTerry and Marilyn, her brother David and sister Leigh.
Lithgow Police, Chief Inspector Chris Sammut said, ” Today’s intimate ceremony between Kelly’s family and Lithgow police staff was beneficial as it formed part of the healing process for family and work colleagues. The memorial wall and garden will be a lasting tribute to Kelly. It will ensure for decades to come that Kelly’s heroic story will never be forgotten by police and the community whom she so tirelessly served “
Senior Constable Kelly Ann Forster VA, tragically died while attempting to save the life of a fellow canyoner, Jennifer Qi, within the Wollangambe Canyon at Mt Wilson on 2 January 2021.
As a result of her brave actions, Senior Constable Foster was posthumously awarded the Commissioners Valour Award.
This morning, Senior Constable Kelly Foster‘s name was placed inside the Commissioner’s Baton, blessed, and carried to the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance.
In a normal year, the baton would be on the road by now, carried by a convoy of motorbike riders in the Wall to Wall – Ride for Remembrance, all travelling towards the National Police Memorial in Canberra with the express purpose of honouring and remembering fallen police mates.
The bikes remain silent today, but the moment loses none of its importance.
COVID has changed everything, but it will never diminish the memories of the fallen.
Kelly Foster‘s name will stay inside the baton until next year, when it will be carried by the Wall to Wall Riders to the Memorial.
From all of us at Chifley Police District, we would like to thank the community for their love and support in relation to the untimely death of Senior Constable Kelly Foster.
As you can appreciate, we are expecting a significant gathering to bid her farewell, and with the current COVID restrictions, not everyone who would like to pay their respects in person will be able to do so.
We are urging members of the public not to attend the church; instead, please demonstrate your community spirit by forming a socially distanced line along either side of Bridge Street (between Mort and Short streets) from 1:30pm tomorrow (Thursday) to view the procession as it leaves the church.
On behalf of Kelly’s family and the broader NSW Police Force family, thank you for your ongoing support.
ROAD CLOSURES FOR FUNERAL OF SENIOR CONSTABLE KELLY FOSTER-
THURSDAY 14/1/2021.
CHIFLEY PD
Police advise of a soft road closure of Bridge Street Lithgow at the intersection of Mort Street- the road will be closed all the way to the intersection of Short Street and includes closure of the Church St intersection with Bridge St. Residents will be able to enter and exit by advising Police at the traffic points. Road closed from 6 am until abut 4 pm. The funeral commences at 12.30 pm
Senior Constable Kelly Foster, aged 39, died following a canyoning incident at Mount Wilson yesterday (Saturday 2 January 2021).
Snr Cst Foster attested on 27 August 2010, after which she commenced duties as a probationary constable at Newtown Local Area Command.
She was confirmed as a constable in May 2012.
In May 2014, Snr Cst Foster joined the State Crime Command working as an intel analyst until May 2020.
She was most recently working at Chifley Police District, stationed at Lithgow Police Station.
NSW Police Acting Commissioner Mal Lanyon has extended his condolences to the Foster family on behalf of the NSW Police Force.
“It’s a very sad time for the NSW Police Force and Kelly’s death is a loss to the whole community,” Acting Commissioner Lanyon said.
“To hear reports that Kelly was trying to help another woman when she died demonstrates her commitment to the community she served and the ability to put the needs of others before her own.
“Kelly was a highly regarded and dedicated officer who will be sorely missed by colleagues across the force.
“Her policing career was put on hold when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, however, her strength to survive this and return to work is another testament to her strength and resilience.
“Above all, Kelly was a kind and loving daughter, sister and partner.”
Snr Cst Foster’s family have requested privacy at this time.
Kelly FOSTER – On top of Australia at Mt Kosciusko
An international student, 24, was among a group swimming on inflatable lilos at the popular Wollangambe Canyon (pictured) when she was sucked into the whirlpool. Her body was recovered on Sunday, along with Senior Constable Foster’s
The couple bonded over their mutual love of adventuring and regularly went camping, hiking and on mountain bike rides throughout Australia
Senior Constable Kelly Foster (left) drowned while trying to save an international student who became stuck in raging waters in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, on Saturday. Senior Constable Foster had trekked to the picturesque spot with her boyfriend Gavin Morom (right)
Mr Morom (right) had posted about his trek with Senior Constable Foster (left) on adventurers social media app Strava on Saturday. The policewoman only recently returned to the job after overcoming breast cancer
Gavin & Kelly – Cedar Creek
Emergency services rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised about 2.30pm on Saturday, but poor weather conditions meant a search had to be called off about 6pm. When it resumed on Sunday the bodies of the two women were located by NSW Police divers
Eight other members of the group who the international student was with were uninjured
It’s believed both women were canyoning in water only that can only be reached after hours of hiking through rough terrain
Missing canyoners found after sucked into whirlpool in Blue Mountains including NSW police officer
There has been a sad end in the search for two missing canyoners after they were sucked into a whirlpool in regional NSW.
The women had not been seen since disappearing beneath the water’s surface on Saturday in Wollangambe Canyon at Mount Wilson, north of the Blue Mountains.
But on Sunday, police divers joined the search and located two bodies around midday.
Police identified the 39-year-old woman as serving NSW Police officer, Senior Constable Kelly Foster, who has most recently been stationed at Lithgow Police Station.
The other woman is believed to be an international student, aged 24, from Chiswick.
She is yet to be formally identified and police are waiting for confirmation that family members are notified.
Witnesses told police the younger woman fell off her inflatable lilo and it was swept into the whirlpool.
Snr Cst Foster was also swept out when she tried to rescue her.
Port Hacking High School pays tribute to Senior Constable Kelly Foster
The Port Hacking High School community is saddened by the tragic news that former student, NSW Police Senior Constable Kelly Foster, who lost her life in a tragic canyoning accident over the weekend.
Senior Constable Foster, 39, died following a canyoning incident at Mount Wilson on Saturday.
“Kelly graduated in 1999 and according to her peers was very smart, kind, had an easy going nature and always put others before herself,” a statement on the Port Hacking High School Facebook site said today.
“We send our deepest condolences to Kelly’s family and friends at this time.”
Not all names come up in the 1968 ‘ Stud Book ‘ Inscription: Traffic cyclists L – R: Jack ” Happy Jack ” AGNEW ( NSWPF # ??? ), Col ” Smoothie ” COGLE, Joe Dainer, Max ” Slobber ” Robertson, Harry ” Bren ” BRENNAN ( NSWPF # 6424 ), John Ackroyd, Charlie Spicer ( NSWPF # 7263? ), Dino Tallon, Brian ‘ Boofa ” Skyes and Wally ” Sockeye ” Salmon. Names are from an article in an old Retired Police Journal by Harry BRENNAN, which featured the photo. I am guessing mid 60’s, leather caps have given way to black helmets and BMW’s instead of the earlier Triumphs. Looks like Centennial Park – possibly on delivery of the BMW’s??? https://www.flickr.com/photos/nswpoliceforce/5599527423/in/photostream/
Monaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862 – 1931),
Monday 2 January 1922, page 2
FATALITY AT NUMERALLA.
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
On Wednesday last an inquest was held by Mr John Gale, coroner ( Queanbeyan ), touching the death of Edward Patrick Agnew, son of Mr Adam John Agnew, grazier, of Numeralla.
The enquiry took place at Kuttamurra, Numeralla, the residence of Mr A. B. Agnew, brother of the deceased, when the following evidence was adduced : —
Adam Bede Agnew, farmer, and grazier, brother of deceased, deposed that about 4.30 p.m. on Monday, 26th. December, deceased was at his residence, Kuttamurra, Numeralla, and left to go to his father’s house where he lived.
Deceased was 15 years 9 months old ; he was riding a quiet horse, and was a good horseman.
About a quarter of an hour after he left witness’ residence, he being in the company of Gordon McDonald; witness noticed the latter galloping back.
McDonald said ” Neddy has got a fall. ”
Witness went along the road and saw McDonald and Stanley Norris carrying deceased in the direction of the residence of witness, who sent for Mr Godfrey, a teacher, of Numeralla, who held a first aid certificate.
The latter advised sending for a doctor ; deceased was unconscious, and witness noticed that blood was coming from his right ear.
Dr Utber came from Cooma, arriving about 6.30, and upon examination said it was practically a hopeless case.
Constable Foster arrived before the doctor came.
Deceased lingered until 12.40 p.m. on Tuesday, 27th December, when he died without recovering consciousness ; he had no property, and his life was not insured.
Gordon McDonald, labourer, deposed that he was riding along the road with deceased to his home on 26th December; they cantered along as far as the crossing, and steadied their horses to go into the creek.
Witness got out of the creek ahead of deceased, and cantered up to open a gate about 200 yards further. On reaching the gate he pulled his horse up and was going to dismount when he saw the deceased’s horse galloping up alongside his ( witness’ ) horse.
He then saw deceased lying in the middle of the road about 50 yards from the creek, and rode back and found him lying on his right side ; blood was issuing from his right ear, and he was unconscious.
Witness lifted him up and loosened his shirt, and at that time deceased’s sister came along in a buggy.
He left and went home for assistance, and Norris and a brother of deceased came back with witness to where deceased was, and brought him along, when the last witness rendered further assistance.
In reply to the police, witness said he noticed mud on the side of the horse and saddle when the horse came up to him, and the near stirrup was hanging over the side of the saddle. The off side and hip of the horse were scratched as if it had fallen.
Stanley Norris, labourer, residing at Dangelong Station, deposed that about 5 p.m. Gordon McDonald asked him to come for a ride, and informed him that deceased had got a fall.
They went to the place and found that deceased was unconscious and bleeding from the right ear.
John Joseph Agnew, a probationary constable, residing at the Central Police Barracks, Sydney, deposed that he was on furlough, staying with his father.
Deceased was his brother. Witness came to Numeralla at 11 o’clock on 27th December. He noticed on the road that an unshod horse had slipped on the hard road, and from the marks he knew that the horse had fallen on the off side. Replying to the police, witness said he did not notice any stones where the horse had fallen ; it was about 50 yards from the creek.
Constable T. J. Foster, of Cooma, deposed that on 26th December he was on duty at Numeralla, and at about 6 p.m. heard that a boy had fallen from his horse.
He went to his house and saw that blood was coming from the deceased’s right ear, and noticed a bruise and contused wound behind that ear.
Heavy rain set in about two o’clock that afternoon, and continued up to the time the accident happened, which made the roads in a very bad and slippery condition.
Witness held a First Aid certificate.
All that was possible was done for the deceased, and the doctor was sent for.
Deceased was a bright, intelligent, youth and a good horseman.
Dr F. L. Utber, of Cooma, deposed that he was called to see the deceased at about 6 p.m. on 26th December, and found him suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull; he was unconscious, and in a critical condition.
Deceased also had a cut on the leg ; he died next day.
Witness went out to Numeralla with the intention of bringing him into Cooma, but found him too bad to be removed.
The cause of death was fracture of the skull, which could have been produced by a fall and the head striking the ground.
The Coroner found that death was due to fracture of the skull accidentally caused by a fall from a horse.
The hearing was continued at the Wagga Circuit Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Campbell, of the charge against Edwin Stanley Palmer and Ernest Victor Smith of feloniously wounding Alexander Skinner at Mirrool , on July 19, with intent to murder him.
Accused were represented by Mr. L. C. Badham, of Sydney ( instructed by Mr. Taylor, of Cootamundra ), and Mr. Norman McGhie presented for the Crown.
Corroborative evidence of the police investigation was given by Constable Bottrell, of Ariah Park, who stated also that on the day of the shoot, he saw the accused in their car at Ariah Park, and they asked him if the paymaster would be along that day. He replied that he did not think so. When he was making his investigations, later, he saw a car, in which was Mr. Harbey, and about three others. One of the party the party had a gun with him. There were also four distinct car tracks around the tree. When he was speaking to the accused at Ariah Park he did not notice what they were wearing.
Constable J. J. Agnew, stationed at Ardlethan, related a conversation that he had with Palmer, while travelling from Goulburn by train. He said that Palmer told him he had been committed for trial in connection with the Mirrool “hold-up,” and that Smith (the other accused) had forced him to make a statement, but that he wanted to alter the part in which he said that Smith did not get out of the car.
In answer to Mr. Badham the Constable denied that he started the conversation, and that be said to Palmer ” Didn’t Smith get out of the car and run? ”
Jessie McEvoy who provided accused with their meals at her home, related a conversation she had with Palmer, in which he asked her who came out in the pay car. She answered that the pay clerk usually brought the money, and she wondered why he had no police escort. She had known both accused for several years, and she had found both very decent.
A salesman in a store at Ariah Park, James A. Nicholson, stated that on the day of the shooting Smith entered the store, and asked for smokeless cartridges, but, as there where none in stock, he left the shop without making any purchase.
Under cross-examination by Mr. Badham, witness said that he had no particular reason for remembering the day, or Smith and his request, excepting that the shot he asked for was unusually large.
Henry Pringleberry, a laborer, of Ariah Park said that on July 19, he saw the accused drive along the street. Smith left the car and walked along the street. Witness and Palmer spoke together for a few minutes, and Palmer asked him if that day was pay day, to which he replied “Yes.” Later saw the accused in a billiard saloon.
Sergeant Stewart, recalled, said in connection with the finding of a muddy pair of boots in the accuseds’ tent admitted that another pair of boots was also found in the camp and were subsequently claimed by Smith, but when found, they were perfectly dry, and bore no signs mud.
THE DEFENCE
A. Player, a hairdresser at Ardlethan, told how he had taken part in the ” line up ” for identification at the local police station, and how Skinner had made the mistake of identifying him as the man that had been seen climbing through the fence after the shooting.
Both of the accused elected to give evidence.
Palmer said he was a motor mechanic and let his car for hire. On July 18, Smith paid him £1 to drive him to Mr Pearson‘s residence, 16 miles north of Mirrool, where they stopped for the night. The following morning they get out on the return trip, but ran out of benzine, so they borrowed a tin from a man named Prentice, who lives along the road, and on their arrival at Ariah Park he purchased two tins of petrol, one of which he sent back to Prentice, and the other he placed in the tonneau of his car, and at 20 minutes to 1 o’clock he left Ariah Park and drove straight to Mirrool, arriving there about 40 minutes later. He drove to Mr Moon’s office, where Smith left him. He went and saw Mr Moon, and left the car standing in the street. At about half-past 3 o’clock he drove the car to his tent, and shortly afterwards Constable Smede arrived. In the meantime, he had been told of the shooting. There was no gun in the car, although there were a number of cartridges in the back seat that he used for fox shooting. The gun had been wrapped tip in a cloth under the bed for about a week, and prior to that it has been at Mrs McEvoy’s. With reference to Constable Agnew’s account of the conversation in the train, Palmer stated that the constable began the conversation and said ” You were a d*** fool not to give Smith away, and clear yourself, by saying that Smith got out of the car. ” To this he replied, ” I’ve made a statement and I don’t want to make another. ”
Smiths statement from the witness box corroborated what Palmer, had said of their movements on the day of the shooting and a searching cross – examination from the Crown Prosecutor failed to elict any new facts.
Counsel having addressed the jury, and, the Judge, retired summed up the evidence, the jury retired shortly after 6 o’clock.
Two hours later the jury returned, and had their minds refreshed on several points of the evidence, but at 10 o’clock they had not come to any agreement, and were locked up for the night.
The Court will sit again at 10 o’clock this morning.
PAYMASTER PEPPERED WITH PELLETS ACCUSED WRAPPED IN A DAMNING LEGAL WEB, AND CONVICTED
They were as mild-mannered and nerveless a brace of bandits as ever faced any minimal tribunal when they faced his Honor Mr. Justice Ralston and a jury at the Central Criminal Court at Darlinghurst last Monday — Edwin Stanley Palmer and Ernest Victor Smith. Both were young men on the threshold of their prime. Palmer is a motor mechanic, aged 26, and Smith, a labourer, a year younger. They were charged that at Mirroul, on July 1922, they did maliciously wound Charles Alexander Skinner, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
The Senior Crown Prosecutor ( Mr. W. T. Coyle, K.C. ) instructed by Mr. John Gonsalves, of the Crown Law Department, conducted the Crown case. The accused were defended by Mr. Moller ( instructed by Messrs. Clayton and Utz ), counsel for the defence having been assigned by the Crown. Both the accused pleaded not guilty. Before a jury was empanelled 10 jurors had been challenged by one or other of the accused.
The accused had been tried before Mr. Justice Campbell at the Wagga sittings of the Supreme Court on October 13, but on that occasion the jury had been unable to agree upon a verdict. Hence the second trial with a change of venue.
Dr. Cecil Findlay, Government Officer at Temora deposed to having examined Charles Alexander Skinner at Temora on July 19. He found sundry gun shot near the left eye, where the shot was still imbedded. In fact none of the pellets had been extracted. Skinner’s injuries could have been caused by the pellets from the cartridge he was now shown. Skinner’s wounds were both immediately and remotely dangerous, but the vision of the eye had not been impaired.
Charles Alexander Skinner, a tall and swarthy young man, said he was Inspector of Construction Works of Government Silos. He lived at Temora, and in that district Government silos were in course of erection. He left Temora on the forenoon on July 19, with a Mr. Leifermann. They went to Ariah Park and had in the car a bag containing some £3000 in notes.
They travelled in a single-seater Ford car and the roads were in a terrible state, so that he had chains on the back wheels. At Ariah Park, Leifermann paid one man in witness’s presence. Then Leifermann and the man went to an hotel — to get the receipt signed. ( Laughter. ) The paying of this man took some five minutes. Witness stood guard by the car. When Leifermann rejoined the car they proceeded. During the wait, witness noticed a car standing near by. He noticed the number of this car — ‘ H-91 ‘ — and his attention was further attracted by the fact that the car carried no chains. Witness did not notice anyone in this car. Witness and his friend left immediately after this car and there was no other car in front of them. Considering the state of the roads, the car ahead was making fast progress. From Ariah Park to Mirrool by road was about 11 miles. Witness from time to time noticed this car ahead. On one occasion witness stopped to clean the screen. This was at a bend in the road. From the top of a slight rise witness saw this same car, stationary, about a quarter of a mile, ahead. Witness in his car proceeded down the intervening dip. Suddenly a shot was fired, apparently from behind a tree some 40 feet ahead. The windscreen of witness’s car was shattered to fragments and witness felt a terrific blow in the face. His face was freely punctured with pellets, the wounds bleeding freely. Witness’s hat and his collar were also plenteously peppered with pellets.
The hat was produced in court and its condition abundantly verified the story just told by the witness. So did the witness’s coat and macintosh which also were produced. These articles were closely and critically examined by the jury. The macintosh showed punctures through the collar.
The witness said that he felt the blow on the right side of the face. The tree stood on the left side of the main road to Mirrool. The main traffic divided at the tree, part going to the left and part to the right, the roads joining up again later on. Leifermann had a revolver and jumped out of the car, from behind the cover of the car covering the tree from which the shot had been fired. Witness also sheltered behind the car and saw a man running from behind the tree. That man was carrying a shot gun and was dressed in a military tunic, khaki trousers and a cap. The trousers and tunic those worn by this fugitive man. The man clambered on to a fence, giving witness a good view of him. As he mounted the fence the fugitive looked back, giving witness a full view of his profile. Witness had no doubt that that man was the accused Smith, now seated in the dock. The wind-screen of hie car, though it was of substantial plate-glass, was shattered to Fragments.
Witness saw Smith on the fence, but did not see him get over the fence. Witness returned to the car while Leifermann covered the tree with his revolver. Having recovered the bag of money, witness and Leifermann went across country till they struck the railway line, abandoning the car where it was. On the railway line a train picked them up and they returned to Ariah Park where witness made a complaint to Constable Smede. Witness had previously seen the accused Palmer about the works and might have seen the other accused also. On two previous witness had taken the pay out to the works. On the following Wednesday witness was called to pick the accused Smith out of a line of men. At first he made a mistake, indicating the wrong man. But the mistake was promptly rectified.
Augustus Frederick Leifermann, a young man, wearing a returned soldier’s badge, and who had been in the company of the preceding witness during that eventful motor car drive, in the main corroborated the evidence given by Skinner. He added that after the shot had been fired, and be and Skinner had left the car, he heard the distinct click of a gun hammer. He did not see any man running from behind the tree. In Quest of cartridges.
James Nicholson, grocer, at Ariah Park, said that on July 19 the accused Smith called at the general store at which witness was employed and asked for No. 1 Remington cartridges. There were none in stock. When Eley’s black powder cartridges were suggested, smith said that these were no good for duck shooting.
Jessie McEvoy, living with her husband at Mirrool, said the two accused had their meals at her place, but slept at their own camp. She remembered these men being arrested. On the morning before they both came to her place. After breakfast they told her they were going out to Mr. Pearson’s place, some distance out of Mirrool. Smith borrowed her husband’s overcoat and then took a box out of a bag that was hanging in the kitchen. It was a small cardboard box about the size of one she was now shown. The gun she was now shown had been at her place for some time. She had thought it was Stan Palmer’s gun. About a week before their arrest Smith took the gun away from her place.
Smede Finds Tracks.
Constable. G. T. Smede. stationed at Ariah Park, deposed that he had followed boot tracks from the scene of the alleged shooting. The footprints were in his opinion those of a man running.
Alleged Damning Admission.
Constable John Joseph Agnew. of Ardlethan, said that on August 10 he was on escort duty to Goulburn. He saw the accused Palmer on the railway platform there, who told him that he was under committal for trial for what he called ” the Mirrool Hold-up “. Palmer said that when he said in his statement to the police that Smith had not left the car that day, he had said what was incorrect. Smith had left the car and picked it up about a quarter of a mile further on. Witness had not known Palmer before this conversation.
The Defence — A General Denial.
Giving evidence on oath the accused, Palmer, gave a general denial of the allegations against him. There was no gun with them in the car at any time during that drive, and Smith never at any time during the journey left the car. He had not known Skinner prior to those charges. It was true that the car was driven to Moon’s office on their return and then to their camp. It was then that a man named Williams informed them of the sticking-up of Skinner along the Ariah Park-road. Witness remarked, ” I saw no one along the road, and I’ve just come back ‘. Then someone remarked, ” I suppose some of the police will be here soon, asking questions “. He could not say who said that. Just then Constable Smede arrived and inquired for the gun. Witness had obtained the gun from Mrs. McEvoy on the preceding Saturday and had cleaned it and put it away. The gun was got out of the car and handed to Smede. When he left Ariah Park he was under the impression that there would be no pay that day. Neither the boots he was now shown nor the khaki trousers were his. He had not known Leifermann till a few days before the police court hearing. After the police court proceedings witness was taken to Goulburn Gaol where he was for 22 days. The Governor of the Gaol refused him facilities for writing. That was why he was so long in getting bail. Witness denied the conversation in the train as detailed by Constable Agnew. It was Agnew who suggested that witness should amend his statement, saying that Smith had got out of the car. Witness refused to either amend his previous statement or to make another one. He had never been in trouble before and held himself forward as a man of good character. He had been married in June last.
The accused Smith also gave evidence on oath. His story, in the main, coincided with that told by Palmer.
” Guilty “
In his address to the jury, Mr. Moller asked them to find that the direct evidence brought forward by the Crown was not sufficient to justify them in convicting the two accused. Skinner was the only witness who proffered any direct evidence, and, under the circumstances, it was very probable that he was mistaken.
The conclusion of the trial was not reached till late on Tuesday. It was not till 8pm that the jury returned with a verdict. They found the accused both guilty, but strongly recommended them to mercy because of their youth.
On Thursday Mr. Justice Ralston intimated that he would hot pass sentence until tomorrow ( Monday, the 11th inst.).
A collision in Sloane-street, Goulburn, involving a motor car driven by Bert Stinson, of Roslyn, and a Sulky, in which was William Taylor, an aged man, also of Roslyn, had a sequel in the Goulburn District Court on Wednesday morning, when Judge Bevan heard a claim by Taylor for £150 damages His Honor awarded £125.
Mr. P. J. Meyer appeared for plaintiff. Stinson did not appear.
Plaintiff said he assisted his son in a dairy business at Gundary, and at 3.30 on the morning of June 26 he was proceeding to Gundary in a sulky via Sloane-street. Witness was driving in a southerly direction, and when about 20 yards from the intersection of Sloane-street and Market-street a motor car came towards the sulky from the latter street.
The car made a bee-line for the sulky, and although witness shouted a warning four times the car came towards him, gaining impetus at every yard. Despite the fact that witness drew his sulky on to the footpath to avoid the car, a collision occurred.
The car hit the sulky with considerable force, overturning it, and also the horse. Witness was pinned beneath the seat of the sulky.
Without alighting, the car driver placed his machine in reverse gear and drove out backwards, dragging with him the horse and wreckage of the sulky.
On becoming freed from the wreckage the car driver kept in reverse until Clifford-street was reached and then turned and made off.
Witness was in the act of crawling from the wreckage when Constable Agnew arrived on the scene and lent his assistance.
Plaintiff said he had been receiving medical attention since the accident, and had not been able to follow his usual employment owing to his injuries. The horse had been stone blind for two weeks following the collision and was still blind in one eye.
The damage done to the sulky and harness amounted to £23. He added that through the efforts of the police he ascertained that the driver of the car was Bert Stinson. He had seen Stinson before issuing the writ for damages and had been prepared to negotiate on reasonable terms. Stinson, however, had offered to defray the costs of the damage to the sulky only.
Constable J. J. Agnew said he was drawn to Sloan Street by the noise of a collision and on arriving on the scene saw Stinson’s car in Sloane street in reverse gear.
On that night Stinson approached witness in the street and admitted he had been involved in the collision.
WOULD SQUARE IT.
Stinson said: “If you let your part of it drop I’lI squaare it up with Taylor. ” Witness, however, reported the matter and proceedings were taken.
Dr. A. P. Gillespie gave evidence of Taylor’s injuries. He said Taylor was 62 years of age and would never be in the same state of health as he had been prior to the collision.
Counsel for plaintiff, in addressing his Honor, said the amount claimed was in no way commensurate with the injuries Taylor had sustained.
In returning a verdict for £125, Judge Bevan declared that no sum would recompense Taylor for the injury to his health.
” I would not undergo an accident like that for £1000,” his Honor added.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),
Friday 1 October 1926
(No.129), page 4068
The undermentioned members of the Police Force to exercise, within the Licensing Districts preceding their names, the authority conferred by section 63, subsection 1 of the Liquor Act, 1912, from the dates specified,
viz.:—
Gulgong— Constable John Charles Logan, stationed at Leadville,— from 21st August, 1926.
Bombala — Constable John Joseph Agnew, stationed at Bombala,— from 26th August, 1926.
Picton— Constable John Stewart, stationed at Picton,- from 1st September, 1926.
Wyalong —Constable Allen George McCauley Prangley, stationed at Barmedman, — from 1st October, 1926.
Queanbeyan — Constable Robert Shaw, stationed at Queanbeyan, — from 23rd August 1926.
Picton — Constable John Hamilton, stationed at The Oaks, — from 13th August, 1926.
Bathurst — Constable Ernest Randall, stationed at O’Connell, — from 17th August, 1926.
Monaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862 – 1931),
Monday 8 April 1929, page 2
The Bombala Car Fatality
CONCLUSION OF INQUEST.
An Inquest touching the death of Boris Auastanoff, a Greek, 23 years of age, which followed injuries received while riding on a motor car which came into collision with an electric wire police at Bombala on 28th March, was opened by the Coroner of the Cooma District, Mr. H. H. Solomon, at the Bombala Hospital on 29th ult., and adjourned till Saturday last for the production of evidence. The enquiry was held at the Bombala Court House, and was attended by numbers of residents of that centre. The driver of the car, Edward Patrick Elliott, was represented by Mr. F. C. Boys, solicitor of Bombala, and lengthy evidence was given. The decease was one of a party of men engaged on work on the Mt. Darragh road, and who were being conveyed to the Bombala railway station at the time of the accident.
Chris Doney deposed that decease was a native of Kobomnsky, Greece, and was married, his wife and one child living in that county. Witness believed that deceased had some cousins living at Cowra, one being name Bire Peters, a farm labourer.
Mr. Nicholas Condoleon acted as interpretor during the evidence of the first witness, as above, given at the hospital, Saturday’s evidence included the following:
Constable John J. Agnew deposed that about 1.50 p.m.’ on 28th ult. he visited the spot which the collision occurred and saw an electric light pole lying across the bonnet of the car. Deceased’s left leg was almost severed at the knee, the right leg being broken, in two or three places ; there were wounds on the right cheek and left eye. Elliott the driver had a wound on the cheek and jaw. The pole, which was 9 inches in diameter, was broken off. Tracks of the car indicated that it was travelling on the wrong side of the road. The driver was, very much shaken,, his breath smelt strongly of alcohol, he was not under the influence of liquor. Of two other men in the car he noticed one really, drunk and the other stupid. The driver said the tyre blew out and deceased was riding on the foot board and grasped his right arm and pulled the wheel towards the post. The tracks indicated that the car skidded out and did not indicate any sudden turning to the right. The pole was practically new and sound and was broken off about 2 feet from the ground.
Clarence Harold Dunn, labourer, deposed that he, W. Dick, C. Purves, H. and C. Gerathy were on the car. Witness heard an explosion like a blow-out and the car skidded. It was bout 25 miles from Mt. Durragh to Bombala. He did not know deceased was on the foot board. The only thing witness remembered was the tyre blowing out. The car was going about 15 miles an hours ; witness was thrown out and cut on the face.
William Dick, labourer, stated that the driver seemed to be struggling to right the car and the crash came. There was no one in the car the worse for liquor. He did not see deceased till the accident occurred. The car was going at a medium speed, about 20 miles an hour. The driver Elliott was sober.
Leonard E. Elton, farmer, of Bombala, deposed that he was riding along the street and heard a crash and saw the pole falling, and went across and saw a man lying down at the butt of the pole. He went for assistance ; the car did not seem to be travelling very fast. One of the men was under the influence of drink ; Elliott appeared to be sober.
Dr. Jefferies deposed to being called to the scene of the accident. Be saw deceased lying on the floor of the car, he was conscious and was bleeding from a cut on the right side of the mouth ; his left leg was horribly mangled, the knee was laid right open and three inches of the lower end or the hip bone was hanging. The lower leg was badly mutilated and the bone laid bare and projecting through the skin about 6 inches. The right leg was broken above and below the knee. The left leg was amputated as soon as possible. The lower jaw was broken in two places. The man died about 6 o’clock that evening. His idea was that the car must have been driven more than 15 miles an hour. What the deceased said was ” He breaka da legs. ” Witness attended to the injuries of the other men ; only one showed signs of drink. Elliott, the driver, in his opinion, was not under the influence of drink at all. Elliott told witness the deceased jumped on the running beard of the car and said ” I will hang on here Ted, ” and he tried to make the man get off as it was risky. Elliott said he was turning the corner round past the freezing works and one of the front tyres blew out and at the same time deceased grabbed his arm and prevented him from straightening up from the skid following the blow out. That conversation took place at the hospital, the details were given in quite a rational way.
Charles Edward Bruce, farmer, of Bombala, said he was in Maybe Street and saw a car going towards the Council Chambers. Just then another man was coming behind the car and called out and wanted to get in the car. The driver did not hear him and kept on travelling. Witness knew nothing further about the matter.
William Dorl, farmer of Ando, deposed that he saw the car pick up two passengers L. and C. Gerathy, and saw a man sitting on the luggage on the foot board. The car went round Vider’s corner at an ordinary pace. The occupants did not seem in any way drunk in his opinion.
Charles E. Gerathy, labourer, said he was not sober when he got in the car after getting out to go to the railway station. He remembered starting for the train. He just remembered a smash and that was all. He was not drunk at the time of the smash ; he was merry, that was all ; he was about ” half shot. ”
Patrick Edward ELLIOTT, the driver, said deceased was coming from the Imperial Hotel and asked him if he could take him to the train, and he replied ” No. “. Deceased came round and stood on the driving side of the car. When be came to the turn the car swerved to the right and deceased caught hold of witness’s right arm, which interfered with his steering. That was all he could remember till he was being taken to the Hospital. He told Constable Agnew he had a blow out. He had had two lagers, two English stouts and a Sarto that day. He was on the right hand side of the road ; the ruts were a bit bad on the left side. He had 5 passengers and deceased on the outside board ; he was not under the influence of liquor. He was driving 25 miles an hour along the street, and round the bend he eased off to 20 miles, he did not let the wheel go.
Two other witnesses, Aaron Williams, and William Henry Harrison also gave evidence. The former said Elliott was sober, and the latter that the car was not travelling at more than the ordinary pace.
The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries through violently striking an electric wire-line post while riding on the board of a motor car.
A fire broke out soon after 8 o’clock last night at the residence of Mr. David Payne, when a large weatherboard dining-room, kitchen, laundry, and bathroom were destroyed.
The police, under Constable J. Agnew, contributed in a great measure to saving the greater
portion of the premises. The origin of the fire is unknown, as all the occupiers were at church. The premises were insured for only a small sum.
First-class Constable J. J. Agnew, who has been stationed at Bombala for more than seven years, has received notice of his transfer and promotion to Sydney.
He is succeeded by First-Class Constable Sturgess, of Harden.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),
Thursday 6 April 1939
(No.55), page 2025
THE undermentioned members of the Police Force to exercise, within the Licensing Districts preceding their names, the authority conferred by section 63, subsection 1, of the Liquor Act, 1912, from the 1st April, 1939,
Metropolitan — Constable Arthur Edward Ward, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan — Constable John Joseph Agnew, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan — Constable Charles Oscar Robinson, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Victor Raymond Woodland, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Rex William Hamilton, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Harold Leslie Clugston, stationed at No. 3 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Henry Percy Lewis, stationed at No. 3 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Ernest Walter Williamson, stationed at No. 3 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable William Linden Roberts, stationed- at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Eric Richard King, stationed at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Thomas Earl Matthew Carney, stationed at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Joseph Andrew Reed, stationed at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable William Charles Davies, stationed at No. 5 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable George Henry Schmidt, stationed at No. 5 Police Station.
Metropolitan-—Constable John Herbert Lanaghan, stationed at No. 5 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Thomas John Fitzgerald, stationed at No, 6 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Daniel Lynch, stationed at No. 6 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Reginald James Hill, stationed at No. 6 Police Station,.
South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), Thursday 6 March 1952, page 30
BOOKMAKER AND BUS DRIVER
” I said, What are you going to do about the accident? and he replied, What are you going to do?. So I reported it to the police. ”
The speaker was registered bookmaker Selwyn Allan McFAWN, of 72 Market St, Wollongong, and he was telling the Wollongong Court on Tuesday the story of a collision between his car and a bus in Church Street on 5th October.
Allan Claude McDONAGH, of 39 Wallace Road, Fern Hill, had been charged with negligent driving, but he did not come to court.
McFawn said he was driving his car up Church Street when a double-decker bus approached in the opposite direction. It came from behind a car and across the road at him. Witness’ car was struck on the mudguard, the impact being about five feet from the centre line on the bus’ incorrect side of the road.
He approached the driver of the bus and the above related dialogue ensued.
Constable J. Agnew said that McDonagh told him he had swung a bit wide to avoid two parked cars, and he thought one was about to pull out from the kerb. He saw McFawn‘s car swing to the left, but he ( McDonagh ) struck it before he had a chance.
Mr. Acting Justice Myers, in the Supreme Court yesterday, granted bail in £1,000 to Arthur Thomas, who was arrested on Saturday and charged with murdering Thomas Alfred Barber, a former champion boxer, and maliciously wounding Harry Thomas at Kimberley Avenue, Lane Cove.
Mr. J. E. Cassidy, Q.C., for the accused, said that Thomas had been refused bail at Central Court of Petty Sessions and remanded to August 5.
The accused, he said, was 68 and was not in good health. He was prepared to undertake not to return to his home if granted bail. His brother, Harry Thomas, of Harbord, a man of good character and substance, was prepared to give him accommodation pending the coroner’s inquiry, and would keep him under supervision.
Barber was killed, Mr. Cassidy said, during an altercation between the two sons of the accused when the accused intervened.
Mr. Cassidy said that there had been a dispute over a partnership and a lorry.
POLICE AFFIDAVIT
Sergeant John Joseph Agnew, in an affidavit, said he knew the accused and arrested him on July 11. Harry Thomas also lived in Kimberley Avenue, Lane Cove.
Thomas was known to him as a man of violent temper which was particularly directed against his son, Harry Thomas.
When he told Thomas that Barber was dead, the accused said, “I hope the other big cur dies too.”
Sergeant Agnew said that he feared that if Thomas was allowed bail he would attempt to interfere with Crown witnesses.
Mr. Acting Justice Myers allowed bail on the murder charge and released Thomas in his own recognisance on the charge of malicious wounding.
He also ordered Thomas to report twice daily to Manly police.
Mr. J. E. Cassidy, Q.C. ( by Mr. F. R. Anderson ) for applicant; Mr. D. J. Vine Hall for the Crown.
The Premier (Mr. Cahill ) announced yesterday that the Governor-in-Council had approved of four police promotions.
Inspectors Third Class James MacKay and William Leslie Jefferson would be promoted to Inspectors Second Class, he said. Sergeants First – Class Joseph Wardley and John Joseph Agnew would be Inspectors Third Class.
( 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: Murphy Family Funerals, Nowra, NSW 02 44230722
My deepest, deepest condolences mate on your loss – not only once, but twice now.
Stand strong and stand with family.
With utmost respect my old collegue.
Greg ‘Cal’ Callander
16 November 2020
John Wallace HITCHCOCK
| 20/04/2021
John Wallace HITCHCOCK
AKA Hitchy
Late of Dapto, NSW
Mrs Nancye Hitchcock ( nee Nancye HOURIGAN ) – believed to have really been melancholy about the loss of her long time husband, John, passed away, peacefully in her sleep, on the morning of 8 September 2020, aged 86 – five days after Johns Funeral.
NSW Police Training College – Penrith Class # 017 – 030
NSW Police Cadet # 0848
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 7414
Rank: Commenced Training as Police Cadet on 13 February 1950 ( aged 16 years & 5 months )
Probationary Constable- appointed Saturday 13 September 1952 ( aged 19 years )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )
Senior Constable – appointed 13 September 1963
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 10 August 1968
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 30 September 1976
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 23 April 1980
Final Rank = Senior Sergeant
Stations: ?, Western District ( 1963 ), ?, ‘R’ District ( Newcastle area )( 1969 ), ?, Deniliquin ( Det Sgt ), Wollongong Police Station – GDs ( Sgt 1/c )( 1980s ), Pt Kembla ( Sgt 1/c )( OIC ) – Retirement
Service: From 13 February 1950 to24 September 1988 = 38 years, 6 months, 11 days Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 21 August 1989 ( Former Det SenSgt )
Nothing further found on the Australian Honours system
Born: Wednesday 13 September 1933
Died on: Saturday 29 August 2020
Age: 86 years, 11 months, 17 days
Cause: Dementia – passed in his sleep after it progressed very quickly over the last few weeks
( 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: H. Parsons, Wollongong, NSW 02 4228 9622
Buried at: Both Cremated.
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( August 2020 )
JOHN 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.
WOLLONGONG DISTRICT POLICE RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL TEAM – 1981 REAR: L – R: ALLAN PIRIE, JOHN HITCHCOCK, KEVIN VERDON, BOB LONGUE, BARRY ODMARK, PAT CARNEY, KEITH CALDWELL, GRAHAM THOMPSETT, TERRY O’BRIEN, TONY CHAPLIN, PETER CARTER, KEN JEFFREY, NEIL PARSONS, PHIL RUSSELL, GAL CLEARY (COACH), DON JONES (TRAINER), RON JACKSON, STEVE FROST (SECRETARY) FRONT: L – R: BOB LEWIS, GRAHAM KING, STEVE BYRNES, DAVE ROUTLEDGE, STEVE TIER
WOLLONGONG DISTRICT POLICE RUBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL TEAM – 1980 REAR: L – R: TED BEAVER (TREASURER), JOHN GUEST, JOHN HITCHCOCK (MANAGER), STEVE BYRNES (SECRETARY), BRIAN WYVER, GRAHAM THOMPSETT, DENNIS CLARKE, PETER SKEENE, MAZ HERMANN, KEVIN SHEPSTONE, JOHN MAY, PHIL RUSSELL, BARRY FOORD, KEVIN GOLDSPINK (COACH), BARRIE KEENAHAN. SEATED: L – R: NEIL PARSONS, PAT DUNN, BOB LEWIS, BOB DALBY, BERNIE DOYLE, JOHN GOOD FRONT: L – R: PAT CARNEY, BOB LONGUE, PAUL JONES, DON JONES (TRAINER), TONY CHAPLIN, BARRY ODMARK, IAN MOORE, BRIAN SMITH, LARRY BARBER, KEN JEFFERY
WOLLONGONG DISTRICT POLICE RUBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL TEAM – 1979 REAR: L – R: SERGEANT JOHN HITCHCOCK (MANAGER), STEVE BYRNES (SECRETARY), MAZ HERMANN, PAT DUNN, BRIAN SMITH, PAT CARNEY, DENNIS CLARKE, IAN MOORE, DON JONES (TRAINER) MIDDLE: L – R: ROD HENDERSON, BOB LEWIS, WAYNE COULEY (CAPTAIN – COACH), KEV SHEPSTONE, LARRY BARBER, WADE CHANDLER, JOHN BERNARDI FRONT: L – R: BOB CANTWELL, DAVE ROUTLEDGE, PHIL RUSSELL, GARY THOMPSON, KEN JEFFREY, BOB DALBY, SERGEANT FRANK GROGAN (CLUB PRESIDENT)
Despite the extremely short notice, I am extremely proud of the members of Lake Illawarra Police for arranging a Police Guard of Honour, for such a great man, at the conclusion of his funeral. Cal.
Service History
Louise Ann SCOYNE
| 20/04/2021
Louise Ann SCOYNE ( Vandergraaf )
Wife to Retirement NSWPF member Mark Vandergraaf # 20835 ( Mounted Unit )
AKA ?
Late of Engadine, NSW
Second Police woman into the GP ( General Purpose ) Dog Squad
NSW Goulburn Police Academy Class # 231
New South Wales Police Force
ProCst. # 99295
Regd. # 24597
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Academy on ? ? ?
Probationary Constable- appointed 11 December 1987 ( aged 21 years, 6 months, 2 days )
Constable – appointed 11 December 1988
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank = Sergeant
Stations: ?, Second Police woman into the GP ( General Purpose ) Dog Squad, Botany Bay GDs & Part time OSG ( Operational Support Group ), Botany Bay EDO ( Educational Development Officer ( Sgt ) – Retirement 7 September 2007
Service: From? ? pre December 1987? to7 September 2007 ( HOD ) = 19+ years Service
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours
Born: Thursday 9 June 1966
Died on: Saturday 22 August 2020
Age: 54 years, 2 months, 13 days
Cause: Cancer – Lung ( diagnosed only 3 months earlier )
Event location: ?
Event date: ?
Funeral date: Thursday 27 August 2020 @ 10am
Funeral location: St John Bosco Church, 46 Waratah Rd, Engadine, NSW
Unless already registered with the funeral home, friends and former colleagues are unable to attend as the family have reached their 100 attendee limit
FUNERAL SERVICE WAS LIVE STREAMED – AT THE TIME & Directly by the family as the Church does NOT have these facilities.
( 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: ? ( Woronora Cemetery ? )
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( August 2020 )
LOUISE 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.
Deepest condolences to Mark, their 3 boys and other friends and family.
Louise competed in the Female Hockey ‘United Team’ for the ANZ Australasian & Emergency Police Games. She also played in the Mixed Hockey, Indoor Rowing, Indoor Rowing ‘Mixed’, Indoor Rowing ‘Pairs’ & Indoor Rowing ‘Individual’.
She also competed in Surf Life Saving Masters 2003 Carnival in the 35 – 39 Female Ironwoman where she placed 3rd in the Final round.
She also competed in Surf Life Saving Masters 2005 Carnival in the 35 – 39 Female Ironwoman where she placed 5th in the Final round.
In 2006 – 2007 Surf Life Saving Season, Louise gained a 3rd place in the 40 – 44 years female Board race for Elouera Club.
At the time of publication, nothing further, than what is above, is known about this woman or her career.
