Motorist. “But I thought it was a 80 zone” Sgt Wanser, “You see, that was your first mistake. You should leave the thinking to the horses, they have bigger heads.” RIP.
Karl was born in Germany and migrated to Australia with his mother and sister.
Married to Gloria Wanser, 4 children, Narelle, mark, Kara, Brendan.
Grandfather and great grandfather to many.
Played soccer for most of his adult life. Enjoyed hunting, swimming and fishing.
Gordon Lawrence CONNOLLY
| 12/10/2019
Gordon Lawrence CONNOLLY
AKA BEAR
Late of ?
NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # “possibly” 088 or 089
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 10152
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 30 October 1961
Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 April 1967 ( lost 6mths Seniority somewhere )
Gordon Connolly, (Bear) was admitted to Blacktown Hospital on the morning of 4 October, 2019, after suffering a heart attack.
On arrival at emergency, his heart stopped & was resuscitated. His condition was serious.
Doctors indicated that he may have suffered some brain damage as a result, and as we know, he had been suffering Dementia for many years.
Condolences to his son Dave and families.
*It is ‘assumed’ that this article refers to Gordon Lawrence CONNOLLY # 10152
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Saturday 20 November 1993, page 11
One arrest before stabbing
SYDNEY: A youth was arrested and charged with assault a few hours before 17-year-old Geoffrey Berrett died at the same under-18s dance at The Hills Centre in Sydney’s north west last weekend, police said yesterday.
The organisers of the Castle Hill dance said they would now require all youths to go through metal detectors to gain entry and video cameras would be installed.
Police and organisers have come under pressure over safety at the dances, with both denying there had been many major incidents at previous dances, held monthly.
But a senior sergeant at Castle Hill police admitted several youths had been charged with assault at the no-alcohol dances, with one charged in an unrelated incident on the night of Geoffrey Berrett‘s alleged murder.
Senior Sergeant Gordon Connolly said several youths had been charged with assault in the past three years, but there had been nothing worse “than a bloodied nose” until last weekend.
Two youths charged with the murder of Geoffrey Berrett will appear on Monday at Westmead Coroners court.
Service: From? ? ?to1 February 1858 = ? years Service
Awards: Victoria Police Star – posthumously awarded on Thursday 1 August 2019
Born: ? ? 1828 – 1829
Died on: Monday 1 February 1858
Age: 29
Cause: Murdered – shot through the right lung – exited out the left lung ( no doubt – standing side on to the bullet )
Event location: White Hills goldfield, near Carisbrook, Victoria
Event date: Monday 1 February 1858 shortly after 1am
Funeral date: Tuesday 2 February 1858
Funeral location: Carisbrook Cemetery, Majorca Rd, Carisbrook, Victoria
Wake location: ?
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: Carisbrook Cemetery, Majorca Rd, Carisbrook, Victoria
Methodist: Section 3, Row 9, Grave 15
Memorial located at: His Victoria Police Star is framed and hanging inside of Maryborough Police Station, Victoria
INSCRIPTION: Sacred to the Memory of Edward Barnett Native of Tallow, County Waterford, Ireland. Late Senior Constable of the Victoria Police. Who was shot dead while gallantly performing his duty in endeavouring to arrest an armed bushranger on the night of the 31 January 1858 on Havelock Diggings. This Tablet is erected by the chief Commissioner of Police, The Officers and Constables of the District as a mark of esteem and respect. “In the midst of life we are in death”
EDWARDIS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
ALMOST hidden by rubbish and weeds, a tombstone which was recently discovered in the Carisbrook cemetery recalls the story of a policeman who lost his life while gallantly pursuing an armed bushranger on the Havelock diggings in 1858.
The grave was found by Constable J. Casey, said residents of the district, who had been clearing the cemetery of weeds.
At the suggestion of police officials, it was decided to have the tombstone and grave renovated.
Half the cost was borne by the Chief Commissioner ( Brigadier-General Blarney ).
The Inscription on the stone had become almost unreadable, but it has been restored by recutting in a marble slab.
It reads as follows:
Sacred to the memory of
EDWARD BARNETT,
native of Tallow, County Waterford, Ireland,
Late Senior-constable of the Victoria police,
Who was shot dead whilst gallantly performing his duty to endeavouring to arrest an armed bushranger on the night of Jan. 31, 1858, on Havelock Diggings.
This tablet is erected by the Chief Commissioner of Police, the Officers and Constables of the district, as a mark of esteem and respect.
In the midst of Life we are in Death.
For official purposes, Senior-constable Brown, of Russell street, obtained the facts of Barnett’s death from newspaper files and police gazettes of 1858.
In those days Havelock went under the strange but pretty name of White Hills.
Thousands of adventurers flocked to the district when gold was discovered, and overnight, it seemed, every kind of crime was being freely committed. Life was cheaper than gold at White Hills.
The “hold-up” which resulted in the death of Senior-constable Barnett occurred early on the morning of February 1, 1858, according to records of the period, although the tombstones fixes the date as January 31.
Charles Lopez and his wife, who conducted the Gumtree Restaurant in a dimly lighted tent, were standing behind their improvised counter, checking the pile of money that had been received during the day.
Notes, silver, and gold-some of it won from the fields around them — had been sorted, and husband and wife were handling the money when three men suddenly rushed into the tent demanding liquor.
Lopez told them to “get out,” but they replied by dragging him into the street. What happened outside in the next few seconds is not known, but two shots were fired in quick succession. Mrs. Lopez ran after her husband, but could see nothing until she stumbled across the body of Senior-constable Barnett, who was then dying.
—————————
A graphic story of the shooting was told to the coroner at the time by Henry Bradley the cook employed at the Gumtree.
He rushed out of the tent to see Lopez chasing three men. As they raced past a store owned by a man named Thomas, one of the men turned and fired, but the shot did not take effect.
Lopez caught up to the armed robber, and in the struggle that followed another shot was fired. Lopez reeled, evidently badly hurt, but in almost his last breath he slashed and stabbed the murderer with a large knife, inflicting terrible injuries, Lopez then fell back dead. The robber turned and ran again, but this time Bradley and Senior-constable Barnett, who had heard the first shot, gained on him rapidly.
Weakened by loss of blood from his knife wounds, the fugitive evidently perceived that escape was impossible. He stopped suddenly in his tracks, and fired what proved to be his last bullet point blank at Barnett, who was then only two yards away. Crying “0 God, I’m shot!” Barnett stumbled forward and dropped dead. He had been shot through the heart.
His last bullet gone, the murderer again tried to escape, but Bradley and some miners eventually captured him. He was taken to the Carisbrook police camp, where he died from the wounds inflicted by Lopez. The murderer’s name was reported to be Joseph Brooks, aged 56 years, a native of America.
The murders had a remarkable sequel, according to facts mentioned in a recent issue of the “Police Journal ( Victoria ).
” Barnett‘s death was deplored by many miners on the Havelock diggings. He bad been a popular and respected officer, and evidently as their own form of vengeance more than 1,500 miners set out to clear the township of “undesirables.”
They were in the mood for lynching.
Their first act was to set alight to a notorious place known as ” The Manchester. ” When nothing but ashes remained of this shanty, the mob marched through the town, and attacked the ” Star and Garter. ” No hand was stayed until the place had been wrecked. Liquor flowed into the street from broken bottles, jars, and barrels; and bonfires were made of the bedding and furniture.
The position of many places in White Hills looked desperate until a rumour of the finding of a wounded man at Tuckwell‘s called the howling mob away on a man hunt.
Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 – 1918),
Tuesday 9 February 1858, page 2
MURDER AT HAVELOCK.
FUNERAL OF THE POLICEMAN.
On Tuesday the remains of Edward Barnett the unfortunate police constable, were interred in the New Cemetery, at Carisbrook.
The body was followed to the grave by Mr. S S Furnell, officer in charge of the district, and Mr. Inspector Hare, of Maryborough, and the whole body of the police stationed at Carisbrook, as well as by several friends of the deceased and gentlemen of the neighbourhood, amongst whom were F Call, Esq., P.M., R. Southee, Esq, Chairman of the Municipality of Carisbrook, and other members of that body.
The burial service was read by Mr. Furnell in a most impressive manner.
The deceased was much respected by the officers and men of the police force for his attention to his duties and general good conduct.
He was constable in charge at Chinaman’s Flat during the rush there, and performed his duties in a most satisfactory manner.
A tombstone, with a suitable inscription will be erected to the memory of the poor fellow.
FUNERAL OF LOPEZ
On Wednesday morning the remains of the unfortunate man Lopez were conveyed to their last resting place.
The melancholy cortege consisted of three vehicles, one or two horsemen, and a few of the diggers on foot.
The body was conveyed from Havelock to the old burying-ground on the Quartz Hill ( now Bristol Hill – 2019 ), Maryborough, where it was interred.
The grave was surrounded by many of the friends of the deceased during the ceremony.
The adjourned inquest on the bodies of Lopez and Constable Barnett, was held at the Charlie Napier Hotel, Havelock Flat, White Hills, on Monday last, when the following evidence was taken : —
Samuel Edwards sworn : Am a blacksmith, residing at the White Hills. On the morning of the 1st inst., about one o’clock, was awakened by a great noise in the street.
Got up and ran in the direction that the other people were running. Got as far as a large tree, when I saw a man running in a stooping position. He got up and ran about 200 yards. I followed him, and got within six feet of him, when he snapped a pistol at me. The pistol did not go off. A policeman named Barnett (now dead), was running after the man Brook, who snapped the pistol at me.
Brook fired and shot the policeman dead. When the policeman received the shot he exclaimed, ” I’m shot to the heart. ”
The spring that he gave when shot knocked the man Brook down. I fell over him. They both fell together. I then took the pistol now produced out of the man Brook’s hand. I identified the man Brook, lying dead at the police camp, as the man who shot Edward Barnett, the policeman.
I heard two shots fired before I came out of my tent, and two afterwards. After Barnett fell on Brook there were no more shots fired. I handed over the pistol to the police. When the man Brook was running he kept his hand on his stomach. Did not see any wound on him.
Constable John McCormick deposed to having seen the bodies brought in to the police camp, and receiving the prisoner and the pistol from the last witness.
Dr. Cooper sworn : Deposed to having made a post mortem examination of the bodies of Lopez and Barnett, assisted by Dr. Dunne.
On the body of Edward Barnett found a gunshot wound two or three inches below the right collar bone. There were no external marks of violence.
On tracing the course of the ball, found it running backwards and to the left side, passing in its course between the first and second ribs, near the junction of the cartilage, through the anterior edge of the superior portion of the right lung, superior portion of the pericardium, perforating the superior vena cava and windpipe, thence through the posterior portion of the superior lobe of the left lung, and passing out of the chest between the fourth and fifth ribs at their angles, perforating the left blade bone about half an inch from the posterior margin.
The bullet now produced I found just beneath the skin. All the other organs were healthy.
The cause of death was the gunshot wound. The bullet exactly fits the pistol produced.
When the deceased Edward Barnett was brought to the police camp he was apparently dead, but gasped twice. I saw the wound in his chest which caused his death.
I also made a post mortem examination of the body of Lopez.
He was brought to the police camp immediately after Edward Barnett, and was quite dead.
I found a gunshot wound about two inches below and to the left of the left nipple. There were no other external marks of violence.
The ball had passed in a direction backwards, through the fifth rib, about an inch and a half from its articulation with the cartilage, through the anterior edge of the left lung, through the left side of the pericardium, then entering the root of the left lung, wounding the left pulmonary artery, and the left bronchial tube, passing out of the chest through the ninth rib, and was found just beneath, the skin, below the inferior angle of the blade-bone.
The bullet is the same size as the one that was found in the body of Edward Barnett.
The cause of death was the gunshot wound.
The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Joseph Brook, now deceased.
The HAVELOCK MURDER.— Joseph Gibson, alias Laycock, alias Yorkey, was charged at the Police Court, on Friday, on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of the storekeeper Lopez and Senior Constable Barnett, at Havelock diggings, on the 1st February last. Detective Hyland proved the arrest of the prisoner at 5 o’clock on the same morning, and stated that he answered the description in the Gazette. Prisoner was remanded to Curisbrook. — Times
Cannot let this day go bye without mentioning the passing of Arthur Douglas CARTAN..99 years of age.
Most, if not all, from this site would not know who “Doug” was. An old Licencing Sergeant who was transferred to Darlinghurst during my early days there and took over the Station Sergeant role from day one. ( Not an easy task by any means).
He was a very straight wire, didn’t take a backward step and endured himself to most everyone at the Station he met.
99 is a real good dig we would all agree but his memory and influence will prevail well beyond his passing…Ask anyone who worked with him.
R.I.P Doug CARTAN.
Family and friends of Doug are invited to attend a thanksgiving celebration to be held at Como Community Church, 48 Bindea St, Como on Saturday, 5th October, 2019 at 11.00am.
Published in St George & Sutherland on Oct. 2, 2019
VALE NX85532 CPL Doug Cartan
Published Thu 03 Oct 2019
Corporal Arthur Doug Cartan NX85532
2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion AIF
9 – 12 – 1920 to 21 – 9 – 2019
Doug Cartan served in the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion 2nd AIF from 24 / 1 / 1942 – 22 / 5 / 1946. His service included all the battles the 2/1st was involved in during the Owen Stanley Campaign (the Kokoda Trail). This includes Templeton’s Crossing, Gorari, Suputa and then on to Sanananda. After the battle at Suputa the strength was 17 Officers and 202 men. The unit strength when entering The Kokoda Trail was 38 Officers and 656 men.
The battalion returned to New Guinea for the Aitape / Wewak Campaign and returned to Australia in November 1945.
Why should this be of interest to members of 1 RAR. The 2/1st Battalion lead the attack on Bardia and then on to Tobruk. They fought in Greece and in Crete defeated the Germans in Retimo. They were proud that they were the FIRST BATTALION and that their Black over Green Colours always led.
Doug was always involved with the Association and for years would lead the 2/1st Battalion in the Sydney ANZAC Day march. We have lost more than just a man. We have lost one of the last fighter warriors this nation has but “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”.
To the 1 RAR men; Be proud of your links to these Diggers. Their Colours are on the ties you wear. They are a part of the history of the 1st Battalions as are you, so whenever you can raise a glass to their memory and to the 1st Battalions.
Janne McMahon: I found this photo going through my old files. It was taken at my Passing Out Parade on 23/6/1969. It shows Adrian Allingham (R.I.P.), Dennis Gilligan, Aldo Lorenzutta (RIP) and Bruce Smith. They all won portable Olivetti typewriters as part of the Transfield trophy for topping the Detectives Course in 1968 & 1969. The little bloke without the hat was from Transfield. Bruce Smith presented his typewriter to the Detective Training Unit in 2010. Their names appear at the top of the honour board.
ADRIAN 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.
Geoff WolseyAdrian Allingham topped my Detectives Course in 1968.
It was the second course held after the old designation exams.
I think John Bourke topped the first one.
Worked with both Aldo ( R.I.P. ) and Bruce Smith.
Played a fair bit of soccer with the Police team with Aldo. He was a good player.
( 2017 )
Shaune EdwardsThroughout my Detectives’ Course we heard of the virtues of Adrian Allingham‘s proficiency in evidence-giving before a jury.
His skills were regularly referred to, and for good reason.
Not sure if that art is still part of being an investigator these days….
( 2017 )
Bob McdWe were always advised to go and watch Adrian and Hanoi give evidence if we got a chance. I missed Adrian but saw Hanoi three times in the one trial at hospital road. He owned the witness box and the jury loved him.
( 2017 )
For three months I was fortunate enough to have Adrian Allingham as a lecturer on my Detectives’ Course in 1979.
He was a brilliant communicator, knowledgeable lecturer and very experienced detective with a great sense of humour.
His prowess as a witness in court was legendary which did not surprise anyone who heard him give such authoritative and interesting lectures on a range of serious crime matters.
I now live in Melbourne and I have only just caught up with the news of Adrian’s passing.
A fine, unforgettable police officer but, more importantly, a really good bloke.
Martin Connolly
Former Detective Senior Constable attached to Wagga Wagga and Tumut Police Stations, NSW.
21 October 2019.
Strathfield Massacre: How Wade Frankum killed seven and injured six before turning gun on himself on August 17, 1991
Ian Walker, DailyTelegraph
IT’S Saturday, August 17, 1991 and a sunny afternoon in Strathfield..
The regular Sydney suburb is brimming with visitors just arrived off the country trains, shoppers and local schoolchildren enjoying their weekend.
The popular Coffee Pot cafe in the plaza is doing a roaring trade. Among the customers is 15-year-old McDonald College student Roberta Armstrong, who is there with a friend.
Sitting next to them in the cafe is a man wearing jeans, a denim jacket, grey beanie – and a stony-faced look. He continually turns round to look at the two young girls, but they dismiss his strange behaviour.
The man is Wade Frankum, a 33-year-old taxi driver from North Strathfield, who is about to drain his fourth coffee before committing mass murder.
At 3.35pm, without warning, he suddenly stands up with one knee on the booth, smiles, and plunges a 20-inch bowie knife four times into Roberta’s back. She screams once and collapses and dies at the table. Her friend runs shrieking to the counter to hide.
Thus began one of the most violent episodes in Sydney’s history, which ends with eight people dead, including Frankum, and a further six injured.
The killings
Leaving the knife in Roberta’s back, Frankum pulls out his rifle hidden in a postpak cylinder and shoots it into the air before setting it on the cafe’s customers.
Joyce Nixon, 61, is shot twice and her daughter Patricia Rowe, 36, is shot in the back, both killed as they desperately put a table between the gunman and Rowe’s children Kevin, 15, and Nathan, 9, who survive.
Cafe owner George Mavris, 51, emerges from the kitchen after hears the commotion and is shot dead.
Sitting on the opposite side of the cafe are Carol Dickinson, 47, her daughter Belinda, 20 and 17-year-old friend Rachelle Milburn.
Rachelle starts moving towards Frankum and is shot in the head.
Sacrificing her own life to save her daughter’s, Carol pushes Belinda behind a pot plant, enabling her to scurry away. As she screams for her daughter’s life, Carol is shot in the chest and killed.
People flee, others freeze. Frankum moves towards Franklins supermarket, swinging his gun around firing from the waist and shoulder.
He shoots Helen Xu in the arm, before hitting another woman in the leg and then killing 53-year-old Robertson Kan Hock Voon as he stands in a chemist.
The killer takes the escalator to the upper level carpark and shoots young couple, Beulah Patrick and Brett Lenane, who survive after crawling away in a pool of their own blood.
Next in his sights are George Sidawy, a cleaner who is shot in the leg, hand, stomach and arm but survive.
Ahead of Frankum is Gregory Read, who having warned people in the carpark about the approaching gunman, is shot in both feet as he dives behind a car.
Bullets keep flying. A number hit a vehicle driven by Margaret Lampe. Luckily, all of them miss her.
Frankum, now on the roof, tries to shoot his way into the adjoining social security department building to gain the high ground as police begin to close in.
When his bullets fail to break the aluminium locks, he puts his gun over the rooftop wall and fires at Strathfield Railway Station and taxi rank. Two passers-by, Yong Wu and Zhao Ou, are wounded before seeking refuge in the station’s tunnel.
Unaware of the unfolding horror, Catherine Noyes drives up to the rooftop where Frankum screams at her to stop. He puts his gun to her cheek through the passenger window and says: “Drive me to Enfield”.
She has gone no further than down a level with the killer when the sound of sirens fill the carpark.
“I’m really sorry, stop,” Frankum says before getting out of the car.
As she drives away, Mrs Noyes sees Frankum kneel and put the rifle to his chin. She looks away and hears him fire the final shot.
Whatever demon had been impelling Frankum deserted him
– Coroner Kevin Waller
In 10 minutes, Frankum has killed seven people, injured six and 50 bullet casings litter the path of his shooting spree.
Coroner Kevin Waller wrote in his report that at this time ‘whatever demon had been impelling Frankum deserted him’.
The gunman
FRANKUM was a sexual deviant who loved violence.
The examination of the 171cm, 90kg killer’s personality and life following the day he snapped painted a bleak picture, but not one that would entirely explain his horrific actions.
Coroner Kevin Waller and forensic psychiatrist Dr Rod Milton both find that Frankum’s killing spree was impossible to predict.
He had no criminal record, showed no signs of violence, visited prostitutes regularly and police found pornography and violent movies, magazines and books, including American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis, in his apartment.
That particular novel, which describes in graphic detail a serial killer’s murders of innocent victims, was said to be “well-thumbed”.
Frankum was raised with a strict upbringing, low on affection and approval.
He went to Newington College and Homebush Boys High School and afterwards had a number of “dead-end jobs” before spending the last year of his life as a taxi driver.
Frankum’s father died of emphysema five years before the massacre and in April, 1990 his grief-stricken mother gassed herself in her car inside her garage at North Strathfield.
He spent much of his $30,000 inheritance visiting prostitutes a few times a week.
Frankum saw them for “sexual relief” which Coroner Waller said was “bizarre in the extreme”. It also left him broke.
A prostitute he visited regularly told police sexual release was the major thing in his life and “if that was going to cease, that could have been catastrophic for him.”
With both his parents dead he moved into their unit with his younger sister, Gaynor, and her boyfriend, Darin Chalk.
Neighbours at the time described him as a loner who was friendly, quiet, did not stand out and who only left home to drive his cab.
In September 1990, Frankum obtained a shooter’s licence and in December began seeing a psychologist for depression. He stopped visiting him in February.
On January 16, 1991 he purchased the 7.62mm SKS self-loading assault rifle, 100 rounds of ammunition and three magazines from Smith’s Sports Store in the city.
It’s a f***ed up world out there and there’s some weird f***ers out there
He told Chalk it was for protection because “it’s a f***ed up world out there and there’s some weird f***ers out there”.
Frankum bought the bowie knife and a set of handcuffs in April and tried to have the knife professionally sharpened to a razor’s edge at a Mister Minit operator in July.
“It is clear that by this time he had killing on his mind,” Coroner Waller wrote.
The day before the massacre Frankum had his head shaved and he was thought to be sharpening the bowie knife on an oil stone behind a locked door when his sister arrived home.
Dr Milton found that he was ‘without severe mental disorder or previous evidence of severe aggression’.
He proposed anger, guilt, conflict and having no money as motivating forces behind Frankum’s rampage.
He was angry because he was a failure and emasculated by his parents, he felt guilt over his mother’s suicide, he had conflict with his sister over his grandmother’s estate and his money had run out so he could no longer alleviate his loneliness with prostitutes.
Dr Milton said those factors alone were not sufficient to explain his actions and that a society which increasingly glorified violence may have pushed him over the edge.
He concluded that his exposure to violent material combined with his vulnerable personality due to tragedies leading up the shooting went a long way to explaining his actions.
The survivor
GREGORY Read was standing in a hardware store within eyeshot of The Coffee Pot waiting to pay for a broom and a toilet seat.
Minutes later he was gunned down but not before he had helped save the lives of many.
“He had a 20-inch bowie knife so it was very large, very demonstrative,” Mr Read said.
“He turned around after he had a coffee and when this girl had her back turned to him he drove the bowie knife straight between her shoulder blades downwards.
“He then pulled the rifle out of the pack and started shooting and I went down on one knee and looked out the door and he had fired about six shots.
“I saw him run alongside and I noticed when people laid down on the ground he wasn’t shooting them so I said ‘this is what I’ve got to do’ and I went ahead.”
I went out of the glass doors to the carpark and there were couples standing. I said ‘quick there’s a killer behind me, lay down on the ground and he won’t shoot you
– Gregory Read
Read, a Vietnam veteran who weighed 140kg at the time, felt his body fill with adrenalin as he ran up the stairs three-at-a-time to the carpark to warn people to lie down.
“I put my head over the balcony and he fired two shots at me and I had two bullets go very close to my face,” Mr Read said.
“I went out of the glass doors to the carpark and there were couples standing. I said ‘quick there’s a killer behind me, lay down on the ground and he won’t shoot you’.”
Read managed to get 10 people on the ground before Frankum spotted him.
“He could see what I was doing,” Mr Read said.
“I was out in the open and I was telling this lady ‘lay down in your car, there’s a killer behind me’ and she said ‘it’s too late, he’s right behind you’.
Frankum standing 20 feet away had his rifle pointed at Read.
“You can hear your heartbeat and adrenalin is going through your system because you are physically doing things you possibly couldn’t do before,” Mr Read said.
“I looked up and saw the barrel and I thought ‘I’m gone’. I dived to the side of my car and he fired when I was jumping through the air and that was how I got shot in the feet.”
Frankum continued his shooting spree on the rooftop before he returned to the upper level of the carpark.
“After he had wounded and killed all these people he said ‘I’m sorry’ to a woman in a car and leant the rifle down and blew his brains out.”
A year later Read was awarded the Star of Courage for conspicuous courage in the circumstances of great peril.
The investigator
RETIRED NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney remembers the Strathfield Massacre as the most horrifying event he witnessed in his 42 years of policing.
Filling in as Acting South West Region Commander, he was met at the entrance to the plaza by Detective Chief Inspector Adrian Allingham.
“I distinctly remember him saying there had been a number of murders and that the offender appears to have taken his own life on the roof of the shopping centre,” Mr Moroney said.
“I had seen deceased bodies, I had seen deceased murdered bodies, but not withstanding his words to me I couldn’t have comprehended what I was about to see.”
As frantic friends and relatives gathered behind police tape, Moroney went in to view the trail of death left by Frankum.
“I remember walking in and the deceased were either still lying in The Coffee Pot and variously around the place,” Mr Moroney said.
“I stood there and it was almost as if time had frozen over and I couldn’t comprehend the nature of the carnage.
“I had seen murdered bodies but I had never seen that many in one place at one time and all of sudden the enormity of what had occurred started to ring home to me.”
The memories of what he saw that day he said out of respect for the victim’s families were too gruesome to reveal the full details of.
“We came to The Coffee Pot and my vivid memory today is of the three women — there was a mother and daughter and a niece who had been sitting directly behind Frankum,” Mr Moroney said.
“He had been drinking coffee for a number of hours, then in a split moment of time what went through his mind only he and God know and then he turned and he stabbed the first victim and I vividly recall her.”
Moroney was then faced with the delicate job of telling the families about the fate which had befallen their loved ones.
“The owner that was killed he was close by and I remember when we were outside of the Strathfield plaza the family of that good man,” Mr Moroney said.
“I remember the family pleading to let them in so they could find their father or brother and the difficult task police had of preserving the crime scene and trying to provide reassurance to family members at the same time.
“It was one of those indelible experiences which cannot and will not be forgotten.”
The fallout
BEFORE the Strathfield Massacre gun-control was seen as a political death wish.
At the time there was no limit on the number of guns you could own and semi-automatic rifles could be bought without registration.
Rebecca Peters, who led the charge to strengthen gun laws as co-ordinator of the National Coalition for Gun Control (NCGC), said that changed after Strathfield.
“Anyone without a serious criminal record, anyone who hadn’t already been convicted of homicide could buy a gun,” Ms Peters said.
“It was an open invitation not only for people who wanted to have an efficient manner of killing people but all sorts of gun traffickers and it seemed completely mad.”
Seeing loopholes in state laws, Peters began campaigning for change.
“Then there was this shocking thing that happened in a public place,” Ms Peters said.
A huge public demonstration in support of stronger gun laws followed.
The NSW Government put restrictions on semi-automatic weapons which helped kick start the move for gun law reform.
A massacre in Terrigal happened in 1992 continuing the momentum for change.
The Australasian Police Ministers Council met and stressed gun laws needed to be uniform across Australia to combat gun trafficking.
“The priorities being uniform gun laws across the states and a ban on semi-automatic weapons and registration of all guns,” Ms Peters said.
“One of our demands was also proof of reason. The Strathfield shooter had claimed recreational hunting as his reason despite the fact that everyone who knew him said he had never been hunting in his life.”
Ms Peters said it was important to remember Strathfield, not just Port Arthur, Australia’s worst mass killing, led to Australia’s world-leading gun law changes.
“I feel the people who died at the Strathfield Massacre they also didn’t die in vain, that tragedy contributed to something,” Ms Peters said.
“A lot of people think they changed instantly after Port Arthur. Unfortunately in topics to do with health and safety they sometimes advance one tragedy at a time.”
Det Sgt Bob McNamara ( father of Bradley McNamara ( RIP ), offender Darcy Dugan, Fred ‘the Spy’ Smith and Adrian Allingham – handcuffed to Dugan.
Crime reporter Basil Sweeney farewelled
Published: September 07, 2009
Veteran newspaper journalist Basil Sweeney was farewelled at a packed Our Lady Star of the Sea church at Watsons Bay, remembered by colleagues and policemen he had encountered in his years as a police reporter.
Sweeney, who died on August 28 at the age of 84, served on the Daily Mirror and Truth and Sportsman from 1944 until 1957, when he joined the staff of the Sydney Morning Herald, the Brisbane Times reported.
The service was conducted by Bishop Anthony Fisher, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney – a poignant tribute. At the outset of his career, when Sweeney thought of joining the priesthood, the then Bishop Gilroy said he would be of more use to society as a journalist.
Mourners included his widow, Margaret, son Matthew and daughter Danielle, retired assistant commissioner Norm Maroney and detective chief inspectors Adrian Allingham and Karl Arkins.
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 – 1861; 1863 – 1889; 1891 – 1954),
Friday 10 February 1950, page 8
BOY INJURED
Adrian Allingham, 12, of Yallambi, suffered a probable fracture of the right collarbone and right wrist as a result of a fall from a bicycle on the Guyra road on Tuesday afternoon.
He was treated by the Armidale District Ambulance and conveyed to a doctor’s surgery.
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 – 1861; 1863 – 1889; 1891 – 1954),
Wednesday 5 November 1952, page 6
Junior Farmers In Radio Talks
Two Armidale Junior Farmers, Adrian Allingham and Rosemary Lucas will go to Tamworth next Thursday for radio talks on matters of interest to members of the Junior Farmer Movement.
They will take part in a State wide hook-up to be heard at 6.30 pm. that day.
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 – 1861; 1863 – 1889; 1891 – 1954),
Friday 29 June 1951, page 12
Junior Farmer Trophies Presented
At the presentation of trophies to Junior Farmers in the Council Chambers, last night, poultry judge Mr. Weston said he felt there was very little he could tell the competitors in this section. They had all gained excellent results and had shown complete understanding of what is required in poultry keeping.
In his report, Mr. Weston said:— ……..
”Adrian Allingham‘s housing is perhaps the only fault I could find with his whole setup. It is not quite big enough for white leghorns in any quantity, ( 18 points ).
Hatching And Rearing
“In the housing and rearing section I awarded 30 points to Dawn Jaeger, Adrian Allingham and John Vickery. ……….
“Scores in the other sections were:— Feeding and management, Dawn Jaeger 48 points Graham Whitton 48 points. John Vickery 48 points, Adrian Allingham and Wendy MacGuire, 45 points. Possible, 54 points.
“General quality of stock: Adrian Allingham and John Vickery 24 points, …..
“General knowledge: Adrian Allingham 32 points, all other competitors each 30 points. Possible, 36 points.
“Records: Adrian Allingham 22. points, other competitors 20 points.
Point Score
“Adrian Allingham171 points, Dawn Jaeger 169 points. Graham Whitton 163 points, Wendy McGuire 154 points and John Vickery 150 points.”
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 – 1861; 1863 – 1889; 1891 – 1954),
Wednesday 8 March 1950, page 4
“The Junior Farmer display is one of the best we have had shown for many years,” said the judged Mr. J. T. Rowlings, of Dangarsleigh.
“The junior farmer has come back into his own,” Mr. Rowlings continued.
“It should be remembered that they are our showmen of the future.”
VEGETABLES
Collection of vegetables: ….. Adrian Allingham 2; 3 lb. potatoes, white, other than Factor, Adrian Allingham 2; 3 lb. potatoes, any other variety, Adrian Allingham 2; 4 table tomatoes, …….
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 – 1861; 1863 – 1889; 1891 – 1954),
Monday 13 August 1951, page 6
SKILL, CONFIDENCE AND TEAM WORK IN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS
The confident ease of the players, the effective use of very few props, and the teamwork of all concerned were features of Armidale High School’s annual play night.
Nearly 60 boys and girls took part in five plays presented to an appreciative Town Hall audience of more than 400.
The plays were the best of those presented at the recent annual playday at the school.
2C players opened the evening with “The Crimson Coconut,” the story of a bomb which didn’t fizz, as revealed by happenings in a Soho restaurant.
Notable in this was the amusement it afforded the younger members of the audience, and the happy casting of Adrian Allingham as the head waiter. Other, players were ……..
Learning Links
Our supporters
We rely on the generosity of others to help us provide our services to children with disabilities and learning support needs and their families. This generosity comes from many different groups in the community including government, trusts and foundations, clubs, companies and individuals. Thank you to the following organisations for donating to Learning Links over the past year.
Learning Links could not operate without the support and generosity of its many funders, donors, volunteers and partners. This support enables our vital programs and services to be delivered to children who have difficulty learning and their families.
Our generous supporters have helped fund a range of programs including:
Disadvantaged Children’s Education Fund: This fund helps financially disadvantaged children who struggle to learn to get the help they need to reach their full potential. It provides these children with financial assistance to access the programs they need including literacy and numeracy support, speech therapy, occupational therapy, early childhood intervention and/or targeted behavioural interventions.
Reading for Life: A reading program designed to give one-on-one assistance to children who are struggling in the classroom environment. Volunteers or parents are trained to deliver the program to children to improve their reading and self esteem.
Workshops Learning Links’ workshops program provides high quality training for parents and professionals. They receive practical hands-on training that reflects expert knowledge and industry standards on an extensive range of topics addressing children’s development, learning and behaviour.
Whole School Therapy: This innovative model of intervention offers specialist speech and occupational therapy services to a whole school population and staff.
Special mention goes to the following organisations for their extraordinary generosity:
Rali Foundation
City of Fairfield RSL Memorial Club
Dooleys (Lidcombe Catholic Club)
Mounties
Our thanks to the following supporters of Learning Links over the past 18 months.
Individual Donors
Adrian Allingham
…….
February 2013 – June 2013
Reading for Life
Reading for Life is a highly successful reading program that helps primary school children with reading disorders, including dyslexia. The program provides one-on-one assistance to children to help improve their reading and lift their self esteem and confidence. It can be delivered by professionally-trained volunteers at the children’s schools, by children’s fully-trained parents at home, or by staff in schools.
Individual Donors and Organisations
Donations from individuals and organisations are much appreciated by Learning Links. These generous donations allow us to direct funds to the programs, children and families that need it most.
St George Model Boat Club
Schools Education Publishing, Australian Publishers Association
Ms Janelle Hutton
Mr Chris Conte
Ms Kylie Simpson
Ms Amanda Ugo
Vi Bui
IGA Lugarno (IGA Community Chest Limited)
Ms Beverly Lawrence
Mr Adrian Allingham
Ms Danika Kalan and the Peakhurst Nightowls Quilt Group
No further information can be, currently, found on this man, his career or life.
Cal
27 September 2019
I believe I worked with Eddie Doran in 1978, at Sutherland Police Station.
I was in my probation, he was a Senior Constable, living in Helensburgh at that time.
I remember him as a “real country copper”, a good bloke who was steady, thorough and unexcitable.
A likeable guy, possessed of the type of methodical work ethic that was a feature of “country coppers” at that time.
RIP Eddie.
Graham King
Peter Wallace Eddie Doran was one of the first coppers I ever worked with.
I can still see him perched up on the stool next to the old switch at Sutherland in the temporary public entrance during renovations.
One day, me and Col Graham did a snake job at Woronora River, brought the dead snake back to the station, and put it in the mail bag. Eddie was in the station, emptied the mail bag on the counter, and out came the snake. Eddie took off backpedaling and stuttering across the station. We were lucky we didn’t cause him to leave us that day.
Rest in peace Eddie.
Colin George LAWRENCE
| 12/10/2019
Colin George LAWRENCE
AKA ?
Late of Scott Avenue Cootamundra
NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # “Possibly” 061
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 9304
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 1 June 1959
Passed away peacefully on 24th September 2019 at the Cootamundra Hospital.
Much loved husband of Roslyn.
Devoted father of Mark (deceased), Greg, Chris (deceased), Yvette, Glen (deceased) and Monique.
Sadly missed by their families, extended family and many friends.
Late of Scott Avenue Cootamundra.
Aged 80 Years
Rest In Peace
An Anglican Service to celebrate Colin’s life will be held on Tuesday 1st October 2019, in St Paul’s Anglican Church Murrumburrah, commencing at 2.00pm.
The cortege will then leave for the Murrumburrah Lawn Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
David John KOEN
| 12/10/2019
David John KOEN
AKA Dave KOEN
Late of Lake Macquarie & Central Coast, NSW
NSW Goulburn Police Academy PREP Class # 267
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 31182
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Academy on Sunday 18 August 1996 ( aged
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 14 February 1997 ( aged
Constable – appointed ???
Detective – appointed ???
Constable 1st Class – appointed ???
Senior Constable – appointed ???
Final Rank = Senior Constable ( Retired )
Stations: ?, Police Prosecutors Court Unit ( PPCU ) – Sydney & Hornsby
Service: From18 August 1996to4 September 2002 ( Retired ) = ? years Service
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours
Born: Tuesday 6 March 1973
Died on: Monday 16 September 2019 about 9am
Age: 46 years, 6 months, 10 days
Cause: Depression – Suicide – jumped from rocks
Event location: ?, Soldiers Beach, Norah Head, NSW
Event date: Monday 16 September 2019 about 9am
Funeral date: TBA
Funeral location: TBA
Wake location: TBA
Funeral Parlour: TBA
Buried at: TBA
Memorial located at: TBA
DAVE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO ( 2022 )
DAVID IS Mentioned on the NSW Police Service Memorial Wall, Sydney Police Centre, Surry Hills as of 2022
Funeral location: TBA
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
This afternoon, in a quiet and deeply-felt ceremony at the Sydney Police Centre, another thirteen names were added, and the memories of another thirteen dedicated NSW Police Force employees were honoured, at the NSW Police Force Service Memorial:
Service: From? ? pre December 1980 to? ? ? = ? years Service
After his Policing career, Mexo ran the ‘Sundeck” at Perisher Valley, Watson Bay Hotel – Woollahra and a few others
Awards: ‘No Find’ on Australian Honours
Born: Friday 25 March 1960
Died on: ?on or about 26 May 2004 ? ?
Age: 44
Cause: “possibly” Leukaemia or Melanoma in the liver
Event location: ?
Event date: ?
Funeral date: ? ? ?
Funeral location: ? ( possibly Newcastle area – came from Maitland )
Buried at: ?interred where his mum & dad ( Margaret &
Alex ) lived – somewhere near East Maitland, NSW
Memorial located at: ?
Steve Mann, Bruce Mexon and Ian Davies. This was taken at Donna Dewick house when we had 20 cops in her Mums hot tub. Luckily her Mum and Dad were away. It was a great night.
Bruce MEXON with the first GLLO’s pre July 2011
BRUCE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
Funeral location: TBA
[divider_dotted]
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
