( 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: Newcastle Memorial Park, Anderson Drive, Beresfield, NSW
Wall D 105
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( April 2022 )
Raymond HALL with his mother on 25 February 1974 at Redfern Police Academy.
Newcastle Cemetery : Wall D, 105
CHOP 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.
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
12 April 2022
Steven John SNELL
| 12/04/2022
Steven John SNELL
AKA Steve SNELL, Snelly
Late of South West Rocks, NSW
“possible” relation in ‘the job’:
Herb. SNELL, NSWPF # 16408
W.V. SNELL, NSWPF # 24036
Brad SNELL, NSWPF # 32472
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 126
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 14556
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 22 February 1971 ( aged 18 years, 11 months, 20 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed 5 April 1971 ( aged 19 years, 1 months, 3 days )
Constable – appointed 5 May 1972
Constable 1st Class – appointed 5 May 1976
Detective – appointed ? ? 1980 ( YES ) ( Dets Course #/ 1980 )
( 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 )
Deepest condolences to Steve’s wife, Marie, and to Steve’s family and friends.
Obituary
REST IN PEACE
Funeral Service Details
Family and friends of STEVEN are warmly invited to attend his Funeral Service to be held in the North Chapel of Pinegrove Crematorium, Pinegrove Memorial Park, Kington Street, Minchinbury on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 commencing at 1.00 pm.
Please meet at the Chapel.
Date:Tuesday, 19 April 2022
Time:1:00 pm
Venue:North Chapel
Address:Pinegrove Memorial Park, Kington Street, Minchinbury NSW, Australia
Steve also played a few 1st Grade games for Penrith rugby league club during the time that the team wore brown and white vertical stripes.
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
7 April 2022
Robert Keith MURRAY
| 12/04/2022
Robert Keith MURRAY
AKA Robert MURRAY, Bob MURRAY, Chuck MURRAY
Late of ?
“possible” relation in ‘the job’:
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 156
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 17709
Uniform # 3141
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 4 July 1977 ( aged 20 years, 7 months, 21 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed Monday 12 September 1977 ( aged 20 years, 9 months, 30 days )
Constable – appointed 12 September 1978
Constable 1st Class – appointed 12 September 1982
Final Rank: = Constable 1st Class
Stations: ?, Darlinghurst Police Stn – Retirement
Service: From 4 July 1977 to2 February 1987 = 9 years, 6 months, 29 days Service
Retirement / Leaving age: = 30 years, 2 months, 20 days
Time in Retirement from / or Leaving the Police: 35 years, 0 months, 23 days
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system – although:
Commissioner’s Commendation ( Awarded for Courageous Actions or Meritorious Service )
SenCon C.S. DIGBY
Winner of the George Lewis Trophy – ( Most Courageous Act )
( 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 )
The Hastings community will farewell Chuck Murray on March 9.
A seamless ability to switch from rugby league commentating to boxing in the blink of an eye is how long-time friend Peter Saville will remember Robert Keith Murray.
The man affectionately known as ‘Chuck’ passed away on February 25, following a sudden battle with bowel cancer.
Mr Saville reflected on his favourite moments as producer alongside Chuck, when they covered the Hastings League, spanning almost three decades.
“His ability to switch between rugby league and boxing commentary was probably one of his best assets,” Saville said.
It was in reference to a match many years ago which saw an all-in-brawl erupt following a send-off.
Saville and Chuck first met in 1993, when Chuck joined the radio station after moving from Sydney.
“I originally knew him as Robert when he first turned up and halfway through that year he decided to change his name to Bob,” he said.
“When that didn’t work he went back to his old police nickname which he got at a pub in Sydney. You can imagine why he was called Chuck if he got his nickname from a pub in Sydney.”
The 65-year-old was a common sight at various Hastings League grounds from South West Rocks to Smithtown over the years before his health deteriorated.
Whether it was Group 2, Group 3, Hastings League, motocross or even schoolboy rugby league, the commentary was of a high standard.
The Port Macquarie Sharks’ reserve grade team bus even performed a u-turn on the Pacific Highway barely 10 minutes into their trip home back in the early ’90s, after they turned the radio on and heard of their first grade team’s grand final comeback.
Chuck was always committed to the cause and always answered the call – especially when the radio station was in trouble in early 2000.
“You can imagine why he was called Chuck if he got his nickname from a pub in Sydney.”
But Mr Saville will always fondly remember their regular climbs up onto the roof of Lank Bain Sporting Complex, even if it made those underneath nervous.
“Chuck was always wearing stubby shorts when he climbed up the ladder and God knows why,” he said.
“You’d be sitting in the stand and watch the roof bow as he walked across the gang plank and then sit and broadcast the game. Those were the days.”
Hastings League president Geoff Connor also paid tribute to Chuck and how he had helped promote rugby league over the years.
“He was good for people sitting at home who didn’t want to go because of wet weather or were too old or whatever,” he said.
“Chuck certainly promoted the game; he made himself a big part of the competition, but his biggest contribution was probably for people who moved away. They could still tune in and listen to their favourite team of a weekend.”
Clubs are encouraged to donate jumpers or shirts to go on the coffin during the service.
The jumpers can be dropped at Midcoast Funerals in Port Macquarie or Wauchope marked “attention Pieta Law” before Tuesday (March 8) mid-afternoon.
His funeral service will be held at the Anglican Church in Laurieton at 12.30pm on March 9.
SYDNEY: Mr Luciano Santos., who is alleged to have escaped from Darlinghurst police station almost two months ago, had used a loaded pistol to prevent his arrest, Waverley Petty Sessions was told yesterday.
Mr Santos, 22, appeared before Mr Forbes, SM. handcuffed to two uniformed policemen. Other police guarded the exits.
Mr Santos, unemployed, of no fixed address, was charged with escaping from the station on February 17.
He also was charged with assaulting Constables Wayne Innes ( # 18948? ), Sidney Davis( 19881? or 20580? ) and Robert Keith Murray in the execution of their duty, and with assaulting Constable Murray causing him actual bodily harm.
He also was charged with using a loaded firearm to avoid arrest, using a .38 calibre pistol and possessing a shortened firearm at Centennial Park on April 8.
Bail was not applied for.
When he escaped in February, Mr Santos was on remand on charges of armed robbery.
Mr Forbes adjourned the matters to April 28 for mention.
SYDNEY: A police sergeant told Balmain Court yesterday that he was hit in the head during a shoot-out with a man he described as “very dangerous”.
Detective Sergeant Graham Frazer ( # 9982 ), of the Armed Hold-up Squad, said the man, Mr Luciano Santos, had done “a couple of frightful things” and was serving a “very long term of imprisonment”.
Mr Santos is appearing before Mr Norton, SM, charged with shooting to avoid lawful apprehension at Centennial Park on April 8, using a .38 calibre revolver without a licence and possessing a shortened firearm.
He has not entered any pleas.
Sergeant Frazer said he and other detectives had been in the Centennial Park area on April 8 with the aim of recapturing Mr Santos.
About 9.30pm he was driving with two other detectives towards Cook Road, at Centennial Park, when he saw a large van which he had been told was carrying Mr Santos and another man, Mr Michael Johnson, who was now dead.
The van was being followed by a number of other police cars.
The van went through a red light and he saw Mr Santos, in the driver’s seat, pointing a handgun at police.
Sergeant Frazer said he was armed with a departmental-issue shotgun which he put out of the police car window and fired one shot at the van.
A detective in the back of the car he was in also fired a shot, but Mr Santos kept driving.
Sergeant Frazer said he fired another shot which shattered the window of the van and bought it to a halt.
“I immediately alighted and saw Mr Santos leaning from the window of the van holding a handgun,” he said. “I saw it was pointing at me.”
A shot was fired from the weapon. “I commenced to run towards the kerb. As I was running I was struck in the left side of the head by a projectile.
“The next thing I recall is being placed in the rear of my police car and later being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital by ambulance.”
At about 2am the next day he underwent surgery.
He told the court Mr Santos was wanted for what he would term “a very serious escape” from the cells at the District Court, Darlinghurst. He had escaped with a man named Mr Ian Steele.
The court was told Mr Steele was shot by police in Victoria on the same day Mr Santos was arrested.
Sergeant Frazer told the court that at the time of his escape Mr Santos had been serving sentences for kidnapping and armed hold-up.
He said police had been told that on April 8 Mr Santos and other people planned to hold up a TAB agency in the Redfern or Surry Hills area.
Before proceedings against Mr Santos began on Monday, the police prosecutor, Sergeant Mal Spence, told the court that much of the evidence would also be given at the inquest on a man named Mr Johnson, who was shot dead by police.
SYDNEY: Two prisoners had sawn through a steel bar and climbed down a ladder made of linen before prison officers prevented their escape at Sydney’s Long Bay jail yesterday, a NSW Corrective Services Commission spokesman said.
The prisoners, Mr Luciano Santos and Mr Cyril Gidley, were apprehended shortly after 4am.
Mr Santos is serving a 14-year sentence for armed robbery and Mr Gidley is serving a life sentence for murder.
Patrolling officers had seen Mr Santos before he reached the ground, and apprehended him as he hid behind a pile of bricks in the prison yard.
Mr Gidley was still in the cell when Mr Santos was caught.
The commission spokesman said the escape was never likely to succeed as the men had still to cross the main prison wall.
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
1 April 2022
Keith Victor COLLIS
| 12/04/2022
Keith Victor COLLIS
AKA ?
Late of Balgownie, NSW
“possible” relation in ‘the job’:
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # Forty Five or higher?
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 8513
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday ? ? ? ( aged
Probationary Constable- appointed Monday 29 October 1956 ( aged 20 years, 1 month, 14 days )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )
Senior Constable – appointed 29 October 1967
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 25 February 1973 ( Seniority date should have been 23 February 1973 )
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 11 May 1982
Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Chief Inspector – appointed 27 November 1985
Final Rank: = Chief Inspector
Stations: ?, ‘D’ District ( SenCon )( 1968 ), ?, Deputy District Officer – Wagga Wagga ( Chief Insp. )( 1985 ), ?, TRG South Region ( Sutherland )( Insp. ), ?, Corrimal ( Chief Insp. ) – Retirement
Service: From? pre October 1956? to29 October 1991 = 35 years Service
Retirement / Leaving age: = 55 years, 1 month, 14 days
Time in Retirement from Police: 30 years, 4 months, 19 days
( 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 Funeral, Wollongong, NSW
Passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, 20th of March 2022.
Beloved husband of Elizabeth.
Dearly loved father and father-in-law of Janelle and Alexander, Bradley and Karen, Michael and Alena.
Poppy of Luke, and Elishka.
Loved brother and brother-in-law of Dennis and Joan both deceased, and Uncle to his nephews Scott, Blair, Murray and their families.
Keith will be sadly missed and always loved.
Aged 85 Years
In Gods Care
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Keith’s funeral service to be held at St Brigids Catholic Church, Gipps Street, Gwynneville on Thursday, 31st of March 2022 at 12.30pm. Following the service his funeral will proceed to Wollongong Cemetery, Swan Street, Wollongong.
For those who are unable to attend you are invited to watch Keith’s service via a link found on funeral announcement.com.au.
North Coast District Detectives c 1979
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
31 March 2022 @ 2.27am
Denis Godfrey DRIVER
| 12/04/2022
Denis Godfrey DRIVER
AKA ?
Late of ?
Husband to Doreen DRIVER who predeceased Denis on the 20 January 2015
“possible” relation in ‘the job’:
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 082
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 9605
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 29 February 1960 ( aged 20 years, 11 months, 11 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed Monday 4 April 1960 ( aged 21 years, 0 months, 17 days )
Constable – appointed 29 February 1960
Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 March 1966
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )
Senior Constable – appointed 1 March 1970
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 29 November 1975
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 20 February 1983 ( Seniority date should have been 23 January 1983 )
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 26 January 1987
Final Rank: = Detective Senior Sergeant
Stations: ?, South Coast District ( 1968 ), Det SenCon ( South Coast District Detectives )( 1971 ), Warilla Dets, Pt Kembla Dets ( 1980s ), Merrylands Dets ( 26 Division )( c1988 ), ?, OIC – Albury Detectives ( DetSgt )( early 1990s ), ?, St Marys – Retirement
Service: From? pre Feb 1960? ?to5 April 1994 = 34 years Service
Retirement / Leaving age: = 55 years, 0 months, 18 days
Time in Retirement from Police: 27 years, 11 months, 13 days
Awards: National Medal – granted 22 September 1987 ( Det Sgt 2/c )
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 22 September 1987 ( Det Sgt 2/c )
2nd Clasp to National Medal – granted 16 October 1998 ( Det Sgt 2/c )
Born: Saturday 18 March 1939
Died on: Friday 18 March 2022 peacefully in his sleep
Age: 83 years, 0 months, 0 days ( died on his 83rd birthday )
Organ Donor: Y / N / ?
Cause: ?
Event location: ?
Event date: ?
Funeral date: Monday 4 April 2022 @ 10.15am
Funeral location: North Chapel, Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, Delhi Rd, North Ryde, NSW
Wake location: the Ranch Hotel, cnr Epping Rd & Herring Rd, North Ryde, NSW
Wake date: Monday 4 April 2022 after Service
( 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: Ian J Arthur Funerals
Buried at: Cremated
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( March 2022 )
DENIS 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.
Family and friends of Denis are warmly invited to attend his Funeral Service to beheld in the North Chapel, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Delhi Road North Ryde on Monday 4th April, at 10:15am.
Ian J. Arthur & Sons
Funeral Directors
1800 45 44 22
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
30 March 2022
Bruce Charles WILLIAMS
| 12/04/2022
Bruce Charles WILLIAMS
AKA Bruce Williams, Stumpy, Stumpy Williams
Late of Campelltown, NSW
“possible” relation in ‘the job’: NO
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Started with Class # 126 and Completed with Class # 138
NSW Police Cadet # 2689
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 16259
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy as a Police Cadet on Monday 22 February 1971 ( aged 16 years, 0 months, 2 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed 27 March 1974 ( aged 19 years, 1 month, 7 days ) ( may have been injured or failed a subject – thus loss of 1 mth, 7 days Seniority )
Constable – appointed 27 March 1975
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ? NO
Senior Constable – appointed 27 March 1983
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )
Appears in the 1985 ‘Stud Book’ but not the 1987 issue
Final Rank: = Senior Constable
Stations: ?, Central ( 1 Division ), ?
Service: From 22 February 1971 to? ? ? = ? years Service ( 17 – 18 years service )
Retirement / Leaving age: = ?
Time in Retirement from Police: ?
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system
Born: Sunday 20 February 1955
Died on: Sunday 13 March 2022
Age: 67 years, 0 months, 21 days
Organ Donor: NO
Cause: Cancer – Pancreatic & Lung together with other health issues
Event location: Campbelltown Hospital, NSW
Event date: Finally went to Hospital on Thursday but because he wouldn’t previously visit a Doctor, he passed on Sunday
Funeral date: Wednesday 23 March 2022 @ 11am
Funeral location: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Camden Valley Way, Leppington, 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 )
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
18 March 2022 – 20 March 2022
Walter Keith TUCHIN
| 12/04/2022
Walter Keith TUCHIN
AKA Wally TUCHIN, Dudley Walter Keith TUCHIN
Late of Croydon – formerly of Miranda, NSW
“possible” relation in ‘the job’
NSW Police Training College – Penrith – Class #019
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 5638
Rank: Commenced Training at Penrith Police College on Monday ? ? ?
Probationary Constable- appointed 28 April 1947 ( aged 23 years, 4 months, 17 days )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )
( 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: Cremated
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( March 2022 )
Wally TUCHIN on his 97th birthday, playing guitar on 11 December 2020
WALLY 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.
TUCHIN
Walter Keith (Wally)
Formerly of Miranda,
late of Croydon.
Passed away 27th February 2022.
Beloved husband of Valerie (dec).
Dearly loved and loving father of Kate (Ellen), Lorraine, Greg and Peter.
Father in-law of Doug, Peter, Narelle and Tessa (dec).
Adored Grandpa Wal of 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
98 Years young.
Forever in our hearts.
A service to Celebrate Wally’s life, will be held at St Paul’s Anglican Church, 205-207 Burwood Rd, Burwood on Thursday 10th March 2022, commencing at 11.00am.
Privately Cremated.
Proudly Australian Owned
Family Operated All Suburbs
9555 7551 9555 7092
Sydney Morning Herald
Wally TUCHIN at the Justice and Police Museum exhibition, Circular Quay, Sydney, with a collection of his photos – c 2000
Studio portrait of 69671 Leading Aircraftman Walter Keith Tuchin who served during the Second World War. ‘Reflections – Honouring Australian Second World War Veterans’ is a project spanning from 2015 – 2017. During this time span 450 Australian Institute of Accredited Photographers from around Australia photographed 6,500 World War Two Veterans. This digital archive was gifted to the Australian War Memorial by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) in 2017.
Scientific Investigation Bureau – c1956. Wally TUCHIN is 2nd from right
Follow all the Spotify Podcasts as told to Greg TUCHIN – by his father – Wally TUCHIN, Crime Scene photographer in the Scientific Investigation Bureau of NSW Police.
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
15 March 2022
Brendan J AKHURST
| 12/04/2022
Brendan J AKHURST
AKA BJ, BJ AKHURST
Late of Buradoo, Southern Highlands, NSW
“possible” relation in ‘the job’: Ron C AKHURST, NSWPF # 16716
No relation to: A J AKHURST, NSWPF # 7401. A J ( Jim ) AKHURST worked at the old Sydney Water Police ( 1973 / 76 era )
Jim & Brendan were at Sydney Water Police during the same era.
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 112
First Class to be issued the new Smith & Wesson .38 calibre model 10 six shot revolver
Class 112 – Attested 15 September 1967 – Redfern
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 12734
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 7 August 1967 ( aged 19 years, 3 months, 13 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed Friday 15 September 1967 ( aged 19 years, 4 months, 21 days )
Constable – appointed 15 September 1968
Constable 1st Class – appointed 15 September 1972
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( NO )
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Appears in the 1975 ‘Stud Book’
Does NOT appear in the 1979 ‘Stud Book’
Final Rank: = Senior Constable?
Stations: ?, Court Constable ( Sydney Quarter Sessions )( part of Darlinghurst Police )( early 1970s ), ?, Sydney Water Police ( Police Diver )( Launch Maintenance Section LMS )( 1974 / 75 ), ?, – Resignation
Service: From Monday 7 August 1967to? ? 1978 ( Resigned ) =
( Resigned – stemming from ” pulling too many bodies from the water & listening to the police bullshit that went with the job ” )
11? years Service
Retirement / Leaving age: = ?
Time in Retirement from Police: ?
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system
Born: Sunday 25 April 1948
Died on: Friday 7 January 2022
Age: 73 years, 8 months, 13 days
Organ Donor: Y / N / ?
Cause: Cancer – Pancreatic
Event location: ?
Event date: ?
Funeral date: ? ? ? TBA ( Private Service held )
Funeral location: St Thomas Aquinas Church, Bowral, 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: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( March 2022 )
BJ 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.
Well, not today. It was a few days ago. But it’s taken me some time to wrap my head around it and sit down at the keyboard.
It began with a phone call.
“Hi mate, it’s me.”
“I know, brother. It says ‘Brendan Akhurst’ on my phone when you call me. How you doing?”
“Not well. I’ve run out of time.”
My stomach dropped. It was not what I wanted to hear, even though I knew I was going to hear it one day.
Brendan Akhurst is one of Australia’s finest cartoonists and illustrators. His work has graced the pages of countless magazines for the last four decades. I have worked with him for more than three of those decades.
He was the genius who came up with the department illustrations for Ozbike magazine. He’d illustrated countless fiction stories for the same magazine. His cartoons of Maynard contributed greatly to the success of Street Machine magazine, and he was a mainstay at The Picture for many years, providing BJ’s Babes illos.
His was a rare and stunning talent. Not only could he illustrate to a script, but he could and did write his own cartoon scripts, which were always better than what someone else could have written.
His work was complex, but looked simple, and he would fill each panel with brilliant little jokes and characters always as an aside to the main story.
I was in awe of his talent, as were all the people who worked with him. And there were many. His work is everywhere.
A true creative genius, Brendan was justifiably hailed and revered by editors and writers all over Australia, while being simultaneously castigated as being a bastard who could never meet a deadline.
He was the bane of my existence as an editor in that regard. He never met a single deadline. Not one. Not ever.
I even got into the habit of lying to him about the deadlines. I would move them forward, knowing he would miss them and hoping he would make the actual deadline. But he’d miss that one too.
I’d sacked him. Four times. Then I re-hired him soon after each sacking because his work was without equal and always worth the wait.
I was over the moon when he agreed to illustrate my third book, The Wisdom Of The Road Gods. And I knew what was going to happen, but I also knew his illustrations of my stories would be superb. And they were.
I actually sacked him for the fifth time during that process, then promptly re-hired him, because the stuff he had sent me thus far was brilliant.
It’s not that Brendan didn’t appreciate deadlines. He did. He even wrote off his beloved Dodge-engined V8 Charger trying to get me an illustration a week after its due date. He was so tired he’d fallen asleep and put it into a tree on the drive from his home in the Southern Highlands to Sydney. Yes, it was before emails were a thing. he certainly understood deadlines. He just couldn’t meet them.
A few months ago, he called me and told me he’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We both knew what that meant. The survival rate for that bastard is in the low single digits.
But Brendan was upbeat. He was always upbeat. And while he battled the cancer, we discussed a few new projects he wanted to do with me, one being the illustration of forgotten historical battles, and another was asking my readers to send in their motorcycle stories, which I would then turn into English, and he would do the illustrations.
But then he called me and told me he had run out of time.
“And I’ve run out of puff,” he added. “But look, I’m OK. I have made my peace with God.”
I didn’t know what to say, because what does one say when one is told that? I’m talking to a dear friend who has just told me he is about to die. It’s imminent, and he’s come to terms with it, because…well, fuck, what alternative does he have?
“I’d love to see you if you can make it down,” he said, his voice a touch strained with the pain he was in.
“I’ll be down tomorrow morning,” I said, hoping I would be in time.
I was.
I arrived at his home and was shown in to his lounge-room by his brother and his brother’s wife. She told me that Brendan had just been given some morphine and will need to rest shortly. I told her I would not stay long.
The change the cancer had wrought upon him was appalling. Brendan was always a big, strong, bloke. He was a former Water Police officer, and left when he got sick of pulling floaters out of the harbour and listening to the police bullshit that went with the job. His subsequent illustrations of the police were cutting and sharper than master-made katana.
He was still big. But he was a big skeleton. He did not look at all like the Brendan I once knew. But then he smiled and that was instantly recognisable.
“I’m so glad you came!” he said. His voice was still deep and strong; he was also one of the best singers I have ever heard.
“How could I not come?” I replied, stating the obvious.
He told me to pull up a chair and we sat and talked for a while about old times. His sister-in-law and his brother, and his wonderful partner, Michelle, hovered nearby, all clearly shattered by what was happening. They injected him with some more morphine, and they gave him a special lozenge to put in his mouth to assist him in making saliva.
Brendan reclined on the couch, his legs propped on a chair and covered in a blanket, and laughed and joked with me, and I with him. And then he got up, much to the horror of his family.
“Brendan,” they all said. “Sit down. Where are you going?”
“I’m going out to the studio. Boris, come with me.”
“No, no, no! You can’t go. You might fall!”
“Get out of my way. This will only take a minute.”
I followed him out to his studio – a veritable temple to the creative art he’d practiced, and he walked pretty steadily, I thought, even though the path was a little steep and had a few steps.
We walked in, and he pulled a painting off the wall and handed it to me. It was of a pair of girl’s legs in heels and her hands were pulling her panties down. I recognised it instantly.
“You remember this?” he grinned.
“I sure do.”
“It was my favourite panel from that strip I did ages ago when I used your head for the main character. I think you fell into a river after she did this.”
“Thank you,” I said. What else could I say?
We went back inside and he propped himself back on the couch.
His brother, Bill, came and said that I could stay as long as I wanted to. Me being there had made Brendan very happy, he said.
Then the community nurse arrived and she needed to examine Brendan, so I went outside with his brother while that happened.
We talked. Mostly small-talk. It’s pretty much the default chat of people who are in the presence of a tragic event, and are struggling to cope with the inevitability and outcome of that event. In Bill’s case, it was the passing of his younger brother. In mine, the passing of a dear friend and colleague. My pain was simply not in the same league as Bill’s.
Then Bill’s wife came out with a rueful grin.
“Brendan says if you don’t come back in, he’s going to come out.”
I trooped back in and stood there awkwardly as the nurse explained to Brendan that he had a bowel obstruction and that he would need to go to hospital to have it seen to.
“What are the options?” Brendan asked.
“You can go to hospital, get your obstruction scanned, get your pain medication sorted, and hopefully be home in a day or so. If you choose not to do that, we can set up a syringe that will supply you with a cocktail of drugs that will keep you comfortable and a little dozy…er, until…”
It was obvious “until” what. The medical profession calls it an “end of life event”, while avoiding the words “until you die”.
“Let me think about it,” Brendan said.
I knew I had to leave then. But knowing this and actually leaving is a crushing position to be in. Brendan needed to be with his family. Not some prick he’d worked with. But how do I actually do that?
I waited until Michelle, wreathed in tears and pain, went into the kitchen then I came and knelt by his side.
“I better go,” I said, grasping his big hand. It was warm and he still had a strong grip.
“This is the last time you and I will speak,” he said, and smiled gently.
My eyes filled with tears and a knot formed in my throat. What does one say to that? How does one respond? I had no idea.
“Um…” I said, and cleared my throat while trying to think of what else I might say.
“Thank you for coming to see me,” Brendan said. “Just move the green bin closer to the door when you go.”
“The green bin?” I blinked.
“Yeah, the recycling bin they might chuck me in,” he grinned.
“I’m not sure you can get recycled in that state,” I said. “But fuck thanking me. I need to thank you. You were the greatest illustrator I have ever worked with. And I can never thank you enough for the joy you have given me and so many other people through your work.”
Yes, I know. It was a pointless thing to say. But I had no other words. I knew no other words.
Brendan squeezed my hand. I squeezed back. He was still strong.
“I’ll see you on the other side,” he said.
“Further on down the road, brother,” I rasped back.
And then I turned and walked slowly away, wishing this was yet another deadline he would not meet.
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
7 March 2022
Darren Ronald COONEY
| 12/04/2022
Darren Ronald COONEY
AKA Darren COONEY, Coon, Dazza
Late of Figtree Nursing Home, NSW
any “possible” relation in ‘the job’:
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 179
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 20161
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy “possibly ” on Monday 7 December 1981 ( aged 19 years, 8 months, 28 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed 5 March 1982 ( aged 19 years, 11 months, 24 days )
( 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 )
( 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: Abbey Funeral Home, 02 6881 8988
Buried at: Cremated
Merv BRAITHWAITE – Redfern Police Academy – 1961
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( March 2022 )
Some of the guys from my class 81A being sworn in at the Redfern Training Depot (joined 29 May, 1961. From left Merv Braithwaite10038, Paul Pilley 10010, unknown?, Barry Luckie 10008, Lionel Hanrahan 10014, Neil Warburton 10043, Peter (Bob) Drooger 10019.
MERV 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.
Late of Dubbo & formerly of the Tooraweenah and Wongarbon areas.
Dearly loved husband of Shirley.
Loving father & father-in-law of Peter & Helen, Debbie & Geoff, Scott & Kerry.
Cherished Pop of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Dear brother of Ruth, June, Beryl (dec), Harley (dec), Charlie (dec) and Roger.
Mervyn’s cremation service will be held in the Chapel of the Dubbo City Crematorium 1 Moffatt Drive, Dubbo commencing at 10.30am Friday 25th February 2022.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of: “Our family caring for your family” 02 6881 8988
Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW : 1894 – 1954),
Friday 25 June 1954, page 5
ENGAGEMENT
The engagement is announced of Miss Shirley Paxton, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Paxton, of Geurie, to Mr. Mervyn Braithwaite, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Braithwaite, of Wongarbon.
Miss Paxton’s ring of yellow gold has two square cut centre diamonds with a small supporting diamond on either side.
Congratulations are extended to Miss Shirley June Paxton and Mr. Mervyn Stewart Braithwaite, who have announced their engagement. Shirley’s ring of yellow gold features two square-cut centre diamonds with a small supporting diamond on each side.
The local tennis season opened last Sunday under ideal conditions. A calm day of glorious sunshine, courts in perfect order and twenty couples eager to play, made the opening most pleasant.
An American tournament was conducted, run in two divisions, honours going to J. Fogarty and Mervyn Braithwaite in the men’s first grade, whilst Mrs. D. Greenwood won the lady’s trophy.
Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW : 1894 – 1954),
Saturday 22 February 1936, page 4
WONGARBON
Number of Casualties
Social and General
PERSONAL
Mervyn Braithwaite, small son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Braithwaite, met with a nasty accident at the weekend. While playing with some other children in the garden, he fell on an upturned rake, his hand catching the prong full force. He was hurried to Dubbo for medical attention and is now doing well.
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.
