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Keith Patrick SCANLON

| 27/05/2020

Keith Patrick SCANLON

AKA ” Friendly ”

Late of Freshwater, NSW

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  095

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  10686

 

Rank:  Commenced Training a Redfern Academy on ? ? ?

Probationary Constable- appointed 13 May 1963 ( 29 years, 9 months, 2 days old )

Constable – appointed 13 June 1964  *lost 1 month Seniority

Constable 1st Class – appointed 13 June 1968 

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed 13 June 1972

 

Final Rank =  Senior Constable 

 

Stations:  ?, Manly – Retirement

 

Service:  From ? ? pre May 1963?   to   20 July 1993  =  30+ years Service

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 20 January 1981 ( SenCon )

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 17 March 1989 ( SenCon )

2nd Clasp to National Medal – granted 17 March 1989 ( SenCon )( Recorded on Australian Honours as just the National Medal & not 2nd Clasp )

 

Born:  Friday  21 July 1933

Died on:  Wednesday  11 March 2020

Age:  86 years, 7 months & 19 days

Cause:  ?

Event location:   ?

Event date:  ?

 

Funeral date:  Thursday  19 March 2020 @ 1.30pm

Funeral location:   Camellia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium, North Ryde 

( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 20 – 30 persons at a Funeral due to the Cornona19 Virus Pandemic – this will be a Private Funeral )

 

Future Wake location:  ? TBA ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 10 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

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

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Cremated – Ashes with family as of 270520 

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

 

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

Cst 1/c Charlie HAGGETT ( # 19499 ) with Keith Patrick SCANLON AKA " Friendly " ( standing )
Cst 1/c Charlie HAGGETT ( # 19499 ) with Keith Patrick SCANLON AKA ” Friendly ” ( standing ) In the Job November, 1988

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Russell James COOK

| 27/05/2020

Russell James COOK   APM

AKA Russ

Late of  ?

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # 022 – 033

NSW Police Cadet # 0916

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 7593

Rank:  Commenced Training as Police Cadet on  Monday, 12 February 1951 ( 16 years, 6 mths, 30 days old )

Probationary Constable- appointed 13 July 1953 ( 19 year old )

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed 13 July 1964

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 24 September 1968

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 18 November 1976

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Inspector – appointed 31 December 1982

Chief Inspector – appointed ? ? 1985

Superintendent – appointed 12 November 1986

Chief Superintendent – appointed 27 July 1988

Assistant Commissioner – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank =  Assistant Commissioner

Stations:   ?, Cowra ( Det )( July 1959 – Oct. 1968 ), Western District ( 1964 ), BCI – Bureau of Crime Intelligence ( 1980s ), ?, Internal Affairs – Sydney ( Det Insp 1980s ), Superintendent – Goulburn District ( 1986 ), District Commander – Newcastle ( 1988 ), Regional Commander – North ( 1991 ) ( A/Comm ), North West Region – Retirement

Service:  From 12 February 1951   to   22 June 1994   =  43 years,  4 months,  10 days Service

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 2 November 1988 ( Supt )

Australian Police Medal ( APM ) – granted 11 June 1990 ( C/Supt )

 

Born:  Friday  13 July 1934

Died on:  Saturday  16 May 2020

Age:  85 years,  10 months,  3 days old

Cause:  Cancer – type?

Event location:   ?

Event date:  ?

 

Funeral date:  Monday  25 May 2020 @ 11am

Live Stream Link: https://v2.streaming.funeralsuite.com.au/e/tsLELl0X
Access PIN: 5436

Funeral location:  ?  ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 20 – 30 persons at a Funeral due to the Cornona19 Virus Pandemic – this will be a Private Funeral )

 

Future Wake location:  ? TBA ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 10 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

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

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

 

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

Russell James COOK APM

 

Russell James COOK APM - Front Row, 4th from left
Russell James COOK APM – Front Row, 4th from left

 

Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),

Friday 9 April 1993, page 5

Police chief suspended after cannabis ‘cover-up’

SYDNEY: NSW’s third most senior policeman has been suspended amid allegations of a cover-up of drug theft by police.

The Minister for Police, Terry Griffiths, announced yesterday that Assistant Commissioner Col Cole had been suspended after allegations that four constables at Frenchs Forrest, on Sydney’s north shore, had stolen small quantities of cannabis from drug exhibits for their own use.

Three of the four constables, a sergeant and an inspector, had also been suspended on full pay and would face disciplinary charges including misconduct, disobedience and neglect of duties.

Similar action against a fourth constable was being considered.

“It will not be swept under the rug, be assured of that,” Mr Griffiths said.

Mr Cole, the commander of the branch of professional responsibility and effective head of police internal affairs, is one of nine Assistant Commissioners in NSW, the third rank after Deputy Commissioner Lance Stirton and Commissioner Tony Lauer.

Mr Griffiths, who last week described the failure by Mr Cole and other senior officers to properly inform Mr Lauer, himself and the Independent Commission Against Corruption of the incident as a “cover-up”, was speaking after a meeting of the Police Board in Sydney.

He said the evidence was uncovered during a State Crimes Commission inquiry into the shooting of Constable Andrew Bourke by an unknown assailant at Frenchs Forest police station last year.

“The board has decided to suspend the assistant commissioner / commander professional responsibility from his post until he is able to respond to [ the board’s ] concerns,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Russell Cook, the incumbent commander of the north region, had been appointed acting commander of professional responsibility.

Mr Griffiths said the board had directed Mr Lauer to make further inquiries in relation to the Crime Commission findings on other senior officers.

“Given the sensitive nature of these allegations and the need to ensure natural justice is granted to the officers concerned, I’ll be making no further comment on this matter to day.”

The ICAC heard yesterday that Mr Cole’s to meet two men with criminal links over lunch was “most imprudent”.

The ICAC is investigating the propriety of a meeting between Mr Cole, the president of the NSW Police Association, Tony Day, criminal identity Tom Domican and nightclub owner Louis Bayeh, at Sydney’s Southern Cross Hotel last December 23.

Counsel Assisting the ICAC, Peter Neil, said it was a serious error of judgement by Mr Cole to agree to meet Domican. He emphasised, however, there was no suggestion that Mr Cole acted corruptly in any way.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126981079

 

Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),

Thursday 27 May 1993, page 5

 

Daly ‘not just corrupt but corrupting, too’

SYDNEY: A senior NSW police detective had influenced young officers under his command to behave corruptly, the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard yesterday.

A police prosecutor, who can only be identified as Sergeant A from the North Region, said he believed a then Detective Senior Sergeant, Ron Daly, had influenced his subordinates to produce false evidence, but acknowledged he had no evidence to support his belief.

Sergeant A told the ICAC he had had fears for his safety and for that of his family after he had submitted a report claiming three officers had fabricated the confession of a man arrested for an alleged break and enter offence in 1991.

He said his fears had been of Mr Daly.

Earlier this week Mr Daly repeatedly denied he had been a corrupt officer, or that it had been his voice on a taped telephone conversation in which two men, one of them the notorious criminal Arthur “Neddy” Smith, discussed bribing police to have an investigation dropped.

Sergeant A has previously claimed he was harassed and sent to a training unit as punishment after he submitted the report in February last year to his senior officer, Chief Inspector Colin Wedderburn.

He said he feared that his chief inspector and his assistant commissioner, Russ Cook, had conspired to pervert the course of justice by burying the report.

He said yesterday he now believed his concerns regarding Mr Cook were wrong, but he still had reservations about Inspector Wedderburn.

Inspector Wedderburn has denied “burying” the evidence documents said to have been attached to the sergeant’s report.

Sergeant A said Inspector Wedderburn had told him, “I’ll have to think about tactics. These kids [junior officers] have been stood over by Daly.”

He said Inspector Wedderburn had told him during a later discussion, “You’ll never get him [Daly]… you’ll only get the young kids.”

Inspector Wedderburn has denied making either comment.

Asked yesterday if he believed Mr Daly had been corrupt, Sergeant A said, “I thought he was leading the kids [junior officers] down the wrong path, and if that’s corruption, yes.”

Commissioner Ian Temby, QC, then asked, “He wasn’t just a corrupt officer, he was a corrupting officer?”

“Absolutely,” replied Sergeant A.

A colleague of Sergeant A‘s has told the ICAC that evidence briefs supplied by officers under Mr Daly’s command had regularly been “too good to believe”.

27 May 1993 – Daly ‘not just corrupt but corrupting, too’ – Trove

 

 

Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),

Wednesday 31 August 1983, page 10

Hearing on wife-murder charge told of missing-person inquiry

Inspector recalls 1960 in Cowra

From SIMON KAYE, in Cowra

A 67-year-old man who allegedly murdered his first wife more than 23 years ago appeared in Cowra Petty Sessions yesterday for the resumption of committal proceedings.

Mr Alfred Colin Chambers, retired farmer, of Kibbler Street, Cowra, is charged with having murdered Mrs lsa Muriel Chambers on or about June 1, 1960, at Holmwood, NSW.

During the proceedings, which were first heard from July 5 to 8 and were resumed on Monday, police have alleged that Mr Chambers murdered his wife and buried her on his property, ‘Glenville‘, at Holmwood.

The charge followed the discovery in July, 1981, of a human skull and arm bone in a paddock at ‘Glenville‘. After the discovery, by the property’s then owner, Mr Keith Kimmorley, police searched the immediate area and found more bones, pieces of clothing and shoes.

Detective Inspector Russell James Cook, internal-affairs branch, Sydney, told the court yesterday that he had been stationed at Cowra as a detective from July, 1959, to October, 1968.

In October, 1960, Mr Chambers had come to the station and reported his 39-year-old wife as missing.

Mr Chambers had said his wife had left him on Wednesday, June 1, after he had driven her into town. They had parked outside Cowra post office about 9.30am on June 1 and he had arranged to meet her about noon, but she had not returned to the car.

He had said that before the disappearance he and his wife had argued about their son, Robert, because she had wanted him to serve a mechanic’s apprenticeship while he, Mr Chambers, had wanted him to farm.

Mr Chambers had said that he had not thought his wife had had much money when she left because her bankbooks had remained at home.

Inspector Cook said he had later made inquiries at Cowra Commonwealth Bank about Mrs Chambers’ account. He had observed only one entry ( a child-endowment payment ), made after June 1, in the account. No withdrawals had been recorded after June 1, he said.

He and another officer had inspected the ‘Glenville‘ property at this stage, and while there Inspector Cook had spoken to Robert Chambers, who had then been about 15.

Mr Chambers, according to Inspector Cook, had told Robert he had taken his wife to the Holmwood railway station, and not the Cowra township, before she disappeared.

In November, 1960, at Cowra police station, Mr Chambers, when told this by Inspector Cook had said his son must have been mistaken. Mr Chambers had said that he had told his son, as he had all others, that he had taken his wife to Cowra before her disappearance.

Inspector Cook also had told Mr Chambers that he had spoken to a friend of Mrs Chambers, Mrs Evelyn Blair. Mrs Blair had told Inspector Cook that she had arranged with Mrs Chambers to visit the Cowra theatre on the afternoon of June 1.

[ Mrs Blair told the court on Monday that she had asked Mrs Chambers on the weekend before June 1 to drive her to Cowra on the afternoon of June 1 so that they could watch a film of Princess Margaret’s wedding at the theatre. How ever, Mrs Chambers had not shown up and Mrs Blair had never seen her again. ]

Inspector Cook said he had also told Mr Chambers he had checked at the airport and railway stations in the area to find whether any of their staff had seen Mrs Chambers. None of them had, he had said.

He had told Mr Chambers he was not satisfied with his explanation and had suggested that Mr Chambers had murdered his wife and buried her on his property. Mr Chambers had denied this, adding that he had nothing further to add to his explanation.

Inspector Cook said he had taken a statement from Mr Chambers in 1961 and had initiated a missing-person file in relation to Mrs Chambers. And in 1962 he had circulated a number of information forms, also pertaining to Mrs Chambers, for publication in the NSW Police Gazette.

The court was told yesterday that Mrs Chambers’ missing-person file had not been seen since 1980. An extensive search of Sydney files had been made last July, but it had not been found.

Inspector Cook said yesterday, in reply to questioning by Mr Chambers’ counsel, Mr Peter Coleman, QC. that his police notebooks pertaining to the case had been destroyed about 1965.

He said he had put the notebooks aside for safekeeping when the “normal clean-up” was made at Cowra police station, but they had been mistakenly regarded by another officer as unwanted and had been burnt.

Inspector Cook said it had been regular practice to destroy unwanted records periodically.

He also said that the occurrence pad, in which he would have noted the time and date of his interview with Mr Chambers at the police station, had mistakenly been destroyed.

He agreed with Mr Coleman that he would not therefore have seen his notebooks for at least 18 years. He had last seen his “comprehensive report” on the case, contained in the missing person file, about 1975.

He said he had compiled his notes for the present proceedings in February this year, and he agreed with Mr Coleman that he had not had any official records to which to refer.

Inspector Cook‘s evidence brought the prosecution case to a close. Mr Smith, SM, adjourned the proceedings to 10am tomorrow, when addresses will be made by Mr Coleman and the prosecutor, Sergeant John Taylor.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116426322

 

 

 

 

 

 



Clint Francis MILAZZO

| 27/05/2020

Clint Francis MILAZZO

AKA  ? 

Late of Ambarvale, NSW 

Husband to Tanya MILAZZO ( a now Serving Member of NSWPF )

 

NSW Goulburn Police Academy Class #  NIL

New South Wales Police Force – Applicant

Regd. #  NIL 

Rank:  Police Applicant

Final Rank =  Police Applicant

Stations:  NIL

Service:  From 0 0 0   to   0 0 0  =  0 years Service

Awards:  Nil

 

Born:  Tuesday  21 November 1978

Died on:  Monday  3 March 2003

Age:  24 years,  10 months,  9 days

Cause:  Assault – Injuries sustained from:

Event location: outside Ettamogah Hotel, Kellicar Rd, Campbelltown, NSW

Event date:  Sunday  23 February 2003

 

Funeral date:  ? March 2003

Funeral location:  ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at:  Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Camden Valley Way, Leppington, NSW

Grave GPS location:  -33.956797909865394, 150.83623992775154

Grave Location: 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

Clint MILAZZO Inscription: MILAZZO, Clint Francis 21.11.1978 - 3.3.2003. Cherished husband of Tanya. Adored father to Harrison and Isobelle. Dearly beloved son of Frank and Jennifer. Treasured brother of Meredith. A special friend to all who knew him. You will forever be in our hearts.

 

Mr Milazzo with children Harrison and Isobelle
Mr Milazzo with children Harrison and Isobelle

 

Clint MILAZZO

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

Crime Stoppers NSW

19 May 2020

???????? UNSOLVED CASE ????????

Clint Milazzo was assaulted outside the Ettamogah Hotel on Kellicar Road in Campbelltown on February 23, 2003.

Mr Milazzo, 24, was drinking with a friend and left the hotel at closing time. He and his friend were assaulted while standing in the undercover car park waiting for a taxi near the hotel.

According to investigators, Mr Milazzo was punched in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.

He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Liverpool Hospital where he underwent several operations.

His health continued to deteriorate and he died on March 3, 2003 from severe head injuries he suffered during the attack.

Mr Milazzo was an applicant to enter the NSW Police College in Goulburn shortly before his death. His widow is a NSW Police officer.

A coronial inquest in 2005 returned an open finding and recommended a $100,000 reward be offered to help police find the person or persons responsible for the attack on Mr Milazzo.

Mr Milazzo’s case is still under the responsibility of Campbelltown detectives, who have conducted extensive inquiries but have exhausted all leads.

If the case goes to the Unsolved Homicide Unit then it could be reopened in the future under the new framework.

Detective Superintendent Cook said the reviews would “strengthen relationships with victim families through regular and informed communication”.

“It also allows the Unsolved Homicide Unit to initiate re-investigations while all other cases continue to be reviewed,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring the most effective and efficient allocation of resources in order to maximise our capability to provide justice for victims and answers to their families.”

Seventeen cases are already being investigated under the new framework. No further detail on the cases has been provided.

The Unsolved Homicide Unit was formed in 2004 to centralise the bulk of the state’s unsolved murders and unexplained disappearances.

The unit has seen 30 cases solved and five more are before the court.

 

posts/4532092293483129?comment_id=4532263360132689&notif_id=1589886700610996&notif_t=feed_comment&ref=notif

 

Anybody who has any information about Mr Milazzo’s murder is urged to contact Campbelltown Police or report information using the methods shown below.

If you have any information about this case, please report online at www.nsw.crimestoppers.com.au or call us on 1800 333 000 (24/7).

You can remain confidential.

 

https://www.wollondillyadvertiser.com.au/story/5410925/parents-of-murdered-teen-welcome-reopening-of-cold-cases/

Do you have information that can help police with this case?

Any information you have about this is worth giving to police, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

You can provide information to police via any of the methods below:

Any information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Your help may give police the clue they need to close this case and provide some comfort for the families of victims.

How to claim your reward

  1. Contact Crime Stoppers or your local Police Station.
  2. Identify yourself and indicate you have information about a crime and that you wish to claim a reward.
  3. You will then be put in contact with a police officer involved in the investigation of that case.

 

 

14 years on, police are still searching for Clint Milazzo’s murderer

Kirstie Chlopicki, Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown

 

FOURTEEN years after the killing of police recruit Clint Milazzo outside a Campbelltown pub, police have again appealed for help to find his murderer.

The 24-year-old had left Ettamogah Hotel, then at Macarthur Square, on February 23, 2003, when he was attacked while waiting for a taxi.

Mr Milazzo suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Liverpool Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit where he eventually died on March 3.

The Ambarvale man was an applicant to enter the NSW Police College in Goulburn shortly before his death.

Police are hoping a $100,000 reward will encourage witnesses of the incident to come forward.

 

 

Reward posted for police killer

 

POLICEWOMAN Tanya Milazzo is hoping a $100,000 reward will unlock critical information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of her husband‘s killer.

Clint Milazzo was celebrating his acceptance as a recruit to the NSW Police Academy when he was punched to the ground outside the Ettamogah Hotel in Campbelltown, on February 23, 2003. He suffered severe head injuries and died on March 3.

The 24-year-old father had been looking forward to his wife completing her police training and joining him in their chosen career.

“I know that there are people out there who know who was responsible for my husband’s death,” Picton-based Constable Milazzo said.

“They have the information we need to bring the killer to justice. It’s very frustrating because we know who did it, they know who did it, but they won’t come forward.

“Hopefully, the prospect of picking up $100,000 will end the stalemate in the investigation.”

Detective Sergeant Bob Morley said the police inquiry was focusing on a suspect whose role emerged during a 10-day coronial inquest last year.

“We hope the reward will loosen someone’s lips, especially among the associates and acquaintances of the person we are looking at,” Sergeant Morley said.

Posting the $100,000 reward, Police Minister Carl Scully said: “Campbelltown detectives have conducted extensive enquiries but have exhausted all leads.

“It’s hoped this reward may persuade somebody with knowledge of Clint’s murder to come forward and provide police with information that could lead to an arrest and conviction.

“His wife and two young children deserve to know who was responsible for Clint’s death, and see justice done.”

During their initial inquiries, police said the unprovoked attack was carried out by a male Caucasian 20 to 25 years old, about 178 centimetres tall, with short-cropped hair.

Anybody with any information about the Milazzo murder should contact Campbelltown Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Reward posted for police killer

 

 

 

 

 

 



Gary Malcolm PAGE

| 27/05/2020

Gary Malcolm PAGE

AKA  PAGEY, STORKY

Late of  ?

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  090

NSW Police Cadet # 1657

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  11075

Rank:  Commenced Training as Police Cadet on 20 February 1961 ( 15 years, 8 months, 19 days old )

Probationary Constable- appointed 1 June 1964 ( 19 years old )

Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 June 1969

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed 1 June 1973 

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 13 September 1986*

*in the 1988 Stud Book it is recorded that he made Sgt on 13-9-86

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 1 July 1980*

*in the 1989 Stud Book it is recorded that he made Sgt on 1-7-80

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Inspector – appointed ? ? ? 

Chief Inspector – appointed ? ? ? 

Superintendent – appointed ? ? ? 

Chief Superintendent – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank =  ?

Stations:  ?, North Coast District ( 1969 ), ?, Hillston ( 1972 – Cst 1/c ), Nowra ( 1970s ), OIC – Wee Waa ( 1980s – ’90s ), ?

Service:  From 20 February 1961   to   ? ? ?  =  ? years Service

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 20 January 1981 ( Sgt 3/c )

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 7 October 1991 ( Sgt 3/c )

2nd Clasp to National Medal – granted 8 March 1997 ( Sgt )

 

Born:  Friday  1 June 1945

Died on:  Monday  11 May 2020

Age:  74 years,  11 months,  10 days

Cause:  Cancer – ? Type

Event location:   ?

Event date:  ?

 

Funeral date:  ? ? ?

Funeral location:  ?  ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 20 – 30 persons at a Funeral due to the Cornona19 Virus Pandemic – this will be a Private Funeral )

 

Future Wake location:  ? TBA ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 10 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

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

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

A newspaper cutting of Gary Page, cropped from a group photo taken in the early seventies.
A newspaper cutting of Gary Page, cropped from a group photo taken in the early seventies.

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

I haven’t any further information on this man than what is recorded above.

 

Cal

 

 

 

 

 



Maurice John ALCHIN

| 27/05/2020

Maurice John ALCHIN

AKA  Moss

Late of  ?

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  “possibly” 088

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  10104

Rank:  Commenced Training on ? ? ?

Probationary Constable- appointed 14 August 1961

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 April 1967

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 February 1978

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 3 May 1986

Inspector – appointed 6 July 1988

Chief Inspector – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank =  ?

Stations:  ?, South Coast District ( 1967 ), ?, Patrol Commander – Parkes ( Insp )( 1988 – ? ), 

Service:  From ? pre August 1961? ?   to   ? ? ?  =  ? years Service

Awards:  National Medal – granted 11 December 1980 ( Sgt 3/C )

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 7 November 1988 ( SenSgt )

2nd Clasp to National Medal – granted 6 June 1997 ( Insp )

 

Born:  Sunday  6 April 1941

Died on:  Friday  25 May 2012

Age:  71 years,  1 month,  19 days

Cause:  ?

Event location:   ?

Event date:  ?

Maurice John ALCHIN AKA Moss

Funeral date:  Thursday  31 May 2012 @ 11am

Funeral location:  St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Parkes, NSW

Maurice John ALCHIN AKA Moss

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Parkes Cemetery, 2 Wellington Rd, Parkes, NSW

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

 

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

 

Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 22 July 1988 (No.119), page 3835

NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE FORCE

Commissioned Officer Appointment

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has approved of the undermentioned Commissioned Officer appointment, effective from the date indicated:

Inspector, Patrol Commander, Parkes

Senior Sergeant Maurice John Alchin, date of entry on duty.

TED PICKERING,

(6027) Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231382410

 

 

Nothing further, at the time of publication, can be found on this man.

 

Cal

100520

 

 

 

 

 



Sally Elizabeth URQUHART

| 27/05/2020

Sally Elizabeth URQUHART

AKA  ?

Late of  ?

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

Queensland Police Academy Squad #  ? ? ?

Queensland Police Force

Regd. #  4014432

Rank:  Commenced Training on 19 February 2001

Probationary Constable- appointed 4 September 2001

Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

 

Final Rank =  Constable

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

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

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours

 

Born:  ? ? ?

Died on:  7 May 2005

Age:  28

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

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

Event date:  7 May 2005

 

Funeral date:  ? ? ?

Funeral location:  ? 

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: ?

 

SALLY IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

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In Memory of Constable Sally Urquhart

 

Sally URQUHART

Location: Column 3 - Left leg, Rear portion, Row 4 Sally Urquhart
Location: Column 3 – Left leg, Rear portion, Row 4

 

Constable Constable Sally Urquhart and Senior Constable Trad Thornton on the northernmost point of the Australian Mainland.
Constable Sally Urquhart and Senior Constable Trad Thornton on the northernmost point of the Australian Mainland.

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sally and her dog ' Prince '
Sally and her dog ‘ Prince ‘

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local kids at Aurukun swimming pool
Local kids at Aurukun swimming pool

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sally's graduation day - pictured with squad mates Constable Krissie Warriner and Constable Mardi Watts
Sally’s graduation day – pictured with squad mates Constable Krissie Warriner and Constable Mardi Watts

Sally on Patrol in Bamaga
Sally on Patrol in Bamaga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Journal for Women and Policing

Pages 12 – 14

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

 

 

 

 

Fresh blow to air crash victims’ families

by Vanessa Marsh and Vanda Carson
18th Sep 2018 9:15 AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He said the families were desperate for answers.

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

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

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

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

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

The appeal returns to the Court of Appeal tomorrow.

 

Fresh blow to air crash victims’ families | Morning Bulletin

 

 

Sahar Mourad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

 

 

Lockhart River air disaster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

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

 

Investigation

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

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

Senate inquiry

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

The recommendations from the report are:

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

a. introducing a small board of up to five members to provide enhanced oversight and strategic direction for CASA; and
b. undertaking a review of CASA’s funding arrangements to ensure CASA is equipped to deal with new regulatory challenges.
2. In accordance with the findings of the Hawke Taskforce, that CASA’s Regulatory Reform Program be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible to provide certainty to industry and to ensure CASA and industry are ready to address future safety challenges.
3. That the Australian National Audit Office audit CASA’s implementation and administration of its Safety Management Systems approach.

Further incidents

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

Notes

 

 

  1. Hans Mick (17 August 2007). “Lockhart River plane crash findings handed down”. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 January 2014.

References

 

 

Lockhart River air disaster – Wikipedia

 

Remembrance post Constable Sally Urquhart

10 years on we remember those lost in the Lockhart River Plane Crash

May 7, 2005, saw 13 passengers and 2 crew board an Aerotropics flight in Bamaga bound for Cairns.

Constable Sally Urquhart was one of those passengers heading to Townsville Police Academy for work and farewelled her fiancé at the Bamaga Airport.

Whilst enroute, their Metroliner crashed on ‘South Pap’ on the Iron Range about 11km from Lockhart River airstrip at about 11.44am.

Police commenced Operation Delta Devlin with Inspector Russell Rhodes as the Forward Commander for the Crash Investigation and recovery.
nspector Rhodes is now in his 4th decade of policing and he cited this job as his most demanding job as a Forward Commander as it was an extremely demanding search and recovery effort over a seven day period.

Whilst he had a very good team working with him, they were challenged by the tough terrain and weather conditions.

He said, “I do stress that it was never about us and no matter how hard it was going to be we were always going to do whatever it took to help those families.”

No one can prepare you for a sudden loss of a loved one. When it comes in tragic circumstances, it’s like a bolt from the blue that makes no sense at all.

Many of us in the QPS had the pleasure of working with Constable Sally Urquhart and treasure the time we had with her. She was an absolutely delightful young woman.

Beautiful inside and out, charismatic in nature, she was a little pocket rocket, smart as a whip, a dedicated police officer with so much potential to succeed. She was your typical girl next door and engaged to be married to a fellow officer later in 2005. Both were so excited to spend their lives together.

Constable Sally Urquhart was a much loved friend and colleague to many of us in the Queensland Police Service. Sal made our lives that much richer for just knowing her and she will always be remembered as a beautiful young woman, full of life and forever young.

Today ceremonies were held in Bamaga at the Airport and the Oxley Police Academy to mark the 10th anniversary of the plane crash.

Constable Sally Urquhart’s family were present at the Police Academy to hear the Commissioner of Police Ian Stewart and Mr John O’Gorman (Retired Police Inspector) pay tribute to Sally, honouring her service, at the 10th anniversary of her death.
In recognition of the shared tragedy of the plane crash, Sally’s nieces and nephews released 15 balloons for each of those who lost their lives 10 years ago at the Oxley Academy ceremony.

Our deepest sympathies go out to all the families and friends of those lost in the Lockhart River Plane crash 10 years ago.

They remain alive in our hearts and treasured memories will not be forgotten.
RIP Sally

 

 

Honouring victims of shocking fatal flight

CHRISTIE ANDERSON, Townsville Bulletin

A DECADE ago today, two pilots and 13 passengers boarded an aeroplane in Bamaga bound for Cairns – but they would never complete the fateful journey.

Memorial services will be held around the state today to remember the 15 people killed in the Lockhart River air disaster 10 years ago.

On May 7, 2005, an Aerotropics flight with 15 people on board from Bamaga to Cairns crashed into South Pap Ridge, 11km northwest of the Lockhart River Aboriginal commission.

Trad Thornton will be one of dozens of family members remembering a loved one taken too soon.

Mr Thornton, now a police sergeant based in Brisbane, was a senior constable in 2005 when his fiancée Sally Urquhart was killed in one of the worst aeroplane crashes in Australia’s history.

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

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

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

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

Sally Urquhart and fiance Trad Thornton. Sally Urquhart died when the TransAir passenger plane smashed into a hill in May 2005 on approach to the Far Northern community of Lockhart River, killing all 15 people aboard.
Sally Urquhart and fiancée Trad Thornton. Sally Urquhart died when the TransAir passenger plane smashed into a hill in May 2005 on approach to the Far Northern community of Lockhart River, killing all 15 people aboard.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

A Call From Lockhart River

 

This program tells the poignant story of a popular young police officer widely described as one of the ‘best and brightest’ in the Queensland Force.

Sally Urquhart was one of 15 people killed four years ago when a plane crashed at Lockhart River in a remote region of Far North Queensland.

It was categorised as the worst airline disaster in Australia for nearly forty years.

At the time of her death Sally Urquhart was engaged to a police colleague also serving in the Far North. In a call to her mother just before the flight, Sally talked about the upcoming wedding and described her fear of getting on the plane. “I just hate it… it rattles” she said.

Sally’s father Shane is a primary school principal, with no expertise of any kind in aviation.

But when official investigations into the crash left questions unanswered, he set out on a single minded mission that took him to the most powerful forums in the land – with consequences for everyone in regional Australia and beyond.

Transcript

BOB ATKINSON, PRESENTER: Hello, my name is Bob Atkinson and I am the Commissioner for the Queensland Police Service. On Saturday the 7th of May 2005, an aircraft with 15 people on board, travelling from Bamaga crashed at Lockhart River. All 15 people were killed. One of those was Sally Urquhart, constable in the Queensland Police Service and the daughter of Shane and Elizabeth Urquhart. Sally was one of our brightest and best officers and sadly, her unlimited potential will now never be realised. This Australian Story is about her father Shane and his work to improve the safety of people travelling on regional airlines throughout Australia.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Being a musician myself, one of the ways that I thought would be a long term way of remembering Sally, was to have a piece of music composed in her honour. It’s called ‘Celebration for Sally’. The navy band in Sydney have it as part of their repertoire.

NATALIE URQUHART, SISTER: I definitely have a sense of Sally when I play that piece. Certain bits, like the bit at the start just reminds me of her being a police officer. You know, there’s the police whistle and all that, and I just straight away think of Sal in her uniform, and then the reflective part of it, you know, I can think of maybe my last moments that I spent with Sal, and that’s, they’re the hard bits to get through. Mum and dad don’t actually get the chance very much to come and watch me perform in the navy band. I think they got a huge buzz out of it. So um, I think it was probably a bit emotionally hard on mum. I think she might have had a few tears there.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: There’s just certain parts in it that really, I really love and I’ve told Natalie which parts they are. And every time they’re played I just, yeah, it’s my Sal.

(Excerpts from ABC News)

FEMALE REPORTER: Fifteen people died when a Transair Metro liner slammed into a rugged mountain in May 2005.

MALE REPORTER: Searches took until late in the afternoon to spot the wreckage. One of the passengers was Constable Sally Urquhart, a Bamaga police officer.

INVESTIGATOR: We’d like to know exactly what caused the accident.

FEMALE REPORTER 2: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has described yesterday’s tragedy as the country’s most significant loss since the 1960s.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: This was always an accident that was going to happen, not if and when, an accident that was always going to happen.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: And it was just amazing when he started how many people, like ex-pilots or pilots, got in contact with him to say, ‘Oh yeah, I know of this that happened, and I know of that that happened’.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: That caused me no end of grief, that caused me no end of angst in that I really needed to find out what the hell was going on here.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Sally was our eldest child, first born. I’m a school principal and I was in my first one teacher school when Sally was due to be born.

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: Sal was one of those people where she was always my rock. Like I’d, as most young fella’s do, get themselves in a bit trouble and that and Sal would be the first person I rang, every time.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: She was fairly set on law, got an honours degree in law, went off and did some articles with a law firm and decided very promptly that that wasn’t what she wanted to do.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: And she called us up and said ‘I don’t want to be a lawyer anymore, I can’t do it, I hate it’. And like she topped family law in her year and all I could think of was, five years down the drain, you know.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Touch was her big thing and she was being looked at to be part of the Australian mixed open team.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: At that particular stage with her touch, she had met a couple of girls that were in the police service and Shane said to Sal, ‘Have you ever thought of joining the police service?’

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: When Sally first went to the city station, she was doing the orientation visit and I think one of the senior officers might have said something like, ‘this is Trad Thornton, keep away from Trad Thornton’ or something like that. And I think that might have been like waving a red rag to a bull.

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: They didn’t have much in common, but they just clicked. They never argued, they never worried about stuff, they just did what they had to do and to them life was beautiful.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Most of the young police officers do need to do a bit of country service, Sally promptly transferred to Cairns.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: I was inspector in Cairns. Sally was smart as a whip. She was a very down to earth, practical and keen young copper, and a very effective young copper.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Trad put his hand up and said I’d like to go to Cairns too, so he ended up in Cairns as well, and they got engaged before they went up there. So they were going to be married in September 2005.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: And he and Sal went up to the Cape stations. She was a caring, compassionate person who genuinely loved other people. And I was more than proud to call Sally my friend, more than proud to call Sally my friend, and I still am.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: One of the issues about living in isolated communities, is the fact that the major way of moving is by air transport.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: I personally am terrified of aeroplanes, have been my whole life. If the young police had to come out of the communities for court, or for courses or any other reason, then it was by aircraft

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: She often used to say to me, ‘I wish I didn’t have to fly out’ and the night before it happened, she rang here. And the last thing she said to me was, ‘The only thing mum, is I hate getting on that plane’. She said, ‘I hate it’. She said, ‘It just rattles’. And I said, ‘You’ll be right, love’. I said ‘Think of happy thoughts when you get on there’. I said, ‘Think of your wedding’. That’s the last time I spoke to her.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Trad was still on duty up in the station at that particular time and he received the phone call from Lockhart River to say, ‘Where’s the plane? It hasn’t arrived’.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: Trad rang and I heard Shane say, ‘What’s the matter mate, what’s wrong?’ And Shane just got up and sort of thumped the bed. He said, ‘No’. And then he said to me, ‘They can’t find the plane’.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: My mobile phone rang and it was a policeman. He said, ‘Have you heard about that plane?’, I said, ‘Yeah’. He said, ‘Sally was on it’. And I said, ‘How much hope is there?’ He said, ‘In reality’ and he was very strong in what he said, but it meant none. He said, ‘We haven’t found the wreck, but we’re quite sure we’re looking for a plane wreck’.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Within a couple of hours, I think it was by 9:30 that night we actually arrived in Cairns.

(Excerpt from ABC News, May 8, 2005)

RESCUE WORKER: Parts of the wreckage and some of the undergrowth was still burning with smoke when we got there yesterday afternoon.

ABC REPORTER: It’s been confirmed that there were no survivors among the 15 people aboard the plane which crashed in remote North Queensland yesterday.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Yesterday we lost our beautiful daughter Sally forever. She was 28-years-old.

ABC REPORTER 2: The flight was a regular passenger service returning to Cairns from the Cape York community of Bamaga.

ABC REPORTER 3: Crash investigators have confirmed that the plane slammed, at speed, into a steep hill and burst into flames on impact.

ABC REPORTER 4: Vital black box recorders were recovered yesterday. They were damaged from the impact and subsequent fire but it’s hoped they’ll still be able to help determine what caused the crash.

(End of Excerpt)

(Excerpt from ABC News, May 11, 2005)

ABC REPORTER 5: Cairns at St Monica cathedral overflowed with family members, friends, police officers.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson consoled Shane Urquhart, whose daughter Sally was due to marry fellow Bamaga police officer, Trad Thornton, later this year.

(End of Excerpt)

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: It’s all a bit of a blur when we did lose Sal but hearing my parents cry themselves to sleep was the most chilling thing that I’ve ever heard.

Mum, I can understand, but hearing my father cry himself to sleep was just, yeah. Not nice at all.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: The most difficult thing however was coming back to Brisbane and waiting for the process of victim identification and it was 23 days from the accident before we were able to have a funeral for our daughter.

(Excerpt of footage from Police video, May 30, 2005, Sally Urquhart’s funeral)

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: I think there was about 3,000 police at the funeral, the horses, 20 something motorcycles, the guard of honour, all escorted Sally along Anne Street to St John’s Cathedral.

BOB ATKINSON, COMMISSIONER, QUEENSLAND POLICE: Today, Sally, we pay tribute to you. We salute you.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: Bluey O’Gorman organised it. It’s pretty hard when you’ve got to sit there and pick your daughter’s casket. You sort of feel that, well, she’s my girl, I know her best.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: It was tough, and yet it was, it was an extreme honour for me to be able to take part in making sure that Sally’s send-off was special for her.

TRAD THORNTON, FIANCÉE: Just before she was about to board the plane, I gave her a hug, I kissed her and I told her I loved her. I was also able to say goodbye. It was a token goodbye, but it was a goodbye.

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: Trad’s lost his be all and end all. They were getting married, they were tight, they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.

And seeing that man get up there and speak was absolutely mind blowing.

TRAD THORNTON, FIANCÉE: As I walked towards the police truck, I turned to see my Sally for the last time. She was waving and smiling at me and I can’t ask for a better last image of Sally.

(End of Excerpt)

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: That was a huge day, and everything was just beautifully done. How Sal would have wanted it to be.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: For quite a few months I guess we were grieving and not taking particular notice of what was going on. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was investigating this particular crash.

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: The ATSB were very good to us. They let us know what they could. I think Shane had made up his mind he was getting involved anyway, he knew there was more to it than just the crash.

(Excerpt from ABC News, December 2005)

ABC REPORTER: Seven months on an interim report’s been released with few answers about what went wrong.

AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU SPOKESMAN: We have ruled out a mechanical failure of the engines.

ABC REPORTER: Now victims’ families are questioning a safety check which gave the aircraft the all-clear two months before the crash.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Was that audit carried out properly? The answer would be no, it wasn’t.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: At the particular time the company that was running the route from Cairns to Bamaga and back was a company called Aero Tropics. Aero Tropics was the name that was on the plane but they were actually responsible for the passenger lists and ticketing. The plane was actually owned and operated by a company called Lessbrook trading as Transair. Senator Jan McLucas from Cairns, she’d been doing a lot of investigating around Aero Tropics in particular and the operation up there.

(Excerpt of footage from Senate Estimates, October 2006)

KERRY O’BRIEN, QUEENSLAND SENATOR: I think Senator McLucas has got some questions that she wants to

JAN MCLUCAS, QUEENSLAND SENATOR: Yes. I want to ask some questions about CASA’s (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) oversight of Lessbrook trading as Transair Propriety Limited.

(End of Excerpt)

MARK DAVIS, FMR STAFFER TO SEN. JAN MCLUCAS: I was Senator Jan McLucas’s media adviser at the time of the accident. It very quickly became apparent that we should also be looking at the regulatory authority, CASA, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the way that it was monitoring the aviation industry in North Queensland. North Queensland has got a very, very bad aviation safety record.

(Excerpt continued)

JAN MCLUCAS, QUEENSLAND SENATOR: What I’d now like to know is what action was taken by CASA following the November 2001 audit, the August 2004 audit, the February 2005 audit and the February 2006 audit.

BRUCE BYRON, FMR CASA CEO: From my, looking at the records.

MARK DAVIS, FMR STAFFER TO SEN. JAN MCLUCAS: The information that was starting to come from us from people in the aviation industry was very disturbing.

BRUCE BYRON, FMR CASA CEO: Recorded activities, were not anywhere near the same scale.

JAN MCLUCAS, QUEENSLAND SENATOR: Mr Byron, you have said that to me. I am sorry, I need more than that.

BRUCE BYRON, FMR CASA CEO: Senator, you also asked me what we have done in relation to other audits that have been done recently.

JAN MCLUCAS, QUEENSLAND SENATOR: I want, I want the detail of what actions CASA took following each of the four audits and I think it is very reasonable thing to ask.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: I did some delving into other crashes in Australian history and found that exactly the same things had been occurring over a period of 10 years or so. There were incidents of aircraft landing on unauthorised airstrips, tyres blown on tarmacs, planes getting bogged on airstrips, hydraulic failures, landing-gear failures and questions about the validity of pilots’ endorsements. And the general commonality between all of these investigations seemed to be that CASA was involved somewhere, CASA was the oversight organisation, but these companies had deficiencies that weren’t rectified. And they continued to fly with these deficiencies. I really thought then that there would be a process that would uncover all of this and that there would be some justice, accountability throughout the system.

(Excerpt from ABC News, April 2007)

KAREN BERKMAN, ABC REPORTER: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau report paints a terrifying picture.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: It was one of the most comprehensive, detailed reports that the ATSB has ever produced.

(Excerpt continued)

KAREN BERKMAN, ABC REPORTER: In bad weather the Metro-liner came in for a complex instrument landing at Lockhart River with the pilot overloaded and an inexperienced 21-year-old co-pilot. Add to that confusing maps and a basic ground proximity warning system that would have alerted the crew too late.

BRUCE BYRON, FMR CASA CEO: I have never seen rates of descent that high, during an instrument approach, when so close to the ground.

ABC REPORTER: Transair was found to have contributed to the crash by inadequate training and supervision of pilots.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: CASA had done very, very many reports on Transair, had come up with some recommendations. Transair had not carried any of them out and were still continuing to operate with those things unattended.

(Excerpt from ABC News)

ABC REPORTER: The ATSB said the Civil Aviation Safety Authority had not properly monitored the airlines structure and operations.

(End of Excerpt)

MARK DAVIS, FMR STAFFER TO SEN. JAN MCLUCAS: And it appears that whatever actions CASA took was totally inadequate because here you suddenly have an airline with 15 people on board one of its aircrafts crashing into a mountain.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Once we’d seen the ATSB report, I guess my first thought was wow, ’cause it’s all there, and there is going to be some justice and accountability about what happened in this particular case.

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: And it wasn’t until the coroner’s inquest, that’s when it rattled me the most. Sitting there and listening to people lying through their teeth.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: It seemed to be that the CASA legal team concentrated on discrediting the ATSB and the ATSB report.

(Excerpt from ABC News)

ABC REPORTER 3: Today the Coroner released his findings into the crash.

ABC REPORTER 4: Coroner Michael Barnes blamed Captain Brett Hotchin for the crash, a pilot criticised by colleagues for his dangerous flying practices.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: We hold no grudges against the pilots whatsoever. Yes, the pilot in command certainly had a reputation of doing some things that were probably outside the scope of what he needed to do. The issue is, he was allowed to do that. He was allowed to do that through poor company policy, poor company management and a lack of oversight by CASA.

(Excerpt from ABC News)

ABC REPORTER 4: The coroner was critical of Transair’s safety management systems and pilot training practices, and while he criticised monitoring by CASA, he found the authority couldn’t have prevented the accident.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: We’re not looking for blame. We’re looking for someone to stand up and take responsibility.

TRAD THORNTON, FIANCÉE: We’re looking for answers and we were hoping that Mr Barnes would have made the numerous recommendations to stop something like this from happening again.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: And the people of Australia especially if you’re on rural airlines, if CASA’s oversighting it, don’t fly. Today’s outcome, what a whole waste of time for all of us and we’re just back to square one as far as I’m concerned.

(End of Excerpt)

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: That’s when I was really worried about dad, I just thought that would be such a big blow to someone like dad that’s put so much effort into it and pretty much just to get dirt thrown in his face.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: I think the darkest times are when you are alone and the memories come flooding back. You hear some music or you see something or even smell something that reminds you of the past. And we realise just what we’ve lost.

MARK DAVIS, FMR STAFFER TO SEN. JAN MCLUCAS: I think a lot of people underestimated Shane’s determination. It must have been very painful for him. We could see the pain, that’s for sure. But he never let go. Not once. Shane was looking to take it a step further and he encouraged I think, Senator McLucas and Senator Kerry O’Brien to have a look at the possibilities of a Senate inquiry into Lockhart River and into CASA.

NATALIE URQUHART, SISTER: If dad’s really passionate about something, then he will push it to the end and, definitely getting up people’s goat, getting in their faces, he’s definitely, doesn’t surprise me with dad actually at all. So he’s not going to, wasn’t going to let this one just slip away.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: I just kept making a nuisance of myself, kept knocking on doors, meeting with people, meeting with the minister, writing emails, writing faxes, asking questions. Finally, the Senate committee decided that it would instigate an inquiry into CASA and other matters. There was 63 submissions from interested people around Australia about CASA.

(Excerpt of footage from Senate Inquiry, July last year)

CHAIR: Welcome Mr Urquhart.

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: I was one of those people. I’m not a pilot, I’m not a lawyer. But in the past three years I certainly have built up my knowledge about a whole range of issues surrounding, the actions of the aviation industry and in particular that of the regulator.

(End of Excerpt)

ELIZABETH URQUHART, MOTHER: ‘Cause I think what got CASA with just this person who’s just a school teacher, he won’t know much. And I think they were surprised with what Shane knew.

NATALIE URQUHART, SISTER: Sometimes I get a little bit worried that perhaps he might be bringing things up that mum or we don’t necessarily want to get brought up again. Sometimes I think it’s a little bit of an obsession, that he may need to back off. But this is what dad needs to do, this is what dad wants to do, and it’s a good thing.

(Excerpt continued)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: I’d like to make clear too that nothing is going to bring back any of the people who were lost at Lockhart River. However, to uncover the years of gross mismanagement, incompetence, self-indulgence and totally inconsistent application of safety regulations is just appalling. These endemic problems go right back to 1998 where reform was promised and reform has not happened. I could use the term corruption, but endemic problem within the organisation.

(End of Excerpt)

BRENDAN URQUHART, BROTHER: Once he gets to a certain point and I think that point has nearly been passed, with pursuing it, that he really needs to step back a bit. Mainly for mum and himself. I think he’s pushed himself that little bit too far at the moment emotionally and I think he really needs to just stand back and actually grieve.

(Excerpt continued)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: Someone also said ‘people like myself shouldn’t be complaining’, what do we need to do? Wait for another accident before CASA needs to act?

Well CASA hasn’t acted before accidents before. They wait until there’s an accident or incident then they act.

(End of Excerpt)

SHANE URQUHART, FATHER: We were very happy with the outcome of that inquiry. It’s the first time in three years that someone’s paid attention and listened. I’m particularly interested in the last recommendation about the Australian Audit Bureau having a good hard look at CASA’s operations and how they do business and hopefully they’ll be fixed. I feel we’ve had great success since the Senate Inquiry of last year. Especially since the release of the green paper recommendations by Minister Albanese. I’m particularly interested in the fact that the ATSB is now going to be a much more independent organisation. This simply means that CASA now can be investigated by the ATSB.

MARK DAVIS, FMR STAFFER TO SEN. JAN MCLUCAS: I think that Shane’s efforts have led to a safer environment, a safer flying environment in Far North Queensland.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: And I know that Shane and Liz aren’t just doing it for Sal, their efforts are also on behalf the other 15 people who died. It’s not just for Sally.

NATALIE URQUHART, SISTER: You know, the best outcome would be for this to never happen again. You know, to prevent it from happening to some other families. The outcome that dad has got, I think will definitely help in looking to the future and moving on. And not dwelling on, you know, how Sal died, but how she lived.

JOHN ‘BLUEY’ O’GORMAN, FMR QLD POLICE INSPECTOR: Someone as great as Sally doesn’t come about by accident, it comes about because she had great parents. I suppose that’s probably, in my own funny way, that’s probably the best compliment that I could pay to them, that they were the people who gave the world such a wonderful person as Sally.

END CAPTIONS: The Federal Government expects two new aviation bills to become law by July.

One will create a small expert board ‘to provide high level direction to CASA’s regulatory and safety oversight role’.

The second will ‘reinforce the independence of the ATSB’ by establishing it as a separate statutory agency.

A Call From Lockhart River – Australian Story

 

 

Plane crash families fight for justice

by Peter Michael, The Courier-Mail
3rd May 2017 6:20 AM

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Plane crash families fight for justice | Queensland Times

 

 

Sally URQUHART

Sally URQUHART
Sally URQUHART & her father

Sally URQUHART

Sally URQUHART
Father of Sally Urquhart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Anthony Bede MADIGAN

| 27/05/2020

Anthony Bede MADIGAN  APM

AKA  Tony

Late of Wagga Wagga, NSW

NSW Redfern Academy Class #  Started with 081 – Ended with 087

NSW Police Cadet # 1426

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  10067

Rank:  Commenced Training as Police Cadet on 28 January 1958

Probationary Constable- appointed 15 June 1961

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed 1 April 1967

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 2 December 1977

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? March 1986

Inspector – appointed 14 October 1987

Chief Inspector – appointed ? September 1989

Final Rank =  Chief Inspector

Stations: As a Cadet: Kogarah Traffic Office, Kogarah Charge Room and School Crossings.

Once Confirmed as ProCst:   South District ( 1967 ), Regent St Police Stn – GDs (  16 June 1961 – 2 August 1962 ),  Rockdale GDs ( 3 August 1962 – ? ? 1962 ),   Bourke ( Inspectors Clerk  & GDs – 1962 ),  Young – Lock Up Keeper ( 1970s – SenCon ), Warren ( Sgt – OIC 1978 ), Wagga Wagga ( 1981 – GDs ), Inspector – Team Leader – Management Review Branch ( 1987 ), Senior Service Delivery Assessor – Service Delivery Assessment Branch – Police HQ – College St Sydney ( 1989 – 19 May 1994) – Retirement

Service:  From 28 January 1958   to   19 May 1994  =  36+ years Service

Awards:  National Medal – granted 11 December 1980 ( SenCon )

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 8 June 1988 ( SenSgt )

Australian Police Medal with 5th Clasp( APM ) –  granted 14 June 1993 ( SenCon ? )

National Police Service Medal – granted 10 February 2016 ( 22 years after he Retired )

Born  Monday  15 June 1942 in Tumut, NSW

Died on:  Tuesday  5 May 2020

Age:  77 years  10 months  20 days

Cause:  ?

Event location:   ?, Wagga Wagga, NSW

Event date:  ?

 

Funeral date:  Friday  8 May 2020 @ 9.30am

Funeral location:  ?, Wagga Wagga  ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 10 persons at a Funeral due to the Cornona19 Virus Pandemic – this will be a Private Funeral )

The Service will be Livestreamed. 

The link  is https://livestream.com/accounts/13561897/events/9118105 )

See this Link if above link does not work.

 

Future Wake location:  ? TBA ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 2 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

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

 

Funeral Parlour:  Alan Harris McDonald, 76 Copland St, Wagga Wagga, NSW  02 69214913

Buried at:  Wagga Wagga Lawn Cemetery, NSW

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

 

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

Anthony Bede MADIGAN APM AKA Tony Today our city has lost one of natures true gentleman. A man who served to protect our community with integrity, loyalty and commitment for 37 years. It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Tony Bede Madigan APM.

 

 

Left to right - back row - Mike Stephens, Rod Fulham, Paul McGowan, John Imeson, Merv Braithwaite, Kevin Mongton, Barry Luckie, Brian Rowley, John Baker, Brian Borthwick, Barry Cooper, John Hayes, Tony Madigan, Bruce Spencer, Barry Lawson, Bernie Lee, Roy Fry (partly obscured by Ian Robb standing at end of middle row), Roy Leabeater (Instructor).<br /> Middle row - Ross Goodwin, Brian McIlvenna, Leo Gately, Gordon Doyle, Harvey Juergens, Wally Lark, Helen Clark ( later Magnus ), Ida Luke, Fred Sewell, Ron Blake, Terry Lester, Tom Powick, Ian Robb (standing).<br /> Front row - Trevor Neill, Les Wyatt, Bob Drooger, Warren Taylor, Brian Johnson, Brian Warwick, Les Miller, Bill Dent, Clem Long, Lloyd Taylor, Len DeAudney, Col Bell.<br />
Class Stud Book entry commencing with Warren Taylor (ex Prosecutor) 9999 and finishing with Brian Warwick 10062 (HWP).
Class 87A from 29 May 1961

 

The reunion photo identified as follows:
Left to right – back row – Mike Stephens, Rod Fulham, Paul McGowan, John Imeson, Merv Braithwaite, Kevin Mongton, Barry Luckie, Brian Rowley, John Baker, Brian Borthwick, Barry Cooper, John Hayes, Tony Madigan, Bruce Spencer, Barry Lawson, Bernie Lee, Roy Fry (partly obscured by Ian Robb standing at end of middle row), Roy Leabeater (Instructor).
Middle row – Ross Goodwin, Brian McIlvenna, Leo Gately, Gordon Doyle, Harvey Juergens, Wally Lark, Helen Clark (later Magnus), Ida Luke, Fred Sewell, Ron Blake, Terry Lester, Tom Powick, Ian Robb (standing).
Front row – Trevor Neill, Les Wyatt, Bob Drooger, Warren Taylor, Brian Johnson, Brian Warwick, Les Miller, Bill Dent, Clem Long, Lloyd Taylor, Len DeAudney, Col Bell.
We held a 45 year reunion at the same venue 2006.

Class Stud Book entry commencing with Warren Taylor (ex Prosecutor) 9999 and finishing with Brian Warwick 10062 (HWP). Class 87A from 29 May 1961
Class Stud Book entry commencing with Warren Taylor (ex Prosecutor) 9999 and finishing with Brian Warwick 10062 (HWP). Class 87A from 29 May 1961

 

 

Wagga Police mourn death of Chief Inspector Anthony (Tony) Madigan

Police officers came to honour the memory of chief inspector Anthony Madigan, who died on Tuesday after a long and decorated career in the force.

He will be remembered for his unwavering work ethic and dedication to his community, evidenced by the vast collection of medals that were on display at his funeral on Friday.

During his career he was awarded some of the highest honours a police officer can receive, including the Australia Police Medal and National Police Service Medal for his lifetime’s accomplishments.

The medals were distributed among his family members, who will be keeping them to remember the long-lasting impact he made on the community.

His wife Wendy Madigan will be remember him as a dutiful family man who always found ways to make time for his five children and five grandchildren.

“He was a loving husband, an amazing father, and a really amazing grandfather,” Mrs Madigan said.

“He was also a very humble man; he never bragged about anything.”

Mrs Madigan was married to Mr Madigan for 58 years, but she still remembers the first time they met as though it were yesterday.

The two of them first locked eyes on each other in Sydney when they were only 19 and 20 years old, and they would quickly fall in love and end up sharing lifetime together.

“I was introduced to him by a friend of mine who was a police officer and, as they say in the classics, the rest is history,” Mrs Madigan said.

“The 58 years went in a heartbeat.”

Mr Madigan’s son Brendan Madigan he took some consolation knowing that his dad lived a good life right up until the very end.

“Mum and dad had a love of travel over the last 25 years, so they enjoyed a lot of overseas travel together and they shared a lot of memories,” Brendan said.

“He was a great father.”

Chief Inspector Paul Smith said Mr Madigan was “a policeman through and through”, and that his death was a loss to the entire NSW Police Force.

“Tony approached life and his career as a police officer with determination, confidence, and enthusiasm,” Inspector Smith said.

“At the end of his career Sergeant Tony Madigan had provided over 36 years of outstanding service to the NSW Police Force and the community of NSW.”

 

Wagga Police mourn death of Chief Inspector Anthony (Tony) Madigan Police officers came to honour the memory of chief…

Posted by Chris Hall on Sunday, 10 May 2020

 

 

 

 



Denis Harold STRICKLAND

| 27/05/2020

Denis Harold STRICKLAND   PSM

AKA  ?

Late of Pymble, NSW

New South Wales Police Force – Public Service

Regd. #  5723230

Rank: Public Service – Clerk 11/12

Stations:  ?, Systems Officer – Planning & Research Branch – Clerk – Grade 7 / 8,  Modus Operandi ( M.O. ) Unit – Parramatta ( 1980s ), Special Services Group ( S.S.G. )(14 August 1995 – 30 April 1998 ),  State Protection Unit ( S.P.G. )( 1 May 1998 – 16 August 2004) – Retirement

Service:  From ? May 1957   to   16 August 2004  =  47+ years Service

Awards:  Long Service Medallion – 12 November 1999

Public Service Medal  ( PSM ) – granted 14 June 2004

For outstanding public service, particularly to the NSW Police Force at an organisational and policy level for over thirty years

 

Born:  1 October 1942 

Died on:  Saturday  25 April 2020

Age:  77 years,

Cause:  ?

Event location:   ?

Event date:  ?

 

Funeral date:  ? ? ?

Funeral location:  ?  ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 10 persons at a Funeral due to the Cornona19 Virus Pandemic – this will be a Private Funeral )

 

Future Wake location:  ? TBA ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 2 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

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

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

Denis Harold STRICKLAND

 

 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

Stockpile of some 6,000 weapons in the armoury at the old C.I.B. building Surrey Hills. Public Servant, Denis Strickland who has the task of processing the weapons collecting of and returning of same. With the Liberal Govt. in power, the guns that where handed in during recent amnesties etc, in line with the old state Labour Gov. policy, can be reclaimed by their owners. March 28, 1988. (Photo by Robert Pearce/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).<br />
Stockpile of some 6,000 weapons in the armoury at the old C.I.B. building Surrey Hills. Public Servant, Denis Strickland who has the task of processing the weapons collecting of and returning of same. With the Liberal Govt. in power, the guns that where handed in during recent amnesties etc, in line with the old state Labour Gov. policy, can be reclaimed by their owners. March 28, 1988. (Photo by Robert Pearce/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).

Stockpile of some 6,000 weapons in the armoury at the old C.I.B. building Surrey Hills. Public Servant, Denis Strickland who has the task of processing the weapons collecting of and returning of same. With the Liberal Govt. in power, the guns that where handed in during recent amnesties etc, in line with the old state Labour Gov. policy, can be reclaimed by their owners. March 28, 1988. (Photo by Robert Pearce/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).<br />

 

 

 

 

Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),

Friday 20 June 1958 (No.63 (SUPPLEMENT)), page 1909

SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE “PUBLIC

SERVICE ACT, 1902”

APPOINTMENTS

 

Police Department, Premier’s Department, — with effect from 1st May, 1958.

Mr. Denis Harold Strickland to be Clerk, on probation.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220275632/14131727

 

 

Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),

Friday 6 March 1959 (No.30 (SUPPLEMENT)), page 717

SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE “PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902 ”

APPOINTMENTS

 

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council and upon the recommendation of the Public Service Board, has approved of the confirmation of the appointment of the following:—

 

Police Department

Mr. Denis Harold Strickland..

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220272294/14134607

 

Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),

Friday 3 October 1975 (No.130 (SUPPLEMENT)), page 4146

APPOINTMENTS

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, and upon the recommendation of the Public Service Board has approved of the appointments set out in the schedule hereunder.

T. L. LEWIS, Premier

 

Police Department

Denis Harold STRICKLAND, Systems Officer, Grade 7 – 8, Research Branch.

 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220169409/14787357

 

 

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Special (National : 1977 – 2012),

Monday 14 June 2004 (No.S168), page 1

Government House CANBERRA ACT 2600

14 June 2004

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY 2004 HONOURS

The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following awards:

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM) AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SERVICE

Mr Denis Harold STRICKLAND

131A Livingstone Avenue, Pymble NSW 2073

For outstanding public service, particularly to the NSW Police Force at an organisational and policy level for over thirty years.

 

Sean Paul Ro Started with the Police Dept in 1958 and was still going strong at the SPC when I went there in 2003.
A true and dedicated Public Servant and I hope he wouldn’t mind me using that title?
I looked up to him, greatly admired his knowledge and experience and he treated everyone, whether in uniform or not like the true gentleman he was.
I lost contact with him when he retired and I kinda regret that now.
R.I.P. Mr Strickland and condolences to your family and dear friends.

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

 

 

Nothing further, at the time of publication, could be found on this man or his life.

 

Cal  29 April 2020

 

 

 



John Russell Stewart THOMPSON

| 27/05/2020

John Russell Stewart THOMPSON   OAM

AKA  Stewart, John Stewart

Late of Tennyson, NSW then New Zealand ( past couple of years )

 

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  043

New South Wales Police Force

 

( Service 01 )  Regd. #  8222

 

( Service 02 )   Royal Papua & New Guinea Constabulary, Military & NSW RFS

 

( Service 03 ) VIP ( Volunteer In Policing ) # 1120162

 

Rank:  Commenced Training at Redfern Academy 26 September 1955 ( 21 years, 5 months & 18 days old )

style=”color: #000000;”>Probationary Constable- appointed 7 November 1955 ( 21 years, 6 months & 30 days old )

style=”color: #000000;”>Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

style=”color: #000000;”>Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Senior Constable – appointed 7 November 1966 

 

Final Rank =  Senior Constable

 

Stations:  ?, NSW Mounted Police ( 1955 ), Bellbrook ( 1958 ), Was the last “Mounted” Officer at an outstation ( Bellbrook ), Kurindi, Katoomba – Resignation ( 14 June 1969 )

 

Service 01:  From 26 September 1955   to  14 June 1969  =  15+ years Service

 

Service 02:  Royal Papua & New Guinea Constabulary From 19 June 1969 to 1 January 1977.

API, Commander No 1 Squad, Tomaringa at 8/2/72.

Sub Inspector District Relief Officer Rabaul at 28/2/1975.

Served Mt.Hagen, Rabaul, Lae, Tomaringa with mobile squads and later at the Joint Services College, Lae and during the Bougainville emergency.

He was in possession of the Royal Papua & New Guinea Constabulary Valour Medal, apparently awarded to him during the Bougainville crises when a Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Sergeant accidentally set off a gas grenade in the police armoury, which exploded.

Being aware of the danger to a large amount of police ammunition he proceeded to throw it out of the armoury before it too exploded.

Unfortunately, this award is unrecorded.

Resigned 1/1/1977.

Enlisted CMF number 262290.

Attended OCTU. Sword of Honour for best cadet.

2nd Lieut. 23/2/1969.

Reserve CMF Infantry (PNG Command) 17/6/1969.

PNGVR 12/2/1970.

Lieutenant 31/12/1971.

T/Captain 29/5/1973.

2/I.C. B Company, Rabaul.

lst/19th Royal New South Wales Regiment 31/12/1973.

Retired as 2nd Lieut. 22/1/1975.

Temporary Captain 23/5/1977.

lst/19th Royal New South Wales Regiment.

Relinquished T/Capt and appointed to Reserve of Officers CMF 26/3/1974.

T/Captain 5/10/1979.

Captain, 19/5/1981.

Retired and placed on the retired list (NSW) as Captain 7/4/1982.

Reserve Force Medal (Captain) 3/4/1985.

Returned to New South Wales firstly to Springwood and then to a property “Mistley Grange” at Tennyson, NSW.

NSW Rural Fire Service. National Medal 7/3/1984. 1st Clasp 23/3/1984. 2nd Clasp 30/6/2000.

 

Service 03:  From ? ? 1996   to   ? ? 2018  =  over 3000 hours of Service

 

Awards: Medal of the Order of Australia – OAM – Awarded 8 June 2009 for Service to the community through the Australian Light Horse Regiment ‘A’ Troop.

There are records in the name of John Russell Stewart THOMPSON receiving the National Medal, 1st & 2nd Clasps but they also mention that the person was a Fire Fighter – so I am not sure if those references are to our man.

 

Born:  Sunday  8 April 1934, Hornsby, NSW, Australia

Died on:  Tuesday  14 April 2020 in West Melton, New Zealand

Age:  86 years & 6 days

Cause:  ?

Event location:   ?

Event date:  ?

 

Funeral date:  ? ? ? ( held )

Funeral location:  ?  ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 10 persons at a Funeral due to the Cornona19 Virus Pandemic – this will be a Private Funeral )

 

Future Wake location:  ?  ( Due to current Govt. restrictions of 2 persons only at ‘Gatherings’,  there won’t be an immediate Wake )

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

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: ?

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

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

John Russell Stewart THOMPSON AKA Stewart THOMPSON

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

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

 

 

Volunteer in Policing

Mounted Unit – NSW Police Force

August 18, 2015

John Russell Stewart THOMPSON AKA Stewart THOMPSON

 

John Russell Stewart THOMPSON AKA Stewart THOMPSON

Our Volunteer in Policing Mr Stewart Thompson has hit some career highlights in his years.  Stewart is 81 years of age, yet attends the NSW Mounted Police every Tuesday to assist with the Tour Groups and in the Museum. He rises at 4:30am in summer and 5:30am in winter, to feed his 16 horses, before boarding a train to the city, where he imparts his knowledge of our unit to the community.

For an 81 year old, Stewart does pretty well. He still rides each week and is in charge of the A Troop Richmond, Windsor as part of the Australian Light Horse. He runs his own museum, which is open to members of the public, displaying a plethora of both police and Australian Light Horse memorabilia.

Stewart joined NSWMP ( Mounted Police ) in 1955 and was stationed at Bellbrook Police Station in 1958. He was the last Mounted Officer at an outstation, when in July 1961 the Land Rover replaced the horse at Bellbrook.

Stewart continued his police service at Kurindi and Katoomba and resigned from the Police in 1969.

Stewart then rejoined the Australian Army (where he was stationed at Ingleburn prior to his Mounted Police service) and he served in the New Guinea Army.

We wish Stewart and his wife Joan, a very happy celebration of 60 years of marriage next year! A fantastic milestone for a wonderful couple.

 

John Russell Stewart THOMPSON AKA Stewart THOMPSON - in uniform
Stewart – in uniform

 

In opposition to the above information about ‘Stewarts’ Policing service – which was obtained from the Police Mounted Unit; upon his death, NSWPF advertised that ‘Stewart’ was performing duties at Katoomba at the time of his disengagement on 7 November 1955, completing 13 years service with NSW Police Force.

The 1968 ‘Stud Book’ clearly shows J.R.S. Thompson, DOB: 8 April 1934 having been ‘Sworn In’ as a Probationary Constable on the 7 November 1955 and obtaining the Rank of Senior Constable on the 7 November 1966.  As of 1968 he had qualified for a promotion to Sergeant 3rd Class but had Resigned, in 1969,  prior to obtaining that Rank.

He does NOT appear in the 1969 ‘Stud Book’ which also verifies this data.

 

Unable to find any further information on Stewart – either Military, Private or Police, than what is above.

 

Cal

 

 

 

 

 



John Maurice O’CONNOR

| 27/05/2020

John Maurice O’CONNOR

AKA  Joc

Late of North Ryde, NSW

Father to Peter John O’CONNOR, NSWPF # 19570 or 43974?

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  117

 

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  13493

 

Rank:  Commenced Training at Police Training Centre, Redfern on Monday  28 October 1968 ( Aged 20 years, 1 month, 11 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 9 December 1968 ( Aged 20 years, 2 months, 22 days )

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed 9 December 1977

Sergeant – appointed 6 November 1984

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Sergeant – appointed ? ? ?

 

Final Rank = Senior Sergeant

 

Stations:  Drummoyne, Balmain?, Mosman?, Ashfield, Five Dock, Canterbury ( mid 1990s ), Gladesville – Retirement

 

Service:  From 28 October 1968  to 13 September 1999 = 30 years, 10 months, 16 days Service

Age at Retirement: 50 years, 11 months, 27 days

Time in Retirement: 20 years, 6 months, 0 days

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 13 November 1984 ( SenCon )

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 2 February 1995 ( SenSgt )

 

Born: Friday  17 September 1948

Died on: Friday  13 March 2020

Age: 71 yrs  5 mths  25 days

Cause: Dementia

 

Event location: ?

Event date: ?

 

Funeral date: Monday  23 March 2020 @ 11am

Funeral location: Catholic Church, 3A Mary St, Hunters Hill, NSW

Wake location: ?

 

Funeral Parlour: Mannings Funerals – 9555 7551

Buried at: Cremated – Macquarie Park Crematorium @ 12.30pm

Memorial located at: ?

In lieu of flowers, donations to Police Legacy would be appreciated

 

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

 

Joc – the repairer of lawn mowers in his spare time.

 

Senior Sergeant NSW Police

O’CONNOR,  John
“Joc”

Friday March 13th 2020

Formerly of North Ryde.

Loving husband to Susan,

father to Peter & Jennifer and

father in law to Kirsty.

Brother to Denis.

Adored Pa to Angus and Ruby.

Aged 71 years
Loved by all.

Prayers for the repose of John’s soul will be held at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church 3a Mary Street Hunters Hill on Monday March 23rd 2020 commencing at 11.00am.

On conclusion the cortege will proceed to Macquarie Park Crematorium.

In John’s memory in lieu of flowers please donate to Police Legacy. A donation box will be available at the Church.

 

Proudly Australian Owned
Family Operated All Suburbs
9555 7551 9555 7092

https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/129011/sr-sgt-john-oconnor/

 

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