Bruce William TARRANT

aka  Tubby & Tarro

( late of Tanilba Bay, NSW )

New South Wales Police Force

NSW Police Redfern Academy Class # 109

Regd. #  12305

 

Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 31 October 1966 ( aged 23 years, 4 months, 9 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 12 December 1966 ( aged 23 years, 5 months, 20 days )

Constable – appointed 12 December 1967

Constable 1st Class – appointed 12 December 1971

Senior Constable – appointed 12 December 1975

Appears in the 1989 Stud Book as a SenCon

 

Final Rank:  Senior Constable

 

Stations:  North East District ( 1967 ), Newcastle, Carrington, HWP ( Cyclist ) at Scott St, Newcastle ( ? – June 1969 ), Gunnedah HWP – Cars –  Sept 1972 – ), PCBC Gunnedah – ( Police Citizens Boys Club ), Lake Macquarie PCYC ( Police Citizens Young Club 1979 –  ) – retirement

 

Service:  From  pre 12 December 1966  to  ? ? ? = ? years Service

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 22 April 1983

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 27 August 1992

 

Born:  Tuesday  22 June 1943

Died on:  Tuesday  3 May 2016 at Mayfield Aged Care, NSW

Cause:  Illness – Heart failure after battling Ischaemic Heart Disease and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia for about 10 years.

In 2014 he had successful surgery for Bowel Cancer and major heart surgery.

Age:  72 years, 10 months, 11 days

 

Funeral date:  Wednesday  4 May 2016

Funeral location:  ?

 

Buried at:  Cremated ( A private cremation took place.  There wasn’t an official funeral or public notice as per his wishes )

 Memorial at:  Tubby’s Ashes will be scattered on a farm at Burren Junction where he liked to go shooting.

 

 

 

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

 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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Due to an accident he had while in the Highway Patrol, he was always on pain killers and for more than ten years he has been using morphine patches, the prolonged use of these medications had a detrimental effect on his health this, coupled with his lifestyle, contributed to his early death.

Bruce had been ill since around August 2015 and had a bleed on the brain and surgery in September 2015.

Unfortunately Tarro had a few setbacks since that time and needed 24/7 care and was placed into the Mayfield Aged Care & Wallsend Nursing Home.

May he forever Rest In Peace.

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Some work ‘history’ of Tubby from Gunnedah:

 His stint on the motorcycles ended in June 1969 in Newcastle, when a VW failed to give way to Bruce when he was dispatched to a bank hold-up (hoax).  He spent four months in the Mater Hospital in Newcastle and returned to work full-time the following year in highway patrol cars.

 

He transferred to Gunnedah in September 1972 as the only Highway Patrol officer in the town, about a year later he transferred to the PCBC to become the assistant constable at the Gunnedah Police & Citizens Boys Club and shortly after he was made the Officer in charge.

He lobbied for a better site for a multi-functional club and plans were drawn up for the new PCYC on the Gunnedah Showground, before the building was finished Bruce was offered a transfer to Newcastle to build another club in the Lake Macquarie area.

In 1979 we returned to Newcastle and Bruce commenced the task of raising funds and planning the new club.  This task was achieved with support from local businesses and a very strong committee and the new club was opened by the then Prime Minister the Honorable Bob Hawke AC on 1^st October 1983.

Bruce continued to run the club until his retirement due continued complications from the motorcycle accident back in 1969.

 

Info:  Mary Tarrant

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A childhood friend of Bruce, comments:  Although Bruce and I ( Anthony Stevens ) were never stationed together, we were both good childhood friends living in Whitegates, Wallsend and attended school together in Newcastle.

6 July 2020

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William Carter LYNCH 

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ‘P’ 0035

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

Rank: Inspector -18

Licencing Inspector – for Newcastle District – appointed 22 March 1893

Honourable Superintendent – appointed 10 July 1903??

Inspector – retired

Rank / Stations:  Ireland as a Constable in the 1800’s for 2 years ( with his father ),

4 January 1860 – joined NSW Police in Sydney,

11 March 1860 – won a ‘ clerkship ‘ with rank of acting Sergeant in the office of Captain McLerie, Inspector-General of Police of NSW,

1862 The Police Regulations Act is Passed.  Lynch is involved in that framework.

October 1862 he is promoted to Sergeant & transferred to Goulburn as Clerk to Superintendent Zouch.

1862 – promoted to Senior Sergeant.

October 1862 – January 1883 ( 21 years ) he was connected with Supt. Zouch and had entire charge during Zouch’s absence. 2 months at a time on occasions.

1883 – promoted to sub-Inspector & transferred to Temora gold field district where he stated until June 1884.

Newcastle ( from 1 June 1884 – 1 June 1903 = 19 yrs)

Around 1887 was promoted to First Class sub-Inspector

March 1893 was promoted to Inspector & appointed O.I.C. of Newcastle Division which included 28 police stations, 100 men of all ranks & a population of 92,000 people

June 1888 Fire Insurance Companies – they presented him a valuable plate.

January 1894 – appointed by Sir George Dibbs to the Commission of the Peace

 

Service:  From 4 January 1860 to  ? July 1903 = 43+ years Service

Awards:  ? – Imperial Service Order – granted 12 April 1912

Born:  ? ? 1839 ,Tipperary, Ireland

Died on:  Saturday  30 June 1923

Cause: Syncope

Age:  85

Funeral date:  ?

Funeral location:  ?

Buried at:  Kenmore Cemetery, Goulburn, NSW

 Memorial at:  Newcastle Regional Museum received a donation, some time ago from the family via the NSW Police Museum, of a coffee / tea set that was given to William as recognition of fine service in 1888.  See additional notes at the base of this page ( when I get time to update it.  As of 25 May 2016 I have yet to update it )

 

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

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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This amazing man was William Carter LYNCH, he was a member of the police constabulary in Ireland in the 1800’s and he immigrated with his wife Bridget to Australia where he
became a NSW police officer in Goulburn. He served in Goulburn as an Inspector General for twenty years and then as an Inspector at Cooma and Temora and then a Superintendent at Newcastle and retired in 1902 (don’t quote me on exact dates) when he retired.

He passed away at the age of 84 years on the 30th June 1923 and was buried in Goulburn. His wife Bridget and two of his brothers share his family plot in the cemetery at Goulburn.

Bridget died on 13 March 1903? aged 68.

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The Sydney Morning Herald     Tuesday  3 July 1923     p 6

EX-SUPERINTENDENT LYNCH.

GOULBURN, Monday. ( 2 July )

The death occurred on Saturday night, at the age of 85 years, of ex-Police Superintendent William Carter Lynch. The late Mr. Lynch was one of the veteran police officers of the New South Wales force, having joined in the early ‘sixties ( 1860’s ). He was stationed at Goulburn for about twenty years, and in the ‘eighties ( 1880’s ) was promoted to the rank of sub-inspector, and was transferred to Cooma and then to Temora. Later, he assumed charge of Newcastle, where he remained until his retirement as superintendent 22 years ago. The deceased officer was awarded the decoration of the Imperial Service Order in recognition of his services shortly after his retirement. He is survived by six sons and three daughters, Misses Birdie and Julia Lynch, of Goulburn, Mrs. Theo Sheehy, of Young, and Messrs. Richard (Customs Department), James, and William (Newcastle), Chris. (Mandurama), Maurice (Summer Hill), and Joe (secretary of the Pastures Protection Board, Goulburn).

The Interment took place at the Kenmore Cemetery yesterday, the Rev. Father Cahill, assisted by Fathers Athanatius and Linus, officiating at the graveside.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16078017#

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BDMNSW:  Marriage:  305/1861

William Carter LYNCH Married Bridget M, STARR in 1861 in Sydney.

BDMNSW:  Death of Bridget, 1477/1909, who died on 13 March 1909 in Goulburn, NSW, and is buried with William.

BDMNSW:  Death of William Carter LYNCH  13908/1923.  Father = Thomas.  Mother = Ann F.

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The Sydney Morning Herald      Tuesday  16 March 1909    p 6

LYNCH.— March 13 at her residence Summerhill,  Goulburn, Bridget the beloved wife of William Carter Lynch, late Superintendent of Police,  Newcastle.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15043393

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Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner’s Advocate    Saturday  13 April 1889    p7

NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT. FRIDAY, APRIL 12th, 1889.

( Before Mr. Jas. Mair, P.M.) 

THE LAKE ROAD ” PUSH. ” Brutal Assault.

William Smith and John Cunningham were summoned for assaulting Henry Fieldhouse,. at Newcastle, on the 7th inst:.

Mr. Gorrick appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Readett for the defendants.

Complainant deposed that on the day in question he met both of the defendants in Darby-street. Smith asked him when he was going to pay some money he owed him, and then struck him and knocked him down. He became insensible. He gave Smith no provocation. He could not say whether Cunningham struck him.

Miss McGlinchy deposed that she saw Smith strike complainant, and he fell down.

Sub-inspector William Carter Lynch deposed that he was walking along Darby-street on the day in question, when he saw two men strike at each other, and then fall down. They got up again and recommenced fighting, but fell to the ground. A third man stood over them, and either struck one or the two of them in a most cowardly manner. Smith was covered in mud, and the complainant was very much knocked about. He looked upon the scene as a most disgraceful one on a Sunday evening. He could only recognise Smith.

For the defence, John Cunningham deposed that he did not strike or kick Fieldhouse. Complainant said to Smith, ” I suppose your father is going away, and you are going to live on him. ” Smith replied, ” If I do I can go out of the colony. ” Complainant then struck him, and Smith, in self-defence, retaliated. They struggled together. They fought three rounds after that in Darby-street. The third round Fieldhouse caught Smith by the throat, and witness pulled him off.

By Mr. Gorrick: Witness never said ” Let us fit the old ——- , and give it to him. ” No one struck complainant whilst he and Smith were on the ground. There were only three present altogether.

William Smith deposed that the complainant struck him first, and they had a fight. Complainant caught hold of him by the throat, and Cunningham dragged him off. Witness thought complainant received the marks through falling on the kerbstone. No one but Cunningham stood over the complainant.

Thomas Reece deposed that he saw complainant strike Smith first with his fist.

George Forsyth also gave corroborative evidence.

Mary Jane Doolan deposed that she saw Smith striking the complainant whilst he was lying on the ground, and remarked that it was a great shame to hit an old man. She did not see Cunningham do anything.

This was all the evidence, and after Messrs. Readett and Gorrick had addressed the Bench at some length.

Mr. Mair said that as Sub-inspector Lynch was a considerable distance away, it was possible he was mistaken as to the striking, and that if he was not mistaken, at that stage of the encounter Smith might have been in danger of being choked. The evidence against Cunningham was not satisfactory, and he was discharged. He found Smith guilty, although he thought it likely that Fieldhouse himself was to blame a good deal.

Smith was ordered to pay a fine of 40s, 6s 6d costs of court., 21s professional expenses, and 10s for witnesses, in default 21 days imprisonment.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138836068

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Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner’s Advocate    Saturday  13 May 1893    p5

LICENSING

SUB-INSPECTOR. The Lieutenant-Governor has appointed Sub-inspector John Saunders to be a district sub-inspector, under the Licensing Acts, 1882 – 1883, for the Licensing District of Newcastle, vice Lynch, promoted – to take effect from the 1st instant.

LICENSING INSPECTOR. The Lieutenant-Governor has appointed Inspector William Carter Lynch to be district inspector, under the Licensing Acts, 1882 – 1883, for the Licencing District of Newcastle, vice Brennan, transferred – to take effect from the 22nd March last.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136400888

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Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner’s Advocate     Tuesday  2 June 1903       p7

INSPECTOR LYNCH. An HONOURABLE CAREER,

The retirement of Mr. W. C. Lynch, inspector of Police in Newcastle, which was foreshadowed a week or so ago, took practical effect yesterday, when he began a months’ leave, at the expiration of which he will retire on a superannuation allowance, and will reside at Goulburn, where he did many years service. Mr. Lynch took his leave with nothing but the best wishes of the members of the force. This, it is said, will be exemplified in tangible form later on, for it is the intention of the men to show him practical proof of the esteem in which he has been held by them. A requisition is also being signed asking the Mayor of Newcastle to convene a meeting, so that the citizens might have an opportunity of marking their esteem for his good qualities as a responsible officer, and for his worth as a citizen for the past 19 years. It so happened that yesterday was the nineteenth anniversary of Mr. Lynch’s arrival – in Newcastle to take up the duties of sub-inspector.

He leaves the force without having been subjected to even a reprimand, after a service of 43½ years, His duties were formally handed over to Sub-Inspector McVane, who has a thorough knowledge of the district and its surroundings.

There are only two Officers in the police force who have had longer service than Inspector Lynch. One is Superintendent Granger, of Goulburn, who is retiring this month, and the other is Superintendent Brennan, in charge of the Eastern District at the Police Depot, and who was formerly in Newcastle. The latter has had fifteen days more service, having joined in December, 1859.

Mr. Lynch Joined the Irish Constabulary at a very early age. His father being an officer in that Constabulary, no objection was raised to his age, as he had reached the required height. He remained two years in the service in Ireland, and then came to this country. He joined the police force in Sydney on 4th January, 1860. In March 11th of that year, in competition with the entire Sydney police, he gained a clerkship, with the rank of acting-sergeant, In the office of Captain McLerie, the late Inspector-General of Police in New South Wales. At the beginning of 1862, during the passing of the Police Regulation Act, Mr. Lynch was engaged in the preparation of the first regulations framed under that Act. In October 1862, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and transferred from Captain McLerie‘s office to Goulburn as clerk to Superintendent Henry Zouch. In December. 1862, he was promoted to the rank of senior-sergeant. From October, 1862, to January,1883, he was connected with Superintendent Zouch‘s office, which he managed, and in the absence of the superintendent he had entire charge – on some occasions for two months at a time.

During this long time, which embraced the period when such notorious criminals as Hall, Gilbert, Dunn, Burke. Vane, Clarke, and others terrorised the south and western districts, he rendered most valuable service and in 1865 he received a special reward from the Government for the capture of armed offenders and for the recovery of the proceeds of several robberies. In the year 1864, when the late Chief Justice, Sir James Martin was a member of the Government, he offered Mr. Lynch an appointment as clerk of petty sessions at Yass, a position then worth from £700 to £800 per annum. At that time there was no superannuation in the Civil service and. preferring the active work of a police officer, Mr. Lynch did not accept the offer. In 1883 he was promoted to the grade of sub-Inspector, and transferred to the Temora goldfield district, where he remained until June 1884. This was the year he was removed to Newcastle, exactly 19 years ago yesterday. A few. years later he was promoted to the grade of first-class sub-Inspector, In March 1893, he was advanced to the rank of inspector and appointed the charge of the important division which includes the city of Newcastle, with supervision over twenty eight stations and 100 men of all rank, and a population.of 92,000 people. He has held this position ‘ever’ since with credit to himself and with the goodwill of the men under.

During the nineteen years Inspector Lynch has been in the Newcastle district he has had to deal with conditions arising out of some great labour troubles;. and whilst always being firm he never was officious, the result being that he succeeded well. In June, 1888, the fire insurance companies so highly appreciated his services in having successfully brought to justice offenders’ charged with arson ( four cases ), that they made him a valuable presentation of plate. In January, 1894, he was appointed by Sir George Dibbs to the commission of the peace. Mr. Lynch has now reached the age of 63 years. He was born at Mungret, near the city of Limerick; but his father having been removed to Kerry whilst he was an infant, he has always claimed Kerry as his native country.

His first start in life was a at the age of 15 years, when, in a competition, he gained an appointment as assistant teacher In one of the Irish National Schools. This was a probationary appointment, which was confirmed a few months later, and at the time he joined the Irish Constabulary he had obtained two stages of promotion and was under orders for the training school in Dublin. But he followed in his father’s footsteps, and took to police work in preference to the hum-drum life of a teacher.

In the early part of 1857 he formed the acquaintance of a young lady. ( now his wife ) who was leaving for New South Wales, This young lady some two years after paid his passage to this country. They married, and Mrs. Lynch is still his companion in life and the mother of a large family. In the early sixties Mr. Lynch was appointed gold receiver at Goulburn, and he held this position during the whole time he was there. When the fields were in full work his Iron safes were frequently unable to hold all the gold placed in his keeping, and it happened at times that he had boxes of gold, aggregating in value £10,000 stowed away under his bed, and this in an old wooden police station.

 

 

Coffee pot

Type	Museum Collection
Registration Number	2005/184
Creator	R. Broadhead & Company Silverware Manufacturer
Date Created	1888
Place of Creation	United Kingdom
City	Sheffield
Physical Description	Tall coffee pot, possibly Britannia ware/Plated silver. Hinged oval lid at top with ivory oval lid handle. Engraved borders and decorations with engraved dedication at bottom front. Handle and spot attached separately. Makers stamp at base
Subject Classification	BEVERAGE LAW
Notes	William Carter Lynch 1839 – 1923, Born in Limerick Ireland, son of a school teacher. Joined Irish constabulary and in 1859 migrated to Australia. After moving to Goulburn from Sydney, William became a clerk in the Mounted Police during the gold rush. He was described in police records as being 5’8″ tall, blue eyes, brown hair, and a fresh complexion. His general appearance was described as smart & active. Constable 1860, Senior Constable March 1862, Sergeant November 1862, Senior Sergeant 1863, retired as Superintendent in 1902. Father of 10 children (see object file) Makers info: Broadhead Rogers, silver plated ware, &c. manufacturer, (Broadhead and Atkin;) house: West bank, Glossop road. From A DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND PARISH OF SHEFFIELD, 1852 Britannia Ware Sometimes called Grade A Pewter. It consists of tin, antimony and copper. Widely used in the mid-part of the 19th century for ornate hollowware, it is now used as a base metal in the modern plated hollowware industry. Death certificate cause of death: Syncope (SIN’ko-pe) is temporary loss of consciousness and posture, described as “fainting” or “passing out.” It’s usually related to temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain. It’s a common problem, accounting for 3 percent of emergency room visits and 6 percent of hospital admissions. It most often occurs when the blood pressure is too low (hypotension) and the heart doesn’t pump a normal supply of oxygen to the brain.
Inscription	Presented to Police Inspector William C. Lynch, Fire Insurance Companies Newcastle, N. S. Wales In recognition of Meritorious Public Services June 7th 1888

 

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138314604?searchTerm=%22inspector%20lynch%20%20an%20honourable%20career%22&searchLimits=#

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Evening News ( Sydney )     Saturday  11 July 1903   p6

POLICE PROMOTIONS.

In Friday’s ” Government Gazette,” the promotion of Police-Inspector William Carter Lynch to the rank of hon. superintendent, and of Senior Detective William Blackburn to the rank of Acting Sub-inspector are announced. Superintendent Lynch is retiring from the control of the Newcastle division, while Sub-inspector Blackburn is proceeding to Narrabri to take charge of the division of which that town is the official centre.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/115856684

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Goulburn Evening Penny Post      Tuesday  6 July 1915     p4

MAUD-STREET FIRE.

OPEN VERDICT.

The inquiry into the Maud-street fire was resumed on Monday morning before. Mr H. O’Brien, J.P.

Mr. A. M. Betts appeared for Mr. S. Pritzler ; Mr. Thomas for Mr. and Mrs. Hetherington.

Catherine Pritzler, recalled, deposed that at the time the alarm was given she said to her mother, ” Perhaps I did it; ” witness had also said something about matches, referring to having been in the house ; witness did not think she threw a match down ; she had not been hysterical that day ; witness saw the little girl bring the parcel to her father’s house ; witness never mentioned about the matches to Sergeant Avery or any one else.

Nellie Pritzler, neice of the previous witness, said that the parcel delivered to the house by the girl contained keys ; witness identified the tag as that attached to the keys when returned ; witness thought there had been bad blood between Mrs. Hetherington and Mr. Pritzler ; witness remembered her aunt saying to her grandfather on the night of the fire, ” I must have done it and dropped a lighted match; ” witness’s aunt was then hysterical.

Kathleen Kidd deposed that the writing on one of the letters was Mrs. Hetherington’s.

Simon Pritzler, recalled, said he was for 33 years in the police force and 12 years in the British army ; his father was born in Germany ; witness never heard any conversation such as sworn to by Mrs. Hetherington as to Germans ; witness had not previously heard of the matches alluded to ; he was a friend of Mr. Lynch, the handwriting expert.

William Carter Lynch, retired police-superintendent, said that he had made a study of handwriting ; he would say that the writing on the key-tag was not Pritzler’s. ( Witness described the differences in detail between the writing on the various exhibits. )

Albert Joseph Evans, who shared the house in Sydney Road occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Hetherington, stated that Mr. and Mrs. Hetherington were at home on the night of the fire ; witness passed their bedroom window at 11 p.m. and saw them in bed.

Sgt. Avery gave details respecting his discovery of the fire ; the flames first appeared on the eastern side ; witness gave the alarm, and on asking young Pritzler whether the fire started outside or inside, was told that it started on the right-hand side ; later witness made a careful examination of the wall-plate; witness described the condition of the timbering, and said that the wall-plate was burnt through in one spot ; in witness’s opinion the fire started there ; witness walked round the building when he first arrived, and could see nothing to lead one to suspect that the fire was lit from the outside ; witness found that Miss Pritzler had been at the place with a candle and matches ; in witness’s opinion the skirting where the fire started would have taken two or three hours to burn through ; when witness knocked at Pritzler’s door Miss Pritzler was crying ; the side of the hose where the fire was said to have started was next to Pritzler’s place.

To Mr. Thomas: There would be the same facilities for an incendiary on the other side and no fear of detection.

This concluded the evidence.

The Coroner returned an open verdict.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/98846656

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Goulburn Evening Penny Post      Wednesday  5 July 1939     p4

MR. J. LYNCH Public Figure Passes

Mr. Joseph Michael Lynch, one of Goulburn’s best known citizens and for many years secretary of the Pastures Protection Board, died at the Goulburn District Hospital at 8 o’clock this morning. He was 62 years of age.

For the past 12 months Mr. Lynch had been in failing health and, after undergoing medical treatment in Sydney, returned to Goulburn and on April 29 entered the District Hospital, where he remained until the time of his death.

Although it was known for some time that he was seriously ill, the news of his death this morning came as a great shock to his relatives and many friends in this city. A native of Goulburn, Mr. Lynch was born at his home, “Summer Hill.”

His father, the late Senior Sergeant William Carter Lynch, came to Goulburn during the sixties ( 1860’s ), and later founded the home now occupied by the surviving members of his family. In 1884, when Mr. Lynch was still a boy, his father was transferred to the Newcastle police district, where he ultimately attained the rank of inspector, and finally superintendent.

Mr. Joseph Lynch was educated at the Sacred Heart, College, Maitland, where he matriculated. He later joined the service of a banking company, and on the retirement of his father from the Police Force, he returned to Goulburn to make his home.

He was best known in Goulburn and District for his work in connection with the Pastures Protection Board, of which he was secretary. On January 10, 1917, a meeting of the directors of the board was held, and it was decided to appoint Mr. Lynch to the secretaryship in succession to Mr. J. J. Roberts, who had retired. Prior to that Mr. Lynch had held the position of assistant secretary.

At that time the offices of the Board were situated in Montague Street and Mr. Lynch had retained his associations with the body since his appointment. He attended his first meeting in the capacity of secretary on June 20,1917. Mr. Lynch proved a very popular official and his genial nature made him well liked and respected by the district graziers who came in contact with him during his term of office.

Throughout his life he maintained a keen interest in public affairs and was associated with several bodies up till the time of his death. Soon after his return from Newcastle he became associated with the Goulburn Liedertafel, and up to the last he acted as treasurer of the Trust. On Friday last he performed one of his last duties by signing a cheque for the committee. He was also one of the society’s trustees.

His association with the society extended over the past 20 years, and in the early days he was responsible for the 3d a week fund, which provided £100 to enable the society to build the present Lieder Hall. He also took an active part in some of the early stage productions and concerts. Together with the late Charles Holloway and Lee Hunt, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Wm. Bladwell formed the trustee committee, of which. Mr. Bladwell is now the only surviving original member.

WORK FOR FOOTBALL

By the death of Mr. Lynch the Goulburn Rugby Football League has lost one of its oldest and most enthusiastic supporters. When the League code was introduced in Goulburn more than 20 years ago he became the first patron, and had held that office ever since, while some years ago he was created a life member in recognition of his long and loyal service. A foundation member of Group 8, he was patron of that body and also a life member.

In the days of the old Christian Brothers’ Club, one of the leading clubs of that time, Mr. Lynch held office, and in that capacity did much to further Christian Brothers’ interests. At the same time he had always manifested a keen interest in the Christian Brothers’ primary school team.

Until his health began to fail he devoted himself wholeheartedly to football, regularly attending meetings of the G.R.F.L. committee and rarely missing a match in which the representative team participated. He had a sound knowledge of the Rugby League constitution and frequently assisted both the Group and League in surmounting knotty problems. One of the prime movers in the G.R.F.L. securing its own ground, he worked assiduously towards this and and the assistance that he was able to give contributed materially to Rugby League Park becoming an established fact. He was a trustee of League Park.

He was keenly interested in most other branches of sport, trotting attracting a good deal of his attention. As a member of the Goulburn Trotting Club he acted as honorary auditor for many years and in his younger days bred several trotters. Among other activities, Mr. Lynch also found time to become associated with the Goulburn A., P. and H Society, and had been a member of that body for many years. In spite of his varied public duties, Mr. Lynch always interested himself in anything relating to the social work of the Catholic Church in Goulburn, and up till the time of his last illness was an active member of the congregation.

Mr. Lynch, who was unmarried, is survived by three brothers, William and James (Newcastle) and Christopher (Sydney), and three sisters, Mrs. Sheehy (Sydney) and Misses Bridget and Julia Lynch (Goulburn). A solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated at SS. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral at 7 o’clock tomorrow and the funeral will leave the Cathedral for the Kenmore Cemetery at 3 p.m.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103165258

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David Nelson EDWARDS 

 late of Cameron Park

aka  Custard

Academy Class 235C

New South Wales Police Force

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  25405[/alert_yellow]

Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 17 June 1988

Senior Constable

Stations:  ?, Gosford, Wyong, Tuggerah Lakes HWP, Newcastle HWP ( 1998 ), Newcastle G.D’s ( 2000 ), Lake Macquarie LAC ( Toronto ) G.D’s ( 2005 ),

Service:  From  ? March 1988 to  26 September 2013 = 15 years Service

Awards:  ? – no find on It’s an Honour

Born:  5 January 1966

Died on:  Wednesday  20 April 2016

Cause:  Brain tumour

Age:  50

Funeral date:  Thursday  28 April 2016 @ noon

Funeral location:  the Chapel, Pettigrew Family Funerals, 12 Harris Street, WALLSEND

Buried at:  ?

 Memorial at:  ?

[alert_yellow]DAVID is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

 

 [divider_dotted]

 Funeral location: 

[divider_dotted]

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

[divider_dotted]

 Clive Maxwell Timothy John WRIGHT

 late of Lachlan St, Cowra

New South Wales Police Force

Father of Robert # 30890 ( Windsor HWP ) & Steven # 29509 ( Lake Macquarie District – Toronto GD’s )

 

Joined NSW Police Force via NSW Police Cadet system on 5 December 1960

 

Cadet #  1639

 

Police Training Centre – Redfern Academy Class 95B

 

Regd. #  10643

 

Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced Monday 5 December 1960 ( aged 16 years, 8 months, 14 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 21 March 1963 ( aged 19 years, 0 months, 0 days )

Senior Constable – appointed 21 March 1972

Sergeant – appointed 2 April 1979

 

Final Rank:  Sergeant 1st Class

 

Stations:  Sydney Metropolitan Area ( including STP ), Plain Cloths & GD’s at Broken Hill, Tumut, Talbingo ( around late 1960’s – early 1970’s ), 6th Contingent to Cyprus from 13 May 1969 to 16 June 1970 as a Civilian Police Peace Keeper, Blayney, Tea Gardens, Buronga ( 1980’s ),  Cowra, Retirement due to poor health

Wentworth & Newcastle.

 

Service:  From  5 December 1960  to  5 September 1996 = 35 years Service

Time In Retirement:  19 years, 7 months, 16 days

Age at Retirement:  52 years, 5 months, 15 days

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 20 January 1981

1st Clasp to the National Medal – granted 8 June 1988

Police Overseas Service Medal – Clasp CYPRUS – granted 8 July 1992

2nd Clasp to the National Medal – granted 27 September 1996

 

Born:  Tuesday  21 March 1943

Died on:  Thursday  21 April 2016

Cause:  Heart attack  *see below

Age:  72 years, 1 month, 0 days

 

Funeral date:  Monday  2 May 2016 @ 11am

Funeral location:  St Raphael’s Church, Lachlan Street, COWRA

 

Buried at:  Cremated – Ashes buried in Cowra Cemetery

Grave location:  Cowra Cemetery, Doncaster Dve, Cowra, NSW

Memorial Tree Section  D26

* There is also a Plaque attached to his parents grave in Narooma ( his wishes )

 Memorial at:  ?

 

 

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

 

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 Funeral location: 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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WRIGHT, Clive Maxwell

 

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Clives’  cause of death was a sudden and severe Heart Attack whilst Caravanning in South Australia (Mt Gambier) with Judy, his wife.

Clives’ memorial (plaque) is pending but will be placed in Cowra and Narooma ( his home town ) soon.

He is survived by his wife, Judy, his two current serving NSWPF sons Rob and Steven and their families.

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May Clive forever Rest In Peace.

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Michael Allan NEVILLE 

aka  Mick

( late of Toowoomba )

Twin brother to Inspector David NEVILLE, QPOL.

Queensland Police Force

Regd. # ?

Rank:  Senior Constable

Stations:  Mt Isa, Doomagee,  Toowoomba

Service:  From  6 July 1992  to  9 April 2010 = 18+ years Service – Medical Discharge

Awards:  ? – No find on It’s an Honour

Born:  ?

Died on:  Sunday  24 April 2016

Cause:  ?

Age:  46

Funeral date:  Friday  29 April 2016 @ noon

Funeral location:  St Thomas Moore Chapel, Cnr South and Ramsay Streets, Toowoomba, Qld

Buried at:  ?

 Memorial at:  ?

[alert_yellow]MICHAEL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

 

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 Funeral location: 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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NEVILLE Michael Allan “Mick” of Toowoomba. Passed away on 24 April 2016. Aged 46 years. Forever loved Dad of Daniel and Gracie. Loving Son of Lyn Zirbel and Bill Neville (dec). Loved Brother of Peter, David and Barry, and Loved Stepbrother, Brother-in-law, Uncle and Friend. The Funeral is planned for Friday and full funeral details will appear in Thursday’s Chronicle.

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/classifieds/ad/2505042/

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Condolences to the family, blood and blue.

May you forever Rest In Peace.

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FROM BLUE HOPE FB PAGE

Stephen INGLESE

aka  Steve

Relatives in ‘The Job’ = brother – Frank INGLESE, NSWPF # 20267 & 28255 ( rejoinee )

Sister-in-Law – Karen INGLESE nee KELSO, NSWPF # 20233

 

New South Wales Police Force

Academy Class 210

Regd. #  22064

 

Rank:  Commenced training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday ? ? ?

Probationary Constable – appointed 17 May 1985 ( aged 23 years, 0 months, 26 days )

Constable – appointed 17 May 1986

Constable 1st Class – appointed

Senior Constable L11

 

Stations:  Redfern ( 7 Division ), Gaming Squad, Green Valley ( 22 Division )( around 1985 ), Dog Squad – Menai ( from around 1997 ) – Death

 

Service:  From  4 March 1985  to  21 December 2001 = 16+ years Service

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 6 April 2001 ( SenCon )

 

Born:  Saturday  21 April 1962

Died on:  Friday  21 December 2001

Cause:  Leukaemia

Age:  39 years, 8 months, 0 days

 

Funeral date:  Thursday  27 December 2001

Funeral location:  ?

 

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

Location: Crypt C

Section: Crypts 46

Lot: Level B  No. 42

 Lat/Long: -33.95533, 150.83500

 

 Memorial at:  ?

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

 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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May you forever Rest In Peace.

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An interesting footnote is that Steve was the first handler to bring his own dog into the Squad and successfully passed out with this dog; Rebel was his name, and when Rebel passed on he was going to be interred with Steve. Don’t know if he was but that was the plan.

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 Bruce Anthony George DURRANT

New South Wales Police Force

Joined NSW Police Force via NSW Police Cadet system on 4 January 1949

Cadet # 783

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  7030[/alert_yellow]

Rank:  Probationary Constable – appointed 22 June 1951

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 29 June 1978

Stations:  ?, Bega ( early 1980’s as Sgt 1/C ),

Service:  From  ?  to  ?

Awards:  National Medal – granted 21 August 1989

Born:  22 June 1932

Died on:   Friday  15 April 2016

Cause:  ?

Age:  83

Funeral date:   Thursday  21 April 2016 @ 11am

Funeral location:  St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Church Street, Bega

Buried at:  Bega Cemetery, NSW

 Memorial at:  ?

[alert_yellow]BRUCE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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*  ARTICLE  ONLY  *

 

CRONULLA RIOTS

11 December 2005

 

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http://australian-news.net/articles/view.php?id=118

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8 July 2007

COMPASS: CRONULLA TO KOKODA

Summary

At the height of the Cronulla race riots a 16-year old Muslim boy climbed the local RSL club’s flagpole and threw the Australian flag down to his mates. They spat and urinated on it before setting it ablaze. The boy, Ali Ammar, was charged and penalised for his actions, and later apologised. His remorse was real and so touched RSL State President Don Rowe he invited him to carry a flag at the ANZAC Day march. All hell broke loose for a second time. RSL members were outraged. The shock-jocks had a field day. The offer was withdrawn, but another remarkable plan was hatched to allow the boy to say sorry publicly and to experience first-hand why the Australian flag is so important for so many: Ali Ammar would walk across the legendary Kokoda track. Compass had exclusive access to follow Ali’s redemptive journey. This timely story touches on themes of national identity, religion and history.

Story producer: ABC

Story

Thanks for joining me. Tonight we conclude our two-part examination of Australian patriotism with a remarkable story you won’t easily forget. We follow a young man who accepts a pretty tough challenge to atone for his actions during the Cronulla riots and we watch a gradual build towards his moment of truth. Along the way we find out why he did what he did and a lot more, questions that strike at the heart of what we Australians aspire to, at our core.

(ABC News Footage)
Reporter
A week of simmering racial tensions boiled over into mob violence today in the beachside suburb of Cronulla.
Man 1
“It’s our beach. Aussies’ beach. They can go.”

Narr
December 2005. Racial tensions flare up in Sydney’s southern suburbs. There were so many provocative acts, but one incident in particular would focus the anger of the media. A teenage boy tore down an Australian flag from the roof of the Brighton RSL, threw it to his mates, and burnt it.

Don Rowe- State President of the New South Wales RSL
Why would you go and pick on the symbol of your nation to do something that despicable to it? It’s a symbol of us as a people.

Ali Ammar
Thinking about it now it wasn’t a good idea. But, at the time, we just wanted to show how angry we were.

(ABC news Footage)
News Reader
A Sydney teenager who burnt an Australian flag will now carry one in next year’s Anzac Day parade.

Narr
But this offer of reconciliation soon became a catastrophe.

(Talk back Radio)
Caller 1
I don’t want that person anywhere near my flag.
Caller 2
Instead of peeing on the flag they should pee on him.

Ali Ammar
I felt like, did I hurt this much people? What I’d done? Like something so small but so effective.

Narr
Ali spent several months in juvenile detention for his crimes but, far from destroying his life, it set him on a new path, a path that’s helping him reassess his life, his flag, and his country. And now it’s about to lead him to the greatest challenge of his life, walking the legendary Kokoda Track.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Why are you here? Because I guarantee over the next ten days you’re going to hit the wall. Physically you’re going to get to a point where you’ll wonder if you can go on. If you know the reason you’re here, you’ll keep going.

Tim – age 17
I’m here because I want to know about Kokoda. I am really patriotic about Australia and this is where Australia fought off the Japanese invasion.

Aaron – age 19
The main reason I came over is to just challenge myself, learn about the people who fought for us. Just figure out what it was like for them.

Courtney – age 19
Don’t ask me why I decided to do it. I’m a bit crazy and thought it would be a fun idea.

Jennifer – age 20
I often represent Australia.

Narr
This group is about to set off on an incredible journey. They’ve all been sponsored by Australian RSL clubs who believe the experience could change their lives. Some are high achievers. Others have had a more chequered past.

Brady – age 19
The reason why I came on this challenge was I got voted in by the Wagga RSL Club. Yes, I was a hectic kid.

Tim – age 17
I want to see what happens when I hit the wall, If I can go through it. And if when everyone else hits the wall, if I can pull them through it.

Ali Ammar
Hi, my name’s Ali.

Narr
Ali is here as a bold gesture by the RSL, an attempt to mend some of the damage caused by the Cronulla riots.

Ali Ammar
I think I’m here to learn about Australian qualities and Australian history basically.

Narr
But none of his new friends know who he is or what he’s done.

Ali Ammar
And I heard that by the time this trek finishes it should make me a better man.

Narr
Over the next ten days the trekkers will experience a real test of physical endurance, Heat, humidity, primitive conditions and no days off. A team of local carriers will look after the camping and cooking, but the trekkers will be expected to carry their own packs. It’s well organised, but no holiday. The Track runs from Kokoda to Owers Corner, near Port Moresby. It’s only about a hundred kilometres, but they’ll be hiking through some of the most inaccessible and punishing terrain on earth. The trekkers are expecting it to be tough. But what may not realise is just how emotional this journey will be. Because they’ll be following in the footsteps of an earlier group of young Australians, who found themselves here 65 years ago.

Narr
It’s 1942, and a Japanese invasion force has landed in New Guinea. Their aim, to take Port Moresby and be in striking distance of Australia. All that stands between is a small band of largely irregular soldiers. The militia. Ill equipped, and poorly trained, they’ve slogged for days over the mountains to meet the enemy at Kokoda. Over three months they’ll resist the Japanese. Their stories of determination, of courage, and mateship will burn into the Australian psyche to rival Gallipoli.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
This quiet, beautiful place 65 years ago was just a slaughterhouse. And yeah some men that the country doubted stepped forward, the militia, the chocos, they stepped up. And somehow, I believe, that these young guys we’ve got on the track, when they’re asked to, they’ll step up. And that’s all they need is belief, opportunity and belief. And that’s I believe what we can give them, both of those on the track.

(John talking to the group)
This is the Kokoda plateau, this is where the Kokoda campaign started and finished. Now, we’re going to follow the battle from this end as the Australians retreated up through Isurava.

Narr
Team leader John Nalder has walked Kokoda many times. He’s become an expert on the people and places that give the Track meaning.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
The purpose of this is to bring the history to you, create and interest, and most importantly expose you to the opportunity to learn some lessons about your life.

It’s going to hit them from so many degrees. One, the physical challenge of it strips away the veneer of their day to day life. The people, the carriers, will touch them enormously, and that’ll touch them emotionally. And then the history. So it’s really three-fold. It becomes almost a spiritual experience when you combine those.

Narr
It’s a long way from what Ali’s used to – the suburbs of Sydney and a Lebanese Muslim upbringing.

Ali Ammar
When I was a kid growing up in Australia it was sort of weird, because I used to have different lunch to everyone else. And they’d have birthday parties and things like that, or just places they’d go different to us.

Hassain Ammar – Ali’s Uncle
He was a brilliant boy. He was a very polite, very active, brave little kid you know. He always jumped in front of you doing things. Top soccer player. When he moved to high school he started mixing with the wrong crowd, I think. Smoking, girls, and alcohol.

Ali Ammar
Always go out on the weekends. Go and have fun with my friends. Spend my money. Just to have a good time mainly. Because as a kid I was hardly allowed out and things like that. But, I dunno, sort of my dad’s upbringing was no friends, no going out, things like that. Like, when I was sort of caged in for that long I just burst.

Narr
It’s the second day, and the first big challenge, the hill that leads up to the new Australian Memorial at Isurava. Many of the trekkers are already feeling the heat. Teneil is the youngest in the group. She’s only sixteen and it’s her first big trip away from home. Brady, a tough, knock-about farm boy from Wagga. He’s seen a fair bit of life already.

Brady – age 19
It’s where my ex girlfriend stabbed me. With a butter knife. Oh just where me and a bloke had a puncher in there. He sliced me with a bottle. I got heaps, not good.

Narr
And then there’s Aaron, nineteen years old. And from a family of battlers. He’s never done anything like this before. And he’s really doing it tough.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Little steps, mate, little steps. Big steps take a lot out of you. Get into a rhythm. Nice and slow, gentle rhythm. And your breathing, breath deep. Nice deep breaths into your diaphragm. Are you with me? Let’s do it, nice and slow.

Narr
Like Ali, Aaron’s also had a troubled past having had a few run-ins with the police in his early teens. Now he’s a youth worker himself, wanting to pass on lessons learned on the track.

Aaron – age 19
Oh it’s killing me now, it’s unreal, but it’s good. Pretty much want to get right through it and just encourage kids when I get back, just to go through life one step at a time. Pretty much, for sure. Mainly just for leadership with a lot of the kids that I work with and stuff. Just so you can sort of let them know that life isn’t as easy as they think it is.

Narr
But John’s starting to get nervous about Aaron.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Yes, he’s battling physically. Mentally he’s still strong which is a good thing; he’s determined to get there. But as the physical deteriorates then the challenge is how his mental holds up, because at the moment, physically, he’s shot. Normally, I’d look at someone in that condition and say, no, not going to make it.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
My feeling, and obviously you’re a part of it, but we’ll make this decision together. I don’t think you’re going to make it up to the top, much as I’d love to see you at the Memorial. And the pain was just getting sharper and sharper over that last bit, wasn’t it? Tell me what you think.

Aaron – age 19
It’s not that I don’t want to go there but I just don’t want to injure myself.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
I know. It’s not a question that you want to be here. But it’s just physically we’re not going to, I’m not prepared to see you do long term permanent damage to yourself over what’s a goal that can be set again. Do you want to come with me and we’ll go over and let the group know?

Aaron – age 19
Yep.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Aaron’s knees have gone on him. We’ve made a decision. He’s going back. It doesn’t mean one iota less for Aaron. I’ve made the decision in conjunction with him and to go on is just going to cause too much damage to him. We’ve also made the goal to each other. He’s going to go back, do the work, get ready, and he’s going to come back and do it again. Now, we’ve had some really good people who have failed first time and they’ve come back and done it again. And in life, as here, no matter how many times you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up again.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
You’re now at a site that I’ll say is second only to Gallipoli. So really take in the words on those pillars, courage, endurance, mateship, sacrifice.

Narr
At the end of the day’s climb is the Isurava memorial, dedicated to those men who fought a desperate and ferocious battle here early in the campaign with the loss of many mates.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
No matter how many times I’ve been here, I still choke up. Every time I come here this place chokes me up.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
I just want to share a poem with you. It’s called “What do you say to a dying man?”
“What do you say to a dying man
D’you call him Bob, or digger or mate?
As you look at the face you knew so well,
The look in his eyes says it’s late.
And you know if you happen to survive this onslaught,
They will surely ask you of his life’s end.
Just three minutes ago he was so full of life,
Firing his Bren from the hip.
The platoon attacking as it had so many times before.
When all of a sudden he’s hit.
And my best mate falls at my feet.
‘Tell them I tried’, he said.
My words of goodbye froze on my lips.”
Would you make him proud of that sacrifice?

Brady – age 19
I’d be fighting pretty hectic. I’d give it a go. Because I’d also be fighting for my mates as well as my country. Like, I have to say one thing. Hats off to them all. They’re soldiers. They’re good.

Jennifer, age 20
When I went up to the memorial and I was looking at the four stones I think “Sacrifice” is the one that jumped out at me. Not because it’s something we have to do but it’s our inheritance. It’s the boots that we have to fill. And I think that’s a big thing for us.

Ali Ammar
You’ve got to have courage, and not just that, if you’re going to see your mates dying around you because the courage isn’t there, it’s going to go back to mates. Like you’re caring that they’re falling out on the battlefields and things like that. And you want to show them that you can stand up to a force even if it’s that big.

(News footage of riots)
Crowd
“Fuck off Lebs, fuck off Lebs …”

Narr
Back in 2005, in the thick of the Cronulla riots, Ali’s own mateship and allegiances were to be put to the test.

Ali Ammar
And my mate came back with stitches from his eyebrow down to his cheek. That’s what made us really shitty. We just felt like we had to do something about it. We just wanted to show how angry we were.

Narr
On the following night Ali and some of his mates met in the car park at Brighton le Sands. Trouble was in the air.

Ali Ammar
When you are around so many people and that many ideas and that many thoughts going through your head and you’re in a situation like mine you’re not really thinking.

Narr
They found themselves outside the RSL. Ali’s mates pointed to the flag fluttering defiantly above the crowd.

Ali Ammar
Well someone boosted me up on the telegraph pole and from there I climbed up. And before I knew it I brought down the flag. As I came on to the edge people were screaming out throw it to me, throw it to me, things like that and then I just threw it down. That flag looked like the people that … represented the people that were rioting in Cronulla and going against us and things like that. We felt unwanted, we felt hated,

(Back on the Kakoda Track)
Trekker 1
“Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. Lest we forget.”

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Some of these kids have never been out of the city. They’ve never experienced bush let alone jungle. They’ve never been in a tent. It’s just so far out of their comfort zone. So I guess I slowly expand that.

Narr
Day three, and out of Isurava is a series of steep and slippery hills, where going up is exhausting, and coming down even worse.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
This is the wartime village of Eora Creek. This is where the wounded were staged. There’s photos taken here during the war and it was just a scene of utter confusion. And one thing that was very common throughout the withdrawal was that, people refused help. There was always, a very common one was, no, I don’t need to be carried, look after them. They’re worse. So there were people with horrific wounds who walked, people with shot-up arms combining with someone with a shot-up leg and together they provided the propulsion to get up and down this terrain.

Narr
And it’s not long before the trekkers have to cope another casualty of their own.

Brady, age 19
I dislocated my knee, yes. I was walking across a bridge and my boots were wet. And these aren’t real good for rocks and stuff. And I just moved the wrong way and it popped out. And luckily I pulled my knee back in the right way when I got back up and it popped itself back in. Straight across there, swollen, very sore.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
The boys are going to bring the stretcher down in a moment.

Narr
Which makes Brady an ideal volunteer for John’s next demonstration.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
The most critical part of carrying a stretcher is the lift. You’ve got a wounded guy in there so you’re not going to put any packs on top of him. In this case we’ll have Brady with his pack and that’s it.
So the person is in there head first here and feet down there.

Narr
It’s an exercise in how wounded soldiers were evacuated down the track.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Now lie in there and I know that’s going to be hard for you, you’ve got to shut up. Ok, Ali, there’s your casualty. Organise your people, let’s get ready to go.

Ali Ammar
I need two people on either end and.

Narr
For Ali, who’s been content to stay somewhat in the background so far, it’s a chance to pull his head up and make an impression.

Ali Ammar
So whoever’s the same height I want them next to each other please. Two at the back, two at the front. You two at the back and, hold on. Tim, you and Tim and Adam on the front. Let’s go.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
The track touches them and you see a lot of them, there’s really only “I” in their life. And that’s it. And as the track affects them they start to look sideways. They start to help other trekkers, people they’re with and a bit of the selfishness starts to disappear. Because I work on the philosophy they’ll forget what I said, they’ll forget what I did, but they’ll probably never forget how I made them feel.

Narr
Back in 1942 the diggers absolutely relied on native stretcher bearers, the “fuzzy-wuzzy angels”. In impossible conditions, and at great personal risk, they saved hundreds of injured soldiers. John hopes that the example of those wartime angels will rub off on the trekkers.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
In doing the stretcher carry brings them together and starts to promote the teamwork side of it. And what I’ve done now is turned them loose and said basically go for home. So now I‘m watching to see who’s helping. And some of the faster ones I see have stopped to go with Brady which is good. Some of the others they’re not really caring what’s behind them and they’re really just going for home.

Narr
But unfortunately for Brady, what was a simple demonstration just this morning is now only too real. The tough terrain has finally felled him. The descendants of those wartime angels must carry him out. Brady’s trek is over, and John has got a few hard lessons for everyone else.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Interesting day. Since lunchtime I’ve seen some real true Kokoda spirit and I’ve seen some bloody selfish behaviour. Where people are locked on themselves and not even looking sideways. I’m not going to specify anyone, but as a group get your act together. Look sideways. It’s not just about you. Some of you were on one course on that last stretch. To get here as fast as you could. And there wasn’t a bloody consideration for a few others. I saw one person virtually knock someone off the track passing them, and not even a word, because they were in a hurry.

Ali Ammar
Every corner you take you think we’re getting there, but it just keeps going and going and going. And then I’ve hit stages where I just want to get there and I don’t worry about anyone else. And I know that was wrong.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Some of you displayed real true Kokoda spirit. Let’s get it right through the group. Come on guys, you’ve got the potential. You’re there.

I’d like to introduce you to a very special man. This man was a carrier for the Australian Troops in the Second World War here in Papua New Guinea. This man was wounded during the war, shots fired, he lost fingers. He spotted a Japanese ambush and he saved the lives of Australians by diving off the track. So he’s a very special man.

“Many mother in Australia
When the busy day is done
Sends a prayer to the Almighty
For the keeping of her son.
Asking that an angel guide him
And safely bring him back
Now we see those prayers are answered
On the Owen Stanley Track
Slow and careful in bad places
on that awful mountain track
And the look upon those faces
makes us think that Christ was black.”

He does this to me all the time. This is a very special man and for each of you this is a very special moment.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
One more thing, if you look at these medals on his chest, there’s not one from the Australian Government. They’ve all been donated by trekkers. There’s police medals from policemen that I’ve brought over. One policeman from Western Australia actually gave his bravery medal for me to bring back for this man. There’s not one medal there from the Australian government.

Ali Ammar
The way the carriers I think feel is that the Australian Government, not the Australian people, there’s nothing wrong with the Australian people, but the Australian Government have been short on a lot of things. Mainly just recognising. Recognising does a lot. Like it can change a whole country, just if you recognise them.

Narr
Two days later and the trekkers are more than half way. They’re heading towards the highest point of the track more than 2000 metres above sea level. The air has become cool and thin.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
The high spirits of Aduri are starting to fade on the steep climb and it’s pretty quiet after a very noisy descent. They’ve gone silent. I think they’re more concerned about oxygen at the moment.

Narr
Ali has lately drifted towards the back of the pack.

Trekker 1
Someone just shoot me now … We’re the KT Boys, the Kokoda Track boys.

Trekker 2
Our paths crossed. Now we’re at the back of the pack, because we’re slow

Trekker 1
You know, when I get home I’m going to give my mum and my dad the biggest hug.

Ali Ammar
There’s nothing like family. Situations like this that’s when it actually hits you in the head. You know what you’ve really got and you’ve taken it for granted, taken advantage of it.

Narr
Ali’s family was shattered by his act of vandalism during the Cronulla Riots. They felt angry, shamed by his insult to their adopted country.

Hassain Ammar – Ali’s Uncle
Australia treated us very well. We were lucky to be here. We never are the type of people that you sort of eat from somebody’s plate and you spit on it as we say in a phrase.

(ABC news footage)
News Reader
A teenager who burned an Australian flag in retaliation for the riots will spend the next fortnight in custody.

Narr
When Ali was arrested he was already on a good behaviour bond for previous offences. He ended up spending seven months in juvenile detention, and it scared the life out of him.

Hassain Ammar – Ali’s Uncle
Nothing was getting into him till this happened, when he got locked up. He says that he started thinking things over and he sort of like, what am I doing? Why did I do this?

Ali Ammar
Well my burning the flag, I hurt many people. Basically families and that grew up under this flag. And war veterans and things like that. It’s not their fault the Cronulla riots happened. And me doing that, burning the flag, just cut em even more, like put em in the position where I was showing them hate. And as much hate as was shown towards us, why should I show it to anyone else?

Don Rowe
I think I was pleased to hear that somebody had been apprehended for it.

Narr
Don Rowe, State President of the New South Wales RSL, first met Ali at a Reconciliation Conference after he came out of detention.

Don Rowe
It became pretty obvious to us that he was remorseful in what he had done and was very sorry what had happened. And his attitude and the sincerity in his voice convinced us that he was fair dinkum. And he was a young fellow in the wrong place at the wrong time, and had done something really stupid.

(ABC news footage)
News Reader
A Sydney teenager who burnt a flag will now carry one in next year’s Anzac Day parade. The RSL says it’s an attempt to create something good out of last year’s violence around Cronulla.

Narr
So the RSL in a bold gesture of forgiveness, hatched a plan for Ali to march on ANZAC Day.
When the news broke that the flag burner would be become the flag bearer, talk back radio went wild.

(Talk back Radio)
Caller 1
We don’t want him to be a hero, we just want him to go away.

Caller 2
He doesn’t deserve to go anywhere near that flag. And to be quite frank with you, he and his parents and everyone else can go back to where they came from.

Caller 3
That young fella should realise he’s living in the best country in the world. Instead of peeing on the flag they should pee on him.

Don Rowe
There’s lots of people said they were going to spit on him and abuse him and throw eggs at him and kick his arse every time they saw him. That’s just not on.

Ali Ammar
I felt like, did I hurt this much people? What I’d done. Like something so small but so effective.

Don Rowe
It doesn’t help the cause, it doesn’t help any young person who respects and relies on the values of what Australia is about.

Narr
And so Ali came to Kokoda instead. Except this time it was all kept very secret. No-one except John knows about Ali’s past. But the thought of telling his new friends is starting to weigh heavily on him.

Ali Ammar
I think if I do there’s going to be a big difference on my trip here. Like people are going to be looking at me a lot differently. And maybe if they do find out, maybe one time when I put my hand out to help them up a ledge or something, I don’t think they’re going to take my hand.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
He’s got these barriers up because he doesn’t want to get hurt. And yes he’s going to risk hurt, but he’s never going to be able to really advance and build relationships until he takes that step.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
I want to pose a question to all of you. It’s a question that’s also a challenge. Maybe ask yourself in life, when the going gets a bit tough, do you immediately stop? Or would you push through it? Because what I’m seeing at the moment, is a group of guys, you’ve done some hard yards, but this morning for some reason, you’re stopping all the time. And what you’re doing is that you’re training yourself to stop, every time it gets a little bit hard. Now, nothing’s easy in life and it’s not easy on the Track but you’re not gaining anything by continually stopping. You’re actually making it harder for yourself.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
The lessons are touching him. The Track works on you whether you like it or not. And, yes, he is being touched. What I can’t judge at this stage is the depth of how far it’s gone.

Narr
By day six, the lessons are coming thick and fast. They’re now on their way to Brigade Hill, and the scene of one of the most devastating battles in the campaign. Here, a small group of diggers, against impossible odds, held out to protect their mates, knowing full well that they would die.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Sit there for a couple of moments with your own thoughts and think about what those young men, how they felt. How would you feel, and I ask myself this question, and I can’t answer it. How would you feel taking off your identity disc and handing my pay packet, knowing that I was going to my death?

Look over this area here. You’ll see a lot of indentations. That’s the remains of 62 Australian soldiers who died here at Brigade Hill. Are we living up to the ideals that would honour their sacrifice? In all of you I see such enormous potential. And the only thing standing between you and your potential is your thinking. We owe it to these men to achieve our full potential.

(Trek Group sings Advance Australia Fair)

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Thanks guys, I’d say you’re the first group who’ve had the courage to do it up here. Well done. I’m really proud of everyone of you. Well done.

Narr
Emotionally and physically battered the trekkers are sensing that the end is within sight. But the track hasn’t finished with them yet

Trekker 1
That rain’s definitely coming closer.

Trekker 2
What will your mum say about this, Ali?

Ali Ammar
Oh, Mate, she’ll sack whoever sent me. What can I do about it? I can’t tell it to stop raining.

Narr
At first the rain seems a novelty…but a few hours later, for sixteen year old Teneil, it’s no fun at all.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
It’s just an emotional, everything comes to the front, it’s just an emotional thing and the best thing for her now is not sympathy, but to push on.

Teneil
I want to carry something

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Now, guys, it’s wet, so what? We can’t control it. Enjoy it. Go with it. Let’s put it into perspective. This weather is what almost that entire campaign was fought in, day and night. No-one’s being shot at. So let’s keep it in perspective. Go with it. Find the positive in it.

That’s actually really good. They’re starting to encourage each other and work together.. And they’ve got to. The misery meter’s going to be right up with the rain. There’s a few of them suffering emotionally, they’ll need some support from those around them, but it’s good.

Ali Ammar
It’s up to the knees, soldier on. My leg’s stuck, give me a hand.

Narr
Day eight, and the trekkers are on the long climb up to Imita Ridge. Here, 65 years ago the Australians’ fortunes finally changed. They dug in, stopped the Japanese advance, and began to slowly push them back along the track. It was to be an Australian victory, and the diggers’ dogged determination and resilience would become part of our folklore.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
This is coming towards the top of Imita Ridge, towards the end of a very tough climb. You’re asking a lot of them both physically and emotionally here.

Come on John-o, push it through. You’re nearly at the top there. Good man, breath deep. Some of them probably don’t realise but they’re doing things now that, eight or nine days ago, they would have been bawling heaps on the ground. Here comes one classic case, Teneil. She’s just going so well. She’s pushing through barriers, which is fantastic. All she’s got to do is get back into life and keep doing it. Just your pace, your goal, you’re nearly there. Finish it off, great going.

Teneil
Thanks, John.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
I’m going to do something that’s been done by myself very rarely. This is coming off me. This is my father’s dog tag. He was over here. Only about four people have ever worn this.
(John gives it to Teneil).

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Today’s been a real breakthrough for quite a few of them. Ali at the front. And I said you stay here. He said, I’m proud. I said I’m proud of you for being here. He’s totally broken away from this comfort circle at the back and he’s come up the front and he came up there and actually pushed himself through a bit of pain which he’s generally been a bit reluctant to do. So it’s good.

And now I want them to, I guess we’re working towards the end of the trek. I want them to come out with a few things that they’re going to change. Because it’s only another couple of days and they leave me, they leave the track.

(John talking to group)
I’m going to ask you to think about something you’re going to leave on the track. Something you’re going to change. Something you’ve done in your life and think, no, that’s it. It’s finished. It’s on the Track, I left it. I’ll give you an example. I’ll expose myself here. While I’m looking at each of you. I’ve got no trouble doing it. The respect that’s grown for each one of you over the last eight days. Now, I’ve a great son, a great daughter, but sometimes I’m a real hard prick. And I have a bit of trouble telling them I love them. That stays on the Track. When I get back, I’m not going to be a trek leader, I’m going to be a father. I’m going to tell them I love them. No mistakes, no regrets. It’s on the Track.

Jennifer, age 20
I think when we first turned up at the airport and I saw everybody and it was, oh, no, I’m going to be stuck in the jungle with this load of people for ten days and I really don’t want to do it. And I think I was judging you guys without really knowing you. And that’s something I’m going to try and leave behind.

Martin
I’ve got the strength to say, I don’t need to look back, it’s over. I’m a changed person because I can do this track. Thanks.

Narr
For most of these kids the Track has weaved its magic. But for Ali, his fears are still holding him back

Ali Ammar
I’m just trying to feel the right time. Something I’ve done, but it will probably change their, I dunno if it will, but hopefully it won’t. Seems the way they’re going and that it won’t change their actions or anything towards me, but I dunno.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Ali, can I tell you something from my heart? Would you judge yourself harder than other people are going to do? No-one’s going to change the perception of you. They’ve shared an experience with you. I’ve seen you grow. They’ve seen you grow. Pull down the walls. These people are accepting you really good, but you’ve got fences up.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
It’s something in his life that he has to deal with. It’s an issue that’s boiling there and under the surface of Ali’s, his personality, of who he is. It’s almost, I’d describe it as a boil there under the skin and he’s going to have to break it and deal with it.

Narr
Later that afternoon Ali finally bites the bullet.

Ali Ammar
I dunno, just a couple of things I want to let out and maybe some of you would want to know. There’s things I’ve done in the past. When the Cronulla riots were on, I was part of the burning of the Australian flag, and that’s why I’m here today. I’m not here because this is my consequence or anything like that. I’m here because I want to be here. I’m here because I hope that people that see me going through what I went through and the mistakes I’ve been through, and me admitting and owning up to my mistakes will change them.

A lot of things and a lot of people have done stupid things at that time, and, I dunno, I’m just owning up to it. And I’m trying, I’ve been trying hard, actually, ever since I got out of juvenile, I’ve been trying hard to make everyone understand and to make myself understand and to keep myself out of trouble. Don’t get me wrong I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. And the reason why I didn’t tell you earlier was because I didn’t want you to get a different picture about me. I wanted you to know who I really was first.

And coming here, coming here I was wishing I get a better understanding, a better understanding of how you guys feel about things like this and what is Australia and things like that. Different races, different things, everyone’s got a different opinion about each other. Don’t get me wrong, there’s bad people in each community and there’s good people in each community. But, I dunno, I think we should just socialise more and things like that. It’s just not going to work if we keep hating each other.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
Pretty big of Ali to come out and say that. And I’ll stand beside him, so mate to mate, good to share it with you.

Narr
Ten days, a hundred kilometres of pain, and they’ve finally made it, together.

John Nalder – Trek Leader
You are less accepting of yourself than what these people are. You need to go out now and be a leader in your community. Help bridge the gap between our two communities. You can be a leader.

http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s1973902.htm

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‘If I wasn’t on that train we wouldn’t have proof of Australia’s shameful violence’

December 10, 2015 1:56pm

• Cronulla riots 10 years on: Much has changed but many things remain the same
• Fight to hold anniversary Cronulla riot rally
• ‘Sydney is fun: Cronulla is a riot’ T-shirts on sale ahead of anniversary
• What are your memories of that awful day? Comment below

WHEN photographer Craig Greenhill boarded a Cronulla train 10 years ago, he risked his life to capture the brutal bashing that shamed Australia. Here he tells Yoni Bashan about the story behind his iconic photographs.

“IT WAS a normal Sunday morning 10am shift. Nothing was happening.

The picture desk turned to me and said ‘why don’t you go down to Cronulla, have a bit of a stroll and see what’s happening’. I drove down and got there just after lunch.

 

 

To be honest, I was a little naive to what was going on. I didn’t know what I was walking into but as soon as I arrived it was apparent straight away this was a volatile situation.

It was literally thousands of people on the beach front, flying flags, driving their cars, pushing shopping trolleys with beer stocked in them. It seemed undermanned by the police. It was out of control.

When there was a flare-up, it turned into a bushfire and took over.

 

 

It seemed calm until some people with a bit of colour walked on the beach front and that was when the crowd turned and chased them down.

It was violent — bottles being thrown. The police had to rush in and protect the three innocent people on the beach and they were being chased. They eventually got past a wall of police to safety. That’s where the crowd turned. They got the smell of blood and the tension ramped up.

 

 

 

 

One person I remember most from the Cronulla riots, from all the faces and people that I photographed that day, is Sergeant Craig Campbell.

I’m pretty sure Sergeant Campbell saved my life on the train that day.

It was the middle of the day and the crowd was raging, a mob mentality had taken over and there was an atmosphere of pandemonium: people were climbing trees and walking around with their chests puffed out, chanting racist slogans; some guy had written “Wogs out of Nulla” on his body in black texta; fights were breaking out between girls out the front of the Northies Hotel; and the police had no control over what was happening.

 

 

A rumour had made its way through the crowd, something about a “pack of Lebanese” coming into the area; suddenly everyone started running to the train station, even the people who hadn’t heard the rumour. They were just following the crowd. As a photographer, I did the same.

The station was only about a kilometre away and when us photographers got there we saw everyone looking for this “pack” of men who’d supposedly come in to Cronulla for a fight. Instead, there were just two lone Middle Eastern guys sitting in the upper deck of a carriage trying to keep a low profile. I think they were actually trying to leave the area and waiting for the train to disembark. They weren’t doing anything wrong.

I remember seeing people jumping over fences and the turnstiles at the station to get close to the action. I saw a few people hop on the train, hesitate, and then come back onto the platform.

 

 

A few moments later the situation escalated when these two guys ran onto the train and made their way to the upper level of the carriage. I followed them and started taking photos, trying to get as far into the corner as possible to capture the scene. There wasn’t any time to change lenses or anything. Within seconds carriage was full of people throwing punches and bottles at these two guys.

In my mind I wanted to record what was happening so I kept the camera trained on it all, but after a few seconds I put the camera down and yelled out, screaming almost.

“Get the f**k off ‘em! You’re going to kill ‘em,” I yelled.

 

 

It became clear if I didn’t do something these guys would be in serious trouble. These guys were being pulled apart in front of me by a pack of dogs attacking their prey.

A few of the guys kind of stopped and looked at me. They sized me up and when they realised I was by myself and not a threat they just kept going, laying into those two guys.

That’s when Sergeant Campbell arrived, coming in old school.

The situation was just totally out of control and he responded in kind; his baton was out and he just charged forward, smashing everyone in front of him. I was lucky not to get hit.

 

 

Sergeant Campbell saved those guys and I felt like he saved me. I was the one left holding the evidence. Once the victims were incapacitated, I would have been their next target.

[blockquote]“Could I have done more on that day to step in and help these guys out? That’s a question I often ask myself”[/blockquote]

Much later I gave evidence in court against one of the main characters who hopped on the train that day. A few of the photographers there that day were asked by police to hand over their images to assist the ongoing investigation.

 

 

 

My pictures from the carriage were used against one guy in particular, Brent Lohman, and he ended up getting a conviction. The same photo, which I called Train Bashing, ended up winning a Walkley Award for news photography.

It’s kind of ironic because, today, the Cronulla riots is used as an example of what photographers should not do in a riot situation.

Instinct took me onto the train, but, looking back, there was no escape route in that carriage and the circumstances were extremely dangerous.

Of course, if I did that, we wouldn’t have a visual record of what happened that day.

 

 

 

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/if-i-wasnt-on-that-train-we-wouldnt-have-proof-of-australias-shameful-violence/news-story/43500de94f4f49ed72856ceaf74c8b31

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The price of bravery

Updated 11 Dec 2015, 7:59pm

In 2005 police sergeant Craig Campbell fought off a pack of Cronulla rioters while defending the lives of two young men who had been cornered on a train. It cost him everything.

Source The Drum | Duration 3min 18sec

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-11/the-price-of-bravery/7022696

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Generation Cronulla: How the riots shaped who I am

Opinion

Updated 11 Dec 2015, 2:39pm

Ten years after the Cronulla riots there are still ramifications. I am no longer the frightened 14-year-old worried an “Aussie” is looking to fight me, but those events did affect my outlook, feelings and sense of belonging for a long time, writes Mohamed Taha.

I was shocked, disgusted, angry and confused as I walked into my school the day after the Cronulla riots. I was 14 years old.

Granville Boys High School was a great place. The students were predominantly Lebanese Muslims, followed by Polynesian and Turkish students. I was a warm, bubbly student – a “cool” geek that was just awarded the Dux of Year 9 weeks earlier. The staff were strong-willed and many students were a little rough around the edges. There was a ghetto-like subculture among some students.

On that Monday, tensions were really high at the school. The riots were the talk of the playground. A lot of students were venting about the media reports they witnessed a day earlier: images of violence, drunkenness, vandalism, offensive slogans and racism. Particularly the images of Australian flags draped over the shoulders of Caucasian men who were targeting anyone who looked remotely Middle Eastern in appearance.

It all felt incredibly personal for a lot of the Lebanese students, including me. In class, I recall hearing some students saying how their parents were “packing their bags” or how they would “bash an Aussie” if they saw one. My friend referred to the racist catchcry, “We grew here, you flew here”. One student joked, “Don’t worry boys, just tell them, ‘You came in chains, we came in planes’.”

The funny thing is we were all born and raised in Australia. It didn’t matter though, as many of us were angry and some wanted revenge.

The “us and them” mentality had overpowered rational thought with fear and anger. At recess, I saw three Lebanese boys pushing another student against the wall. When I got closer, I realised they were about to punch one of the fair-skinned Italian students.

“Are you an Aussie dog or not?” one yelled as he grabbed the student’s shirt collar with his other fist clenched. The student pleaded he wasn’t “Aussie”. I intervened and told them to leave him alone. I said he’s Italian, not Aussie and that he was against the riots.

They stormed off. He was visibly shaken. I remember helping him stand and reminded him to tell people that day he was Italian, not “Aussie”. In retrospect that was wrong, but at the time it seemed like the only way to quell the anger.

By lunchtime, a text message had circulated among students that a bunch of white Aussie boys from the Shire were coming down to “punch on” with us after school. Apparently they were meeting us at Granville train station. I was shocked and a little frightened. I remember asking my older brother what we should do. He said we should do nothing but if anything happens, we will defend ourselves.

We lived in Lidcombe, which meant we had to travel east to get home, while the other boys travelled west to Granville, Guildford and Merrylands. This put my brother and me at risk of confronting the Caucasian group alone.

While I was worried about my own safety, others in the playground were turning to thoughts of battle.

“If they want war, we’ll give them war,” one yelled.

So almost 100 students, predominantly Lebanese, Arab and Turkish, gathered and went to the woodwork department. Many took pieces of wood as weapons. In the heat of the moment, I put a piece of wood in my bag. It was the first time I had ever given in to peer pressure, because I was genuinely scared I could be attacked. Upon reflection, I had given in to the “herd mentality”.

At the end of the day, like an army mobilising numbers on a battlefield, groups of students patrolled various parts of Granville train station and its platforms. It was very tense. Any person who looked remotely “Aussie” (fair-skinned and in school uniform) received a barrage of questions from hot-headed students. No such group came. The students went home. As my brother and I walked home from Lidcombe train station, I stopped at a local park and buried the piece of wood under mulch.

When we got home, we had a long conversation with my parents. My parents called for calm and restraint. My mum was concerned about our welfare and told us to be careful in public. Weeks after the riots, we were only allowed to go to and from school.

Ten years on, the riots still have ramifications. I am 24 now, but as I grew up the riots affected my outlook, feelings and sense of belonging. It’s difficult enough to navigate your way through life as a teenager with all the standard teen woes and problems. Add the complexities of racism, politics, media coverage and figuring out my identity and it can be very overwhelming.

I found my way by being comfortable in my own skin and I’m grateful for that. The moment I found peace of mind was the moment I embraced my mixed identity: I’m Australian by nationality, Muslim by faith and Lebanese by cultural heritage. I’m richer for it. It was incredibly difficult to figure out whilst learning what it is to be a “man” and how to be a “man”.

UK Islamic scholar Aftab Malik from the UN Alliance of Civilisations describes young Arabs and Muslims in the West as the “post 9/11 generation”. For us in Australia, I would add to that the Cronulla riots. One of the ugliest episodes in recent Australian history didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was a culmination of a bubbling undercurrent of racial tensions and clashes between young Caucasian and Middle Eastern men.

The then prime minister, John Howard, seemed averse to suggesting that racism was involved when he said: “I do not accept that there is underlying racism in this country.”

Tell that to 14-year-old me who was petrified of going home. The lack of honesty and stench of hypocrisy suffocated me. It engulfed my lungs. I wanted our leaders to call out the terrible behaviour and criminality from BOTH sides. Then right-wing commentators and media personalities added fuel to the fire by shifting blame on the “Lebanese community”, labelling them “Middle Eastern grubs”. The divisive language and slogans from both camps created a dangerous mix of unrest, anger, hysteria, paranoia and anxiety.

Australia’s undercurrent of racism reared its ugly head that day. And despite it being 10 years ago, many are still affected today. The majority of my Year 12 cohort went on to attend university, college and TAFE. Some entered the workforce. Many went through an identity crisis. Some changed their name to make it more “Anglo-friendly” for work purposes. Some internalised racism. Others adopted a victim mentality and blamed the system for everything that went wrong in their life. While others developed an inferiority complex. Sadly, some still carry these demons with them today.

Until recently I thought we’d improved race relations in Australia. The Adam Goodes saga tells us otherwise. If our elite athletes get racially abused, what hope does the average Khaled, Ahmed or Maryam have of a fair go in society?

We need a shift in attitude from all parts of society. For starters, let’s be open and honest about our history as a nation. Those in positions of leadership need to be measured in times of crisis. We have a civic duty to proactively work towards holistic change and aspire to higher values of justice, equality and fairness.

When I walk past the park in Lidcombe, I sometimes think of the piece of wood. Like our demons, it is buried deep down inside and lies dormant. It serves as a reminder of what a 14-year-old Australian Muslim of Lebanese descent felt he had to resort to in this country at a time when our social fabric was at breaking point.

Mohamed Taha is a reporter and producer for ABC News, based in the western Sydney bureau in Parramatta. Follow him on Twitter @Mo_Taha1.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-11/taha-how-the-riots-shaped-who-i-am-today/7019998

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Hero cop Craig Campbell left behind by the Cronulla riots

He was front and centre at the Cronulla riots, furiously swinging his police baton to stop a mob of youths from bashing a Middle Eastern couple to death on a train.

But Craig Campbell is now down and out, living in a caravan outside his parents’ home on the NSW South Coast after leaving the force due to a breakdown from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 56-year-old is not left with much.

 

He lives on $440-a-week workers’ compensation, his marriage disintegrated and he has been unable to hold down a job since.
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Even the bravery award that he won for the train incident was later taken away when the police hierarchy deemed he used “excessive force”.

But, a few weeks ago, there was an unusual bout of good news.

 

Two members of the Australian Muslim community had remembered seeing the burly sergeant on TV 10 years ago, instinctively protecting the men on the train regardless of their skin colour.

Adam Bowden and Beylal Racheha heard Campbell had not been recognised for his efforts after 10 years so they tracked him down and called on their community to pitch in.

They drove down to North Wollongong, took him out for a Lebanese lunch and gave him $1000 in new clothing and cash.

 

“We just wanted to say thank you to him for the work he’s done, it was sad no one had acknowledged it,” said Beylal Racheha, a car wash operator and charity organiser.

“When I watched it happen 10 years ago, I was proud of that policeman. It showed that the police weren’t racist. It made me feel like we weren’t being purposely targeted.”

Campbell, who is still locked in a bitter struggle for injury payments, said he was taken aback when he met the pair.

“I really teared up because, you know, I’ve helped so many people out in my personal life in and around here in Dapto and when I wanted a bit of a hand, trying to get my car on the road and things like that, no one could be seen for dust.”

“I just thought of these two blokes, out of the goodness of their heart doing this, it really got to me actually.”

Campbell said a video of him swinging his baton on the train and the platform at Cronulla has been used as a training video at the academy.

In the days after, people shook his hand in the street. One of the men being attacked on the train thanked him for saving his life. His boss, former commander Robert Redfern, gave him a letter from his two daughters who said they were proud their dad worked with such a hero.

“To say it was excessive force is just rubbish,” he said.

It is an incident he will never forget, forever bitter about the way it was derided and etched in his mind along with dozens of other horrific jobs that led to his eventual breakdown in 2007.

“These days I just potter around and grow veggies and that and try to stay calm,” he said. “I never thought about PTSD, I thought it was all rubbish. But I still see the faces when I close my eyes. You try to push it out of your head, but you can’t.”

 

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hero-cop-craig-campbell-left-behind-by-the-cronulla-riots-20160117-gm7j5r.html

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Muslims back ex-Cronulla riot cop Craig Campbell

April 17, 2016 11:37am

The teams will be captained by prominent Muslims including boxer Billy Dib, former NRL star Hazem El Masri and cleric Sheik Nabil Suckarie.

Teams of local high school students and media organisations will also take part.

“Craig Campbell is a hero who has saved lives, and this soccer tournament will help highlight his heroic actions during the riots,” Dr Rifi said. “This is also about connecting the Australia Muslim community and the mainstream media.”

Event patron, former premier Morris Iemma, said: “For a fellow who did really good work keeping the streets safe and the role he played in the Cronulla riots, a lot of people are quite sympathetic to his plight. A lot of people are quite upset that for a man who is seen as one of the good guys, that incident in Cronulla has cost him his family and career.”

All money raised will go ­towards helping the father of three get back on his feet, while a donation will also be made to the Luke Batty Foundation.

Mr Campbell, 56, said he was “humbled” by the fundraiser, and said he was simply doing his job on the day of the riots when he saved a young man being attacked by an angry mob on board a train.

“The best part for me was the fact that I managed to save two young blokes’ lives.”

The event will be held on Sunday, May 15.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/muslims-back-excronulla-riot-cop-craig-campbell/news-story/8209896a1fec85e72187c81811308bc7

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The Craig Campbell Cohesion Cup

under patronage of former NSW premier the Hon.Morris Iemma.

 

Date: Sunday 15/05/2016.

Time: from 9 AM to 4PM.

Venue: Australian National Sports Club. 571-577 Punchbowl Road. Lakemba, NSW.

 

Official Ceremony:   Starting at 2:00pm.

 

Fields & Officials: Professional Referees will be supervising the tournament on two indoor Courts.

 

Participants: 16 teams will be participating.

 

Team: 6 players on the field including Goalie and two reserves optional (Interchange).
The proceeds from tournament and sponsorship will be donated to Craig Campbell himself and to Luke Batty  Foundation

Confirmed Team so far:

1- Billy Dib

2-Hazem Elmagic

3- Sheikh Ahmad   Abdo

4- Sheikh Nabil Suckarie

5- Muslim Women Association

6- iShare Media

7- Al Wasat Media

8- Sydney morning herald

9-the Guardian newspaper

10-ABC team

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Vincent Roland LUCANTONIO 

aka  3 Men

 

New South Wales Police Force

Goulburn Police Academy Class # 227

Probationary Constable # 98437

Regd. #  23816

 

Rank:  Commenced training at Goulburn Police Academy on Wednesday 1 April 1987 ( aged 27 years, 3 months, 22 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 26 June 1987 ( aged27 years, 6 months, 16 days )

Constable – appointed 26 June 1988

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?

 

Final Rank:  Senior Constable

 

Stations:  ?, Waterloo, Darlinghurst, The Rocks – retirement

 

Service:  From 1 April 1987  to  13 January 2003 = 15 years, 9 months, 12 days Service

Time in Retirement:  13 years, 2 months, 26 days

Age at Retirement:  43 years, 1 month, 3 days

 

Awards:  ? – nil find on It’s an Honour

 

Born:  Thursday 10 December 1959

Died on:  Friday  8 April 2016

Cause:  ?

Age:  56 years, 3 months, 29 days

 

Funeral date:  Friday  15 April 2016 @ 1.30pm

Funeral location:  St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Bedford and Station Street, Newtown, NSW

 

Buried at:  ?

 Memorial at:  ?

 

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

 

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 Funeral location: 

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

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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• Robyn posted a video
  
  Tbone Shuffle

 

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*  ARTICLE  ONLY  *

Sonia WILLIAMS – nee Sonia TURNER

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  36424

 

Rank:  ?

[blockquote]”First female to be stationed with the NSW ‘ Public Order & Riot Squad ‘ “[/blockquote]

 

Stations:  ?, MEOCS, PORS, THE ROCKS

 

Service:  From  ? May 2002  to  24 October 2013 = 11 years Service

 

Awards:  ? – No find on It’s an honour

 

Born:  ?

 

Cause for leaving:  HOD Injuries – Depression – Suicide attempts

Age:  ?

 

An article on P.T.S.D., attempted suicide and coming out on the other side
Life trials spur boxer toward first pro fight
“Posts by Sunshine Valley Gazette”  on April 7, 2016

 

 

By Richard Bruinsma

The bright eyes of Mooloolah boxer Sonia Williams do nothing to reveal the scars of the challenges she’s faced over the past five years.

She endured sexual discrimination and physical abuse as the first female member of the New South Wales police riot squad, countless work-related injuries and 22 surgeries, a medical discharge from the police force, depression and four suicide attempts – but she is now rebuilding her life and a boxing career, and hoping to be a role model for others.

The 33-year-old won all three rounds to record a dominant victory in her first amateur boxing bout in Caloundra in February, and she is now training for her first professional fight on the Gold Coast in December.

“People ask me who I aspire to, who is my role model,” Mrs Williams said.

“But I’m my own role model, because I don’t know anyone who has been through what I’ve been through and survived.”

Mrs Williams grew up as a self-confessed tom boy, and was a competitive body builder and first degree Tae Kwon Do black belt by age 18.

She was NSW Womens Full Contact Sparring Champion from 14 to 18, and won a bronze medal in bare knuckle contact fighting at the World Martial Arts Games in 2000.

At 18, she followed her life dream and joined the NSW police force, where she went on to become the first female ever to be signed to the riot squad, with some 80 male colleagues.

That’s where life started bombarding her with challenges.

She was advised by a colleague she was unwelcome in the male-dominated squad and that she would be “broken”. Her knee was busted badly in her first “soft” training event on her very first day.

However, she persevered, before eventually leaving the riot squad in 2010, but was medically discharged from the police force, perhaps somewhat ironically, after being badly injured in a student university protest in May 2012.

Her list of medical procedures is quite daunting – knee reconstructions, broken wrists, hearing loss, hip injuries, multiple muscle tears and tendon damage, herniated and bulging discs, disc replacement, nerve damage, cysts and foot injuries.

After her discharge, and despite moving to Queensland with husband Glenn, she battled lingering injury and pain, lost life focus and fell into depression. She attempted suicide four times, the fourth when she smashed her car at high speed into telephone pole on Steve Irwin Way in late 2014 – she escaped with only two broken feet.

It was the crash that changed her life.

“I had the sense knocked into me,” she confesses. “I had no goals, I wasn’t boxing, I had nothing; I had the injuries that were always there and nothing seemed to be getting any better.”

From there Mrs Williams started training seriously with legendary Sunshine Coast boxing trainer Bobby Stimson.

She’s also being helped by Glenn, a former special services soldier-turned personal trainer.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have bad days, but I’ve come a long way,” she said.

Her boxing career takes the next step when she heads to a training camp to Thailand in July to train with some of the toughest kickboxers and Mixed Martial Arts fighters in the world.

Mrs Williams has launched a crowd funding campaign to help her and two other female boxers make the Thailand training camp in July. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/78rmpbn8

“I’m going to be the next world champion in my weight division,” she said confidently.

The powerful words of affirmation are themselves a necessary positive force for this fighter’s rebirth.

From there, she knows not even the sky is the limit.

Photo caption: Mooloolah boxer Sonia Williams has overcome countless challenges on her journey toward her first professional bout in December.

www.svgazette.com.au/life-trials-spur-boxer-toward-first-pro-fight/

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