James Smith was a brother of Mr. G. Smith of Oak Farm, Rosemonte, near Goulburn, NSW, and his father, who died a few years ago, was a well-known gardener of that place.
Father’s name: George
Mother’s name: Isabella
The Sydney Morning Herald ( NSW ) Friday 1 January 1897 page 5 of 8
SUICIDE BY A SUB-INSPECTOR OF POLICE.
NARRABRI, Thursday.
This morning Sub-inspector James Smith, the officer in charge of the Narrabri police district, was found dead. A report of a shot was heard and deceased’s son, who rushed into the room, found his father lying on the bed with a revolver on his breast. From appearances that weapon had exploded in the mouth and the bullet had passed into the brain. During the past fortnight Mr. Smith had been indisposed, and it is stated that when unwell he always became very despondent and developed symptoms of melancholia. Only one chamber of the revolver was discharged, and death was apparently instantaneous. Deceased was 50 years of age. He joined the police force 27 years ago, and, beginning as a constable, worked his way up to his present rank. During the past six years he has had charge of the Narrabri police district. Deceased leaves a widow and seven children. An inquest was opened at the courthouse this morning and adjourned till Monday.
Later particulars of the death of Sub-inspector Smith show that the deceased left three letters, one addressed to his wife, the second to Mr Kenyon, P. M., ( Police Magistrate ) and the third to Mr A. R. Stafford, of Barry and Stafford. In one letter he stated that he felt his mind was becoming unhinged and preferred death to living the remainder of his life in an asylum. The deceased had arranged all his affairs, leaving everything provided for. The Masons will accord the deceased a Masonic funeral, which takes place tomorrow morning. The family are left provided for.
Singleton Argus ( NSW ) Saturday 2 January 1897 page 2 of 6
The Late Sub-Inspector Smith.
Many old residents of Singleton will regret to hear of the death of Police Sub-Inspector James Smith at Narrabri, an account of whose tragic end is published in another column. Sub-Inspector Smith joined the police force about 1868, and after doing duty at Maitland for about two years he was transferred to Singleton, where he remained for some time under Inspector Thorpe, and afterwards he was stationed at Wollombi with the rank of senior-constable.
Singleton Argus ( NSW ) Saturday 2 January 1897 page 6 of 6
SUICIDE OF A SUB-INSPECTOR.
Sub-Inspector James Smith who has had charge of the division at Narrabri aged 50 years, committed suicide on Thursday. He got up as usual, and went round the barracks, and at 8 o’clock went back to his bedroom. A few minutes later Senior-Sergeant Thomas Clarke, hearing a report of firearms rushed into the bedroom, and found the sub-inspector stretched on his bed with a bullet wound in his head. Death was instantaneous. The revolver was quite hot when the sergeant took it from the dead man’s hand. The only cause that ran be assigned for the terrible deed is that the sub-inspector had been ailing for the last three weeks, and his wife has also been ill for some time, and is at the present moment in a very bad condition.
Great surprise was expressed locally at the news, and also regret. Sub-Inspector Smith was well liked both in his official and private capacity. He was a member of the Masonic order, and also the M.U. ( Manchester Unity ) Order of Oddfellows. The deceased inspector joined the mounted police on January 15, 1868. On leaving the depot in Sydney he was sent to the north-western district, being first stationed at Maitland. From that place he was transferred to Muswellbrook as sergeant, and was promoted to senior-sergeant in April, 1883. In 1891 Mr Smith attained the rank he held at the time of his death, and was appointed to the Narrabri sub-district.
The Maitland Weekly Mercury ( NSW ) Saturday 2 January 1897 page 3 of 16
Suicide of Sub-Inspector Smith at Narrabri.
Narrabri, Thursday
Great excitement prevailed in town this morning when a report became current that police Sub-Inspector James Smith had committed suicide at his residence between 8 and 9 o’clock by shooting himself through the head with a revolver, death being instantaneous. The report was immediately confirmed, and the particulars furnished go to show that the Sub-Inspector had been suffering from some slight illness for the past week, and had been subject to fits of melancholia for some time previous, but the commission of such a rash act was never dreamed of by his friends. The greatest sympathy is felt for his wife and family. An inquiry will be held during the day. Alater telegram states that Mr. Smith got up as usual, and went round the barracks. At 8 0’clock he went back to his bedroom, and a few minutes later Senior-Sergeant Clarke, hearing the report of firearms, rushed into the bedroom and found the Sub-Inspector stretched on his bed with a bullet wound in the head. Death had been instantaneous, and tbe revolver was quite hot when the Sergeant took it from the dead man’s hand. The only cause assigned for the terrible deed is that the Sub- Inspector has been ailing for the last three weeks, and his wife had also been ill for some, and at the present moment is in a very bad condition. Great surprise is expressed in town at the news, also regret. Mr. Smith was well-liked both in his official and private capacity. He was a member of the Masonic Order, and also of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows. The late Mr. James Smith, or ” Long Smith ” as he was generally called by other members of the force to distinguish him from another officer of the same name, was well-known in the Maitland district, where the news of his death will create some excitement. Mr. Smith joined the police force about the year 1868, so that he had served 28 years and would in the natural course of events have retired in a couple of years’ time. In the 70’s he was stationed at Singleton under Inspector Thorpe, who has since retired, and later with the rank of senior-constable he was in charge at Wollombi. He was also stationed at several other places, and for a number of years prior to 1896 be was a senior-sergeant at Muswellbrook, in which year he was superseded by Senior-sergeant Cowan, now of East Maitland. Mr. Smith then went to Narrabri, with the rank of sub-inspector in charge of the sub-district of Narrabri, which is a most important one, including as it does Moree. During the miners’ strike at Greta, Mr. Smith was one of the officers engaged there. He was 50 years of age, and, as stated in our telegram, leaves a wife and family. Mr. Smith was a fine soldierly man in appearance, and was a noted strict disciplinarian.
With regret I advise the death of John Charles DUFF, 76 old, former Regd. No. 11262, not an RPA member of Rylstone.
John passed away on 24/07/2014 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 11am on Thursday 31st Instant at St James Anglican Church, 45 Mudgee Street, RYLSTONE.
Duff, John Charles (“J.D.”). 24th July, 2014 peacefully at Rylstone Hospital, late of Piper Street, Rylstone and formerly of Orange. Beloved husband of Beverley, much loved father and father-in-law of Donna & Peter, Brandon & Tracey, cherished grandfather of Alicia, Mia, Cooper and Tamarah, and adored brother of Pat, Terry, David, Raymond and Lorraine.
Aged 76 years
“One of Natures True Gentleman”
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral Service for The Late John Duff, which will take place at 11.00am on Thursday 31st July, 2014 at St James Anglican Church, Rylstone, thence for Rylstone General Cemetery for interment. Members of Rylstone Bowling Club are especially invited to attend.
By special request, donations in lieu of floral tributes may be made, at the Service, to Rylstone Hospital.
DUFF, John Charles (“J.D.”) . 24th July, 2014 peacefully at Rylstone Hospital, late of Piper Street, Rylstone and formerely of Orange. Beloved husband of Beverley, much loved father and father-in-law of Donna & Peter, Brandon & Tracey, cherished grandfather of Alicia, Mia, Cooper and Tamarah, and adored brother of Pat, Terry, David, Raymond and Lorraine.
Aged 76 years
“One of Natures True Gentleman”
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral Service for The Late John Duff, which will take place at 11.00am on Thursday 31st July, 2014 at St James Anglican Church, Rylstone, thence for Rylstone General Cemetery for interment. Members of Rylstone Bowling CLub are especially invited to attend.
By special request, donations in lieu of floral tributes may be made, at the Service, to Rylstone Hospital
MACQUARIE VALLEY FUNERALS
Members of the N.F.D.A. and The F.D.A. of N.S.W.
& Monumental Mason’s Assoc of NSW
118 Market Street, Mudgee
Telephone: 6372 2331 All Hours
ANNOUNCEMENTS : DEATH NOTICES
28/07/2014 Mudgee Guardian
Around an hour ago I received a telephone call from the wife of a very close friend and ex Officer that I shared duties with at Gunning [Cullerin Range Area] where we attended in excess of 200 fatal accidents together, over a period of five years, John Duff, Reg No 11262 has been suffering from cancer in both lungs and a tumor on his spine, Beverley informs me that John was admitted to the Rylstone Hospital this afternoon and not expected to last the night out, very sad that it is moments like this that make us realize just how close we have become and take for granted,
Dennis GearsideFriends are hard to come by and it’s even more difficult when you are faced with losing them. His peace may give your peace. Memories are forever.
Len BalkKerry it’s a really sad situation mate and good on you for making the journey but remember to look after yourself as well because you are important to others also.
Phillip Stubbs-MillsIt is sad how even operational Police cause problems.. Example one of my Coast Roads Constable was first car on the scene of a double fatal at the BP at Clybucca. A young Americain couple had bee on a honeymoon in Cairns decided to drive down to Syd…See More
Paul DaviesGreat song choice Paul, really says it all. We all try to reflect on lives of our friends or families in these times when the end is near but when it’s all said and done it’s just a rotten mtime to go through as I and many of you guys have had to endure it more times than we care to remember.
Peter CameronA couple of Crashies suicided from those bus crashes Phillip Stubbs-Mills. I did a couple of years in the AIS at Ballina and for me it was just a job and I could put it aside. Having said that, I can still remember fatals I went to when I first joine…See More
Ian BorlandPeter you are so right. No matter which field of poling you work the support from the Dept is abysmal. Some bosses who get it can be extremely supportive and ensure an even distribution of work and exposure. That said, the exposure as we we’ll know …See More
Peter CameronIan, no need to apologise for the length of the post. You have more reasons than most on here to bang on about this. What I havn’t told you before is that we met after Paul Quinn’s murder in ’86. I was stationed at Casino with him before that tragic incident. I often reflected on how that must have affected you but you put your boots back on and batted on for years in the job.
Paul DaviesIan I remember that horrible incident you were involved in something we all prayed we would never be confronted with. At the time of your nightmare shift I was at Blacktown tracking down the Anita Cobby killers. I was glad to be doing what I was doing and not being in your shoes . Very brave and I dip my hat to you, and long live the memory of your partner.
Ian BorlandI didn’t know anything else, and the support from my workmates helped beyond words I could use to describe. That seems to have gone by the wayside, and the good old bosses we had that were mostly returned servicemen who really “got it” were leaving in…See More
Peter CameronSpot on Ian, it made all the difference with a good solid boss backing you up. Also the old fashioned debriefs with mates out the back of the Station worked wonders. Then some bright prick stopped that.
Bill FortierAgreed, we spent more time with each other than our own families. Just like x servicemen who have seen it all they do not talk to others. They talk to those who have been there done that who know how it feels and what to do to fix problems. They could make decisions on the run and we all followed because we believed in them.
Ian BorlandYou would not believe it but the solution to all this was put to the Dept. In 1988 by a committee I was involved in with Don Fudensein Jnr. Naturally all looked good until one of the dunces that was a Deputy a Commissioner made the most despicable com…See More
Bill FortierMarvellous things books, they teach all the theory on any topic you wish to name. But when it comes to practical application of the theories and models put forward sometimes the real world never reflects what one has spent learning from pages. The university of life is the best learning institute for front line policing without doubt.
Bill FortierMy professor at the university was Bumper Farrell. No compromises or mistakes were tolerated. No pain permitted. Now we have all the new rules. The Dept is now legally bound to take of all under the Work, Health Safety laws. Has it helped?
Glen Thompson11 years ago after an incident at Goulburn I was directed by the Welfare Branch to speak to a ‘counsellor’ for six sessions. He and I got on well and he suggested some more time together. I had to see a GP for a referral. My normal long term GP was …See More
Glen ThompsonPerhaps it is time that the NSW Government / Police Force looked at a military style program of tenure. sign up for X number of years, be regualraly assessed psychologically, supported when certain types of jobs are attended etc. We all know why they won’t do it. It’s way too expensive.
Ian BorlandI’ll put this out, however it may well be known to you all already. When you are sent to psychologists and psychiatrists they give you the interview etc then get around to your family history. The question usually couched as, “does anyone in your fam…See More
Ian BorlandYou told the truth, but that was his cross to bear, it could not be construed as endogenous depression. I hope that the root cause was extracted at the time of the assessment Greg. As you can see it’s an easy slight of hand to play.
Ian BorlandGlen I totally agree, but I think we need to include naively in there too. As cops we did our job straight down the line. We dealt in black and white with no time for grey area. We trust others to do likewise towards us but unfortunately there are always hidden agendas we are unaware of.
With regret I advise the death of Frank NEWMAN, 81 old, former Regd. No. 7908, non-member of RPA.
Frank passed away on 24/07/2014 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 10.30am on Thursday 31st Instant at St Michaels Catholic Church, Chapel Lane, BAULKHAM HILLS.
Service: Commonwealth Police / Australian Federal Police: From ? to ? ? 1996
AFP Regd. # ?
Awards: Member of the Order of Australia ( AM ) – granted 26 January 1982 in recognition of service to the AFP
National Medal – granted 3 September 1985
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 1 May 1987
Born: ?
Died on: Tuesday 22 July 2014
Cause: Cancer
Age: ?
Funeral date: Saturday 26 July 2014
Funeral location: Chapel of Fred Ward (Brindabella) Gardens, Curtin
Buried at: Cremated
[alert_blue]BARRIE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue]
Barrie John BROWN, age unknown, former Regd. No. 10118.
Barrie resigned from NSW Police in 1969 and joined the Commonwealth Police and later the AFP where he served until 1996.
He regularly met with retired NSW Police in the RPA (ACT) Social Luncheon group. His funeral has been held.
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Obituary
Printed: Saturday 2 August 2014
BARRIE JOHN BROWN AM
Passed away peacefully on 22.7.2014 surrounded by his loving family.
Adored husband of Jann, loved so much as a father and friend by his children Caryn and Stephen and their partners.
Amazing and devoted, proud grandfather to Kaela and Alana.
Special mate to brother Dennis and his family.
Supportive friend to many, with a great heart.
Barrie never lost his gentle, caring manner through two years of fighting cancer.
He was a much respected police officer, volunteer and car racing enthusiast.
His private cremation took place last Saturday, followed by a celebration of his
life, with good friends present in the Chapel of Fred Ward (Brindabella) Gardens, Curtin.
Douglas Edward CRAMPTON, 86 old, former Regd. No. 8579, Uniform No. 3265, a Veteran member of the Hornsby & District Branch of the RPA.
Douglas passed away on 26/07/2014 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 11am on Friday 1st August at Thornleigh Baptist Church, Duffy Avenue, THORNLEIGH.
Beloved husband of Doreen (deceased). Loving father and father-in-law of Roslyn and Warick, Virginia and Robert. Adored Grandy to Matthew, Claire, Elsie, Julia and Sophie.Aged 86 years
In God’s Care
Following a Private Cremation family and friends are warmly invited to attend DOUG’s Thanksgiving Service to be held at Thornleigh Community Baptist Church, corner of Duffy Avenue and The Esplanade, Thornleigh, on Friday (August 1, 2014) at 11a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Baptist Care, envelopes will be available at the Church.
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Douglas married Doreen Mary TYSON, at Bankstown, in 1953. Marriage Registration No. 4172/1953
In Loving Memory of LOMAS, Kevin George ” Lofty “ 25 March 1936 – 21 July 2012
MARRIAGE NSW Births deaths and Marriages 25647/1961 LOMAS KEVIN GEORGE married MITCHELL ROSLYN FRANCES district HURSTVILLE
RESIDENCE Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 for Kevin George Lomas, New South Wales 1968 Hume Tumut (living at the Police House Talbingo as a Police Constable with wife Roslyn)
DEATH The Ryerson Index to death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapers LOMAS Kevin George (Lofty) Death notice 21 JUL 2012 Death 76 at Batlow Canberra Times 24 JUL 2012
Sergeant Kevin Lomas, officer in charge of Wilsons Valley police station, checks a car buried in snow at the roadside between Wilsons Valley and Smiggin Holes. He is holding the aerial.
Snow and ice build up on the new Perisher Valley Hotel yesterday. The hotel, which opens today, has accommodation for 50 guests, ranging up to a penthouse costing $200 a person a day.
Two Australian Federal Police recruit classes graduated yesterday at the Weston Police Training College, including two constables whose fathers are well-known policemen in the district.
The 41 graduates took to the parade square at 8.45am to music provided by the Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. They were reviewed by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr John Johnson, who told the graduates their parade performance was the best he had seen.
Thirty-six of the new officers will be posted to general duties in the ACT, beginning on Monday. The others will take up postings throughout Australia.
One of the graduates was Constable John Dillon, 20, son of Superintendent Ron Dillon, who has been an officer with the AFP and former ACT Police since 1961.
Superintendent Dillon became well known for his TV presentations of ‘Police Seven’ and the police column in The Canberra Times. He is now the officer-in-charge of the AFP’s special branch.
Constable Dillon said he could hardly wait to begin work on Monday, but was a bit nervous about it. He ultimately wished to move into detective work, perhaps following his father’s footsteps by working in the special branch. He would like to do a number of years in general policing first.
Another proud father was Sergeant Kevin Lomas, of the NSW Police, who has been stationed at Queanbeyan for the past two years. His daughter Leanne, 19, was one of the graduates yesterday. Another daughter, Glenda, 20, is training at the college and expects to graduate in June.
Sergeant Lomas said it was a proud day for him. He was pleased that both daughters had chosen a police career.
He has two other children still at school, “one of whom is thinking about joining the Air Force, but I wouldn’t be surprised if all of them joined the police”, he said.
Constable Leanne Lomas said she had been posted to the city station. She hoped to be posted to Darwin later this year.
The dux of recruit training course 2/82 was Constable Tim Dahlstrom and the runner-up for the most improved was Constable Craig Henry.
The dux of course 3/82 was Constable Romi Gyergyak and the runner-up was Constable Stephen McTackett. All were presented with trophies by Mr Johnson.
From Jindabyne tunnel and round Island Bend
We boys go to Cooma, our money to spend
And we’ll buy youse some beer there if you happen to see
Four Italians, three Germans, two Yugoslavs and me
We’ll pull up in Sharpe Street by the Alpine Hotel
If you’ve been to Cooma you’ll know this place well
And before we’re inside our order rings out
Four vinos, three schnappses, two slivovitz, one stout
From the song ‘Cooma Cavaliers’ by Ulick O’Boyle and The Settlers.
If there was one theme which bound the lives of all Snowy workers, it was alcohol. It was the elixir for camaraderie and the balm for fear, boredom, homesickness and loneliness.
The wet canteens in the mountains and hotels and nightclubs in Cooma were eventually open twenty-four hours a day to cater for men working the different shifts. Violence and trouble could occur at any hour.
Managing the aftermath of long drinking sessions fell on the shoulders of the handful of policemen scattered through the mountains and on the Authority’s patrol officers. The odds against them were sometimes frightening. More than one policeman was transferred out a broken man.
The lot of a Snowy law enforcer, often working alone among populations of hard-drinking, hard living men, many of whom believed the law was an irrelevance in the mountain frontier, was never easy.
Those who did survive in the tough, knock-about world of the construction camps and towns and who earned their stripes in the Snowy hall of fame were men like Fred ‘Careless Hands’ Chapman, detective Bill ‘Homocide’ Holmes, Brian Shultz, Bill ‘Chubby’ Keefe, Harold Etheridge, Kevin ‘Lofty’ Lomas, detective Bob Blissett, Bill Graham, Lionel Whitney, Bill Head, Bruce ‘Bags’ Durrant, Rod Murray, Bev Wales and ‘The Admiral’, Ron Davey. All could handle themselves — Careless Hands and Ron Davey had both been champion wrestlers — and all were colourful characters who fitted into the unconventional way of life in the mountains.
Many were regarded as the central characters in the communities over which they presided. They were men who lived by their wits, rather than the rule book.
The mix of nationalities, the language problem and many of the migrant workers’ backgrounds created unique circumstances that sometimes required a swift belt behind the ear and, at other times, sensitivity.
Frank Rodwell, a long-serving patrol officer with the Authority often found peace could be restored after a bloody brawl simply by lending a sympathetic shoulder: “I learned quickly that some of these fellows had gone through hell and were living on a razor edge. One time I was called to a fight caused by a Polish fellow who was drunk. As I dragged him away he started screaming, ‘they’re all dead … all dead’. His whole family had been killed in the war and he missed them terribly.
“I had another similar experience with a Yugoslav who had opened a mass grave with his bare hands to try to find his mother … who wouldn’t drink and go a bit crazy after something like that?
Working alone and unarmed the patrol officers often found themselves in hostile and dangerous situations: “But it was the job you had to do … and if you couldn’t do it then you were no good to anybody.”
At Sue City, the workers took great delight in the antics of their local policeman, Ron Davey and his cherished boxer dog … whose name was Boxer.
In the late afternoon just when Ron would be about to taste his first cold beer at the end of a long, arduous day, the valley would echo with the Boxer’s plaintive wail. To the delight of the regular drinkers, who had come to know the ritual, Ron would storm from the wet canteen, grab a spade and start to climb the steep valley slopes, following the direction of the wailing.
Somewhere up on the mountain, as everybody had come to know, Boxer had tried to chase another wombat into its hole. The dog would always get stuck about a metre inside and then tell the whole world of its predicament. On locating the animal, Ron would dig it out, slap it furiously across its rump with his trouser belt, then drag it unceremoniously by the collar back to his house where he tied it up.
After three or four days Ron started to feel sorry for the animal, “his mate”, moping on the end of its leash. In a flood of affection would let it off for a run. As sure as Monday followed Sunday, on the day the dog was free again Ron would be about to enjoy his first cold ale when the valley would once again echo … Whoooooooooo.
Of all the men who policed the construction camps, only one man, however, became universally regarded as a legend in his own time … Constable Bev Wales.
Bev Wales was renowned as being totally and utterly fearless. In 1955, after three years in Cooma, Bev began nurturing the idea of taking over a one-man station up in the mountains. He was about to marry the daughter of one of the Cooma sergeants and didn’t want to stay too close to home.
Also, while conceding he had learned more about real police work in a month at Cooma than he would have in five years in Sydney, Cooma too was starting to become routine … paper work and more paperwork and always to do with the same things — brawls and road accidents.
“The locals and the ‘wogs’ as they were called were still feeling each other out. The local lads were toey. They didn’t like the young foreigners coming down from the mountains with all their money. The migrant fellows didn’t want trouble but they were only prepared to take so much. So there were hundreds of brawls and if a non-Australian was involved, it meant double the paperwork.
“And alcohol, speed, poor roads and extreme weather conditions meant a lot of pretty horrible accidents. Plenty of cars, often loaded with blokes, left the road in places where they’d drop hundreds of feet.”
Bev wanted a beat where he took on all work. In December 1955 he sought and was happily granted, the job as replacement constable at Happy Jacks which had the reputation as the roughest camp on the Snowy. The workers there had grown accustomed to being a law unto themselves and had virtually driven out the previous constable.
Bev put a lot of thought into how he would approach his new assignment, his first lone command. From the start he decided he would not wear a uniform as his predecessor had done. He also realised he had to earn the men’s respect using the only language they understood. It was a question of his own survival.
On the drive from Cooma to take up his new position he stopped at the wet canteen at Junction Shaft, which was on his new beat and was where a lot of the Happy Jacks’ workers drank.
There were a dozen or so fellows drinking. Bev stood, framed in the doorway, until he had their attention: “My name’s Bev Wales. I’m the new constable,” he said simply.
For a moment the men looked as though they hadn’t heard him clearly, then responded with a chorus of whistling and cat-calls.
“So if there’s anyone here who thinks he can stop me, then he had better try it now before I unpack my Landrover.”
The wolf whistles and jeers got even louder and four solidly built Australians slid off their stools. It wasn’t every day a copper actually asked to be punched. They approached the young constable, leering, savouring the moment. They paused just beyond an arm’s length, then moved in swinging.
Every account of the incident is the same. Bev Wales used four, maybe five punches to lay the four men out on the floor. He bundled them into the back of his Landrover and continued on to Happy Jacks to lock them up for the night.
“They got a bit of a surprise,” Bev said later. Everybody did. Within hours the incident was being recountered throughout the surrounding camps. Happy Jacks had won a package deal, a new constable and prisoners in the one delivery.
By the end of his first month Bev Wales had locked up forty men, most of whom spent several nights in a cell nursing bruised jaws and foreheads.
“Over the years they had gone berserk. There was no law and order whatsoever. Living up in the mountains they thought they were beyond the law. The lawlessness had to stop and I was the one sent to do it,” Bev said.
He rarely worked less than sixteen hours a day. His patrol ranged from Eucumbene Portal near Adaminaby (the entrance to the Eucumbene – Tumut tunnel), to Tolbar Camp, up to Happy Jacks, Cabramurra, Kiandra, Kenny’s Knob, Tumut Pond, Tooma camp and all areas in between. He was a lone policeman among six thousand workers and the only link between most of the camps on his beat were rough bulldozer tracks.
Bev Wales backed away from no situation, even when he was out-numbered. When brawling men were told Bev was on the way, his reputation preceded him like a bow wave, often quelling disturbance before he arrived. Bev spent sixteen years in the mountains while the Snowy was under construction. He survived through a mixture of police field-craft and bush psychology shaped by the instincts of a boy from the bush.
He attributes his success in handling the men to his decision not to wear a uniform and not to carry a baton: “Bring out a baton in a brawl and you would put everyone offside. But take a man on with just your fists and the others respected you. If you did get into trouble they’d even help you … but belt one of their mates with a baton and they’d kill you.”
What most endeared Bev Wales to law abider and offender alike was that it became apparent at an early stage that he cared for people. He often preferred to allow bush justice to be dealt, rather than invoke officialdom by which a man might lose his job.
“Often I’d arrest a bloke and he’d say: ‘Let me fight you Mr Wales. If I win you let me go, eh?’
“The fellows were afraid of losing their jobs so I’d say okay. We’d pair up in the lockup, exchange a few blows till I gave him a good thump and it was over. It was summary justice, something you couldn’t do today but it kept the peace there.
“They had no respect for anybody who was soft. They were tough fellows and they expected you to be the same. You had to meet them on equal terms.”
But Bev Wales didn’t spend all his time thumping recalcitrant construction workers. The biggest workload for all policemen in the mountains arose from the horrific death toll, both on the roads and at the construction sites.
“At Khancoban alone I handled ninety inquests and no death was clean. Men were cut in half, decapitated, blown to pieces, or squashed by huge boulders.
“Death was frequent and it was part of my job. Tunnels collapsed, air hoses burst, truck brakes failed and bulldozers and trucks and cars toppled into ravines. You had to handle a lot of grief and tragedy.”
WE’RE hearing plenty of tales about silent cops, the metal domes which sat at intersections acting like a roundabout.
Kevin says there was one in Dean St, Albury, in the early 1960s.
“There was a very tall policeman called `Lofty’ Lomas and he was lairising on his motorbike in front of some girls when his bike clipped the silent cop.
“About five minutes later all you could see of him was his fett hanging out the back of an ambulance.”
And Jeannette says she grew up in Sydney suburb where there were many silent cops.
“My mother, a highly articulate and well-spoken lady, refused to use any language or vocabulary that sounded remotely like slang and she expected the same standard of her children.
“She always referred to silent cops as `silent policemen’.”
Robert William RADFORD, 67 old, former Regd. No. 14998, an Unattached member of the RPA of Sorell, TASMANIA.
Robert passed away on 19/07/2014 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 2pm on Friday 25th Instant at the Chapel, Phillip Stephens Funerals, 28 Riawena Road, TOSNY, TASMANIA 7018
Funeral – Private. Celebration of Robert’s Life being held in Yamba – 26 July 2014
Robert Norman MARTYN, 70 old, former Regd. No. 10535, a non-member, of Yamba.
Robert passed away on 20/07/2014 and a private family funeral is being held. The family invite friends and colleagues to attend 7 Melia Place, YAMBA at 1pm on Saturday 26th Instant for a ‘Celebration of Robert’s life’.
Ian Douglas JACKSON, 64 old, former Regd. No. 14119, a member of the Gold Coast Branch of the RPA.
Ian passed away on 20/07/2014 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 1pm on Friday 25th Instant at the Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium, NORTH RYDE.
