I really hope everyone is being careful because people are going crazy from being in lock down! Actually I've just been talking about this with the microwave and toaster and we all agreed that things are getting bad. I didn't mention anything to the washing machine as she puts a different spin on everything. Certainly not to the fridge as he is acting cold and distant. In the end the iron straightened me out as she said everything will be fine, no situation is too pressing. The vacuum was very unsympathetic... told me to just suck it up, but the fan was more optimistic and hoped it would all soon blow over! The toilet looked a bit flushed when I asked its opinion and didn’t say anything but the door knob told me to get a grip. The front door said I was unhinged and so the curtains told me to ........yes, you guessed it .....pull myself together

I hope it made you smile

FROM the VAULT – Secretary to Marsupial Board

Queensland Police Media on Mar 10, 2020 @ 11:00am

In the early decades of the Queensland Police Force’s existence, a Brisbane city policeman was truly a jack-of-all-trades. Apart from the extensive policing duties (peace preservation, crime prevention, prosecution, beats) he was expected to fill the gaps in the civil service system. These were far from traditional police duties and they occupied a considerable portion of a policeman’s time. Even well into the twentieth century, the extraneous duties list contained on average fifty to seventy tasks. Cartoon re extraneous duties of country police officers. Printed in Queensland Police Union Journal 1924. Image No. PM1411 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum In his first report to the Parliament, Commissioner David Seymour alluded to these duties, namely ‘summons-serving, acting as Clerks of Petty Sessions, rangers of Crown lands, inspectors of Slaughter-houses, district registrars of births, deaths, and marriages, and bailiffs of Courts of Requests — none of which duties are legitimately those of constables.’ In the two decades between 1904 and 1924 the list more than doubled. In 1904, police held thirty subsidiary appointments that included such diverse tasks as ‘customs officer’ and ‘secretary to marsupial board.’ By 1924 the list grew to seventy items, which ranged from more or less police related work as a ‘superintendent of prison or police gaol’ to a ‘ranger of reserves for the protection and preservation of native birds’ and an ‘observer at stream-gauging station for hydraulic engineer’. Consecutive commissioners voiced their dissatisfaction with the numbers of subsidiary duties and their impact on ‘legitimate police functions’. In many places, actual policing activity was superseded by the performance of these extraneous activities, the Police, as such, existed only in name. Cartoon showing the burden of extraneous duties – printed in Queensland Police Union Journal 1932. Image No. PM1367 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum Towards the final decades of the century the range of these extraneous duties decreased. However about one-third of man-hours were still taken up by work for the civic agencies. The list of additional duties has further shrunk in the twenty-first century. Contemporary regulations at large reduced police responsibilities to only those duties that half a century before would undoubtedly be deemed ‘legitimate police duties’: obtaining warrants, gathering evidence, making arrests and enforcing laws – or in a nutshell crime detection and prevention.  __________________

Barry Krosch, has forwarded the attached document that many former QPS members may find interesting.

The author, Geoff Sheldon is now Acting Chief Superintendent in Cairns and has done well in his life and career.

Barry recalls Geoff as a well-dressed, well mannered, Detective Senior Constable in Brisbane in about 1990’s.

It was many moons ago when a certain Detective named Barton made headlines with his very academic announcement about “mango madness” and the impact on crime in North Queensland.

When a Full Moon Rises Over the Sunshine State - Geoff SHELDON.pdf

 

28 January 2020 marked fifty years, at 9:37 pm, since Cessna 402 VH-RIZ crashed on North Bell Peak, directly east of Gordonvale.

Next morning, at about 8:30 am, a hastily gathered search party of local people began the search for the aircraft along what is the present day Bell Peak track. Many were ill-equipped for the strenuous conditions on the mountain and had little food and water but they volunteered their services to locate the plane and assist any possible survivors. A radio base was established at a Highleigh farm.

Even though it was early morning, the heat and humidity were building up. At about 200 metres, a number of men dropped out while the remainder struggled on as the day become more oppressive.

The crash site was reached about 12:30 pm. Fortunately, for the searchers, the plane had crashed across the ridge they were following and only about 100 metres below the summit. The Cessna had shattered on impact and there were no survivors.

The plane had been found and now the two bodies had to be removed from the mountain.

Highleigh base told the party to take the bodies to the summit, and clear an area so a helicopter could remove them.

The party was almost out of water. This was solved by dropping car tubes containing water from a plane. This water smelt and tasted of rubber, but there was no alternative supply.

At this stage several of the party decided to return as they were not equipped to spend the night. They arrived at Highleigh soaked as the violent storm that had been brewing all day broke. Those left on the peak built a rough shelter and huddled in it whilst the ferocious storm raged. They spent an uncomfortable night, wet through and freezing.

Friday 30 January, Highleigh base informed the group that a helicopter would not be available until Saturday, so most of those remaining returned to Highleigh leaving three at the crash site.

Saturday morning all was set to complete the removal. The helicopter had arrived with a cargo net suspended underneath. The net was to be released, the helicopter fly off, and the bodies placed in the net. The helicopter would return, the net hooked to its undercarriage then return to Highleigh. 

As those on the summit watched the helicopter’s ascent, the net, which also contained camping equipment and technical gear for the DCA crash investigation team, fall from the craft.

The helicopter had to return to base, another net obtained, and trials carried out, before another attempt could be made.

This time it was successful. The bodies were retrieved. The remnant of the original party came off the range leaving it to the crash investigation team to carry out their examination without their gear. The investigation team returned the next day.

Cairns Post articles from 13 Feb 2010 (40th anniversary)

Four days, three nights on Bell Peak North, Cairns Post 13022010 page 36.pdf

Four days, three nights on Bell Peak North, Cairns Post 13022010 page 37.pdf

(For a full account Google “North Bell Peak plane crash Highleigh)

Keith James Banks BM VA and Bar served in the Queensland Police Service from 27 January 1975 to 10 February 1995. He was the recipient of 2 Police Valour Awards and the Bravery Medal and is one of the few police officers in Australia to have received the Valour Award twice. He was presented with the Valour Award and Bar by Commissioner of Police Jim O’Sullivan on 29 July 1994 at the Queensland Police Academy. To date he is the only police officer to have received both Valour Awards on the same day.

Detective Sergeant Banks being decorated with the Queensland Police Valour Award and Bar by Commissioner O’Sullivan at the Queensland Police Academy on 29 July 1994. Image courtesy of Keith Banks

His first Valour Award was presented for his actions during Operation Flashdance on 29 July 1987. Then Senior Constable Banks was part of a Tactical Response Group assault team which entered a house in Virginia, Brisbane to arrest Queensland’s most wanted criminal, a violent armed robber and escapee from Long Bay Gaol. On entry the team was fired upon at close quarters by the offender which struck Senior Constable Peter Kidd and Constable 1/c Stephen Grant. Senior Constable Banks and another assault team member entered the bedroom where the offender was located and returned fire. The offender died at the scene and Senior Constable Banks went to the aid of Senior Constable Kidd who later died in hospital.

His second Valour Award was presented for his actions during a siege in the CBD of Brisbane. On 23 September 1993, a man entered the foyer of the MLC Building in George Street Brisbane armed with a rifle, hand grenade and an improvised explosive device consisting of 16 sticks of gelignite and 3 electronic detonators. He fired shots at random around the foyer and the situation quickly developed into a siege situation. Detective Sergeant Banks was nearby and responded to requests for any unit to attend. On arrival he entered the building and approached the man who was seated on the floor of the foyer. He commenced negotiating with the male and was joined by another Police officer. During the next hour and a half Detective Sergeant Banks successfully persuaded the male person to surrender the rifle, the hand grenade and the explosive device and surrender to police custody. During this time the male continually threatened to detonate the device to kill himself, Detective Sergeant Banks and the other officer.

Former Detective Sergeant Banks being decorated by the Governor of Queensland, Mrs Leanne Ford AC at Government House, Brisbane in 1995. Image courtesy of Keith Banks

Keith Banks was also later awarded the Bravery Medal for his actions during the MLC siege. By this time, he had resigned from the Queensland Police Service. This medal was presented to him by the Governor of Queensland in 1995.

__________________

This article was written by former Detective Sergeant Keith Banks for the Queensland Police Museum’s FROM the VAULT series.  

On 4 January 2020, I had lunch at Kingaroy RSL Club (too damn hot to stay home and work on the block) and wife and I were served meal by a new staffer.  So, we got chatting and “Police” was mentioned.

He said, “My Grandfather was in the Police.  Fred Richards, and he was hurt when there was a big fire at Sandgate.  He was attached to Sandgate Police Station”

It’s a small world?  I was at Sandgate from late 1974 until June 1975.  My Senior was Desmond Colin Garske (4211); the Detective Sergeant was Michael John Gurn; and the PCC was a tall skinny guy named Robert Atkinson. A uniform Senior Constable was Fred Richards; the officer hurt in the fire.

The other trainee with me at Sandgate was a Rodney Fagg.  He eventually left, medically unfit, and now lives about 200 m from me here in Kingaroy.

It was while at Sandgate (a December 1974 afternoon). I was performing Special Duty at roadworks outside the Homestead Hotel.  Was about 40 degrees. A dashing young Detective, stopped his unmarked Falcon,  realised how hot and bothered I was, and drove away.  He returned minutes later with an icy cold can of Coke.  I remember he said “Get this into ya mate” and took off towards Sandgate Road.  His name was John O’Gorman, and I probably owe him a can of Coke?

See:- https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/museum/2013/07/02/from-the-vault-just-part-of-the-job/

See also:- https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/museum/2012/12/04/from-the-vault-out-of-the-frying-pan-and-into-the-fire/

Also at Sandgate, I met Traffic Constable Dave Walsh.  The Senior called me in one afternoon and said “I am sick of receiving all these complaint about some idiot who speeds inbound on Sandgate Road about 5.30 am each morning.  You are working tonight, and don’t come back until you have pinched him”

So the next morning, I glimpsed this idiot on a motor bike, but he got away. So I developed a strategy.

Next morning, I was waiting for him to come to me….Sandgate Road inbound….and I parked on the hill outside Nudgee College.  I hear this bike roaring in from Sandgate towards the City.  Made a successful intercept.  It was a QPS Constable Dave Walsh, who lived at Redcliffe or Brighton, and was just running late for work in the City.  6.00 am start I think?  I forget exactly what I reported back to Senior Sergeant Garske, but I was not on Oath at the time anyhow.

In 1976, because of public and political misgivings about police manufacturing evidence, the government convened a Committee of Inquiry to probe the ongoing allegations.

Mr Justice Lucas was appointed to  head the inquiry, assisted by Mr Des Sturgess and Chief Superintendent Don Becker.  The report was released the following year.

With his experience and sweeping insight into the criminal justice system, Mr Sturgess was a wise choice.  He enjoyed a reputation for impartiality, a keen intellect and a mastery of law and language.  He made a huge contribution to the report.

The report addressed many matters of concern, the more sensitive being a suspect’s right to silence without adverse inference and the police right to detain a suspect for questioning and search.

The inquiry observed ‘… as a community we frequently expect too much of our police officers.  It is not fair to expect members of the police to break the law to provide an acceptable standard of law enforcement.  On the other hand it has been shown in so many directions that the police are careless in the use of power … the police should be given adequate powers to do their job while at the same time processes must be established to make sure they don’t abuse them.’

The Lucas Report made a number of recommendations (some quite contentious) including the abolition of the right to silence rule and the empowerment of police to stop, question and search persons found in suspicious circumstances.

Recommendations to curb the abuse of police powers were also made, including the use of tape recorders when interviewing suspects. 

According to Mr Sturgess in his book ‘The Tangled Web’, the Bar Association (of which he was a member), generally speaking, was supportive of the Lucas proposals although there were some rumblings about the abolition of the right to silence rule.

The police kept their heads down.

The government, realising it was nursing a hot potato, set up a committee to appraise the recommendations in private.  Their report was never made public.  The Lucas proposals were not acted upon.  They became the casualities of craven politics, self-interested lawyers, lack of police support and public apathy. 

But concern regarding the police ‘verbal’ persisted and there was no chance of it going away without effective remedy.  This stain on police reputation led more and more officers to the conclusion that they should not be expected to take the risk of bending the law, no matter the reason.

The issue continued to niggle and the Police Union became fed up with declamation upon declamation.

In some desperation the Union asked Mr Sturgess to address an on-coming triannual conference (to be attended by delegates from across the state) to explain the full import of the Lucas Report.

He readily agreed and expected a lively reception in that he was on record as saying ‘police debate may turn out to be a robust affair, but it usually makes the point, unlike the hemming and hawing of lawyers’.

Indeed, his address was followed by robust discussion but he persuaded conference members to set up a sub-committee to carefully study all the recommendations.

He called for patient, impartial judgement because he foresaw that some proposals would be quickly agreed upon while unpopular proposals would be rejected just as quickly. 

Over the following months the sub-committee met on several occasions.  Mr Sturgess attended when requested and gave explanation where asked for.

The outcome of all this resulted in the Union President, John Cummins, making a bold public statement backing all recommendations and calling on the government to implement them.

The police change of course provoked outrage on the part of the lawyers.  As Mr Sturgess sadly wrote ‘It indicated that any chance of the police and lawyers working together to achieve a better criminal justice system did not exist and, so far as the lawyers were concerned, anything proposed by the police must now be opposed’.

With this, the Lucas Report gave its last gasp and died.

Posthumously, we again thank Mr Sturgess for his heroic efforts to bring about an improved system of criminal justice and in so doing championing the police cause.

We are pleased to be able to present a four (4) part article 'A Tale from the Streets' relating to the historic Queensland Police service biography of Constable Arthur Greene

It has often been quoted that war is interminable boredom punctuated by moments of terror or some variant thereof. The saying appears to have originated in the trenches of World War 1 but to whom the original quote is attributed will possibly remain unknown.[1] The phrase could also be used to describe some aspects of policing: Hours of mundane data entry or report writing, long periods of patrol when the police radio is quiet and the community is at peace with itself, or a nothing out of the ordinary inquiry. But then, in a fleeting moment, the circumstances change. Adrenalin levels increase rapidly, the heart begins to beat faster and tunnel vision may be experienced as the physiological changes of the fight-or-flight response take over. [2] For some, such a dramatic turn of events or series of events has a lifetime negative effect yet for others it seems to be like water off a duck’s back and hardly given another serious thought. Such an event occurred on the streets of Brisbane Town back in 1881. According to a Queensland Government Gazette entry, Arthur Green was appointed into the Queensland Police Force on 19 March 1881 - Registered No. 197.[3] His Record of Conduct and Service, however, indicates he was appointed as Arthur Greene on 9 February 1881 - Registered No. 197.[4] Whatever the date of his appointment was, in Brisbane on Saturday, 2 April 1881 an incident occurred that one could reasonably assume Arthur Greene would remember for a long time. Whether his recall of the event was inconsequential or otherwise is for the reader to opine.  (Please continue by opening the links below)

A Tale From the Streets - Part 1

A Tale From the Streets - Part 2

A Tale From the Streets - Part 3

A Tale From the Streets - Part 4

In 1970 I was sent from Fortitude Valley to the Hamilton Police Station to relieve for a few weeks. The station was situated in Kingsford Smith Drive at the intersection with Harbour Drive. Our neighbours were the Queensland Butter Board and the Hamilton Fire Station. Officer in Charge Sen/Sgt Jim Johnson presided over a staff that consisted of Sgt. Trevor Blackwell, Sen/Const. George Zahn, Sen/Const Bruce Gleeson (who had just transferred to Sandgate and who I was relieving) three other Constables, Bill Ketelaars, George Moczynski, Dave Hirons. A very competent, capable and experienced staff.

After about two weeks my Senior asked if I was interested in applying for the vacant position at Hamilton. I of course said yes, to which he replied “There is a police house at Pinkenba that goes with it so you might as well apply for that as well if you want it” and tossed me a set of keys from his drawer to go and inspect the house. Jim and I put together my application which went to the Inspector at The Valley and was approved almost by return mail. I took up residence in June with my wife and two small children.

I had only been to Pinkenba and the Myrtletown area once before coming to Hamilton, which had been a few weeks prior when working the Valley District night wireless car with Sgt. Jack Neylan. After passing through the industrial area and leaving the Pinkenba School and the nearby Shell Oil Depot behind, one entered a small farming community which had once been one of Brisbane’s market garden areas. Small crop farms, cattle and dairy functioned in this low lying area that extended down to the mouth of the Brisbane River at Luggage Point which was (and still is) the site of the major sewerage works. Low lying mist gave the area a quiet and mysterious impression.

Sen/Sgt Johnson gave me responsibility for all inquiries and most matters pertaining to the area that had once been the Pinkenba Police Division which included most of the Eagle Farm industrial estate, Pinkenba and Myrtletown. The old police residence included a police office and stood almost directly across from the Pinkenba State School at 14 Serpentine Road. Immediately next door was the Pinkenba School of Arts. In 1974, I became a committee member for the state school centenary celebrations which fell due in 1975 and I was asked if I could submit an article for a proposed booklet regarding the history of police at Pinkenba. My enquiries led me to all sorts of sources and some research at the State Archives which resulted in a well received small article and which surprisingly found it’s way into those archives and our police museum. It helped provide a snapshot of this area, as during my time at Pinkenba the area was systematically being resumed and farms bought by the then Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) for the future development of the Brisbane Airport. As of the time of writing, 2019 this whole rural area has disappeared into the boundaries of the Brisbane Airport. What has not been included, has gone to industrial construction. Roads have been extinguished with the entire area only vaguely familiar to those that knew it as a rural community. The sewerage works have been brought into the 21^st Century on its original site and the village of Pinkenba has receded to its few streets and houses which remain almost as was and is still the tiny isolated outlying suburb and on the fringes of what was once an outlying farming community and food bowl that serviced Brisbane.

The following are two items lifted from the computer entitled ‘From the Vault – Policing in Pinkenba, parts 1 & 2’  and forms the body of the original booklet article. Items in italics I have put in which although part of the school booklet article, do not appear in The Vault records.

‘In 1898 the first moves to secure a home-based police officer in the Myrtle Town and Pinkenba districts, followed the extension of the rail line to Pinkenba, the erection of the wharves, the reopening of the meatworks and the subsequent rise in population.  These moves were by way of written submissions to Police Commissioner William Parry-Okeden and local council members, by the management of the Queensland Meat Export & Agency Co. Ltd. of Eagle Farm, and the Pinkenba Railway Station Master. The submissions complained ‘of drunks, larrikins etc. in the area’. One of these bodies was significantly a group of parents whose children attended the state school who were concerned of the bad example being set to their children  by the high number of undesirables frequenting the district who were brought in by the rail and meatworks. “School children coming into frequent contact with them think it manly to imitate their evil propensities” runs a segment of the letter. At this time the district was policed from the Petrie Terrace Police Depot Mounted Section.

A further eighteen months passed, then on 17 February 1899 the Commissioner directed that a police station be constructed at Pinkenba. Eighteen tenders were submitted, as at this time work was scarce and many carpenters and tradesmen were setting up independently against their employers, often submitting lower tenders to win employment.  After a bitter struggle involving various accusations, the tender was let to L. C. Young who duly erected the police station, stables, lock-up and earth closet, for the sum of £366 15s. Acting Sgt 81 J. Barbour was transferred from Maryborough to Pinkenba on 16/5/1900. He took up rented residence in the area whilst awaiting his own station.

The station was described as being of wooden construction with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a sitting room, breakfast room, bathroom, front veranda and police office.  Additional buildings included a 12 foot by 10 foot lock-up with veranda, as well as a stable and fodder room. The lock-up and station each had a 1000 gallon water tank. The area was enclosed with a picket and split paling fence. Annual rates on the property stood at 16 shillings.

Pinkenba Police Residence 1973. The stairs and six hopper windows on far right indicate the built in police station office.

Floorplan for the Pinkenba Police Station, cell block and stable with fodder room, 1901.

Heavy rains in 1904 left the police station yard lying under several inches of water rendering all approaches impossible to negotiate without first wading through muddy water. In addition, it was also considered to be a menace to the health of the occupant’s and the general public. The situation was remedied by a ballast truck load of gravel (approximately seven tons in weight or six dray loads) for the sum of ₤1:18:0. Minor flooding seemed to be an ongoing problem, and later in the year fifteen loads of cinders at 1 shilling per load were used to fill up the yard and approaches to the station.

The earliest records found are by the second serving officer James Reville, No.483 whose occurrence book dating from 1/7/1905 to 30/1/1906 reveals eight persons were locked up whilst 19 others were incarcerated at the City Watchhouse, indicating that the area was indeed infested with the evils of mankind!

By 1907 police extraneous duties included Assistant District Registrar of Births and Deaths, Receiver of Income Tax, Inspector of Slaughter Houses and School Attendance Officer. However, the bulk of police work revolved around bigamy, wife desertion, ill-behaved seamen, stowaways, deserters, illegitimate births and the distributing of very large numbers of Indigence Allowances.

10/1/1907 saw a James Wakefield paid five shillings as payment for taking the body of Stodart from the river at Doughboy Creek for police. Two Aboriginals resided at Boggy Creek as did several gypsies. Teto Heoung was a known and accepted opium smoker living in the Chinese fishing village at Eagle Farm. Reville it appears, spent a great deal of his time, especially Sunday, lurking around the Myrtletown Hotel but always reported a good observance by the Licencee to the laws of young drinkers and strict closing time?

13/4/1907 saw the death of Eliza Jane Riley as a result of being thrown from her buggy and on 4/2/1908, five year old N.E.V.Rowlingson died as a result of a pan of hot fat spilling over his head.

Flood prone Pinkenba Police Station suffered more disaster; in a memorandum dated 14 March 1908, Constable James Reville wrote;

“I made a mounted patrol (on police horse ‘Bismark’) throughout the division to ascertain if any of the residents were in danger from the flood waters or needed assistance. Although Pinkenba, the Serpentine Country and portion of Eagle Farm presented the appearance of a huge lake, the residents were not in any actual danger as owing to the flat level nature of the country, the water broke over the Pinkenba flats into the Brisbane River and over the Myrtle Town flats into the bay when it had reached an average height of 20 inches in Pinkenba township …” (Authors note: This observation was interesting in that two floods occurred during my time, mainly the 1974 disaster, and both times the water levels in the streets and district came in as that written by Reville all those years earlier)

24/6/1908 saw a night time collision of sulkies in Pinkenba between a Herbert Rawlingson and Ernest Naumann. No one was hurt but both men shook hands with Rawlingson admitting blame as ‘his candle had burned out in his lamps’ and agreed to rectify the five pounds damage. Road Rage 1908 style!?

Next, and on October 20, 1908, a grass fire destroyed the police paddock fencing in McBride’s paddock. Constable Reville phoned the Petrie Terrace Police Depot from the Railway Station to request assistance.  A constable and five recruits cycled the distance to assist the Constable and concerned citizens attempting to put the fire out, using McBride’s horse and dray loaded with casks of water.

A Mary Taylor whilst raking hay on 27/11/1908 with her son Charles was struck by lightning. Her lace boots were torn off and ripped open. Her hat was parted at the rim and her hat pin was fused into a charred piece of metal. Charles was thrown 5 yards to the ground. Mrs Taylor survived this ordeal.

Pinkenba was at this time a busy place with plenty of police work. However, as bigger and better wharves opened further up river, fewer ships docked there, and with the eventual closure of the meatworks, the area receded into a quiet pleasant village with its local pub. Families grew up and stayed in the area creating a friendly, closely-knit community.

In September 1911 it was reported that all taps at the station were leaking and the bath was in a bad state of repair resulting in damaged floor boards. Acting Sergeant William Lenham advised the Police Commissioner, now William Cahill, that he repaired the taps and fitted a new plunge bath.  In May 1914 a new stove was required as well as repairs to the bathroom plumbing. Constable Charles Price advised in July of 1914 that he obtained and fixed new stove linings and repaired the plumbing for a cost of ₤1, 4 shillings and 11 pence.  The Department of Public Works finished applying two coats of paint to the exterior and interior of the station, the cell, water closet, stable and feed room, and two galvanised iron tanks in 1929.

In March 1933, Constable Leroy Cooke made an application for electric light to be installed throughout the station which was approved. Alterations and repairs were made to the station, with the addition of a new 1000 gallon water tank for the kitchen, the raising and levelling of the lock-up tank, a new white enamel bath tub, drain pipe and repairs to the rain guttering above the breakfast room.

On 14 February 1957 a new chip heater, hand wash basin and bath were installed. In July of that year, Senior Constable Graham Adams sought to enclose the front veranda of the residence to form a sleep out as well as to extend the police office to create a public entrance. These renovations were completed by 28 September 1958.  On 10 September 1964, Police Commissioner Francis Bischof received a report regarding the rationalisation of suburban police resources. The report recommended the closure of Pinkenba Station and the transfer of Senior Constable Adams to Hamilton Police Station.  Pinkenba Police Station was closed on 5 October 1964. Responsibility for the division was transferred to Hamilton Police Station, however the Pinkenba building was retained as a police residence.

The following list present the men that followed Reville, either in service of residence:

Dan O’Brien, Const.1/c 434 

Charles Price, Const.946

Patrick J.Purtill, Const.2156

William Murphy, Const.1098

Michael Brady, Const.1863

G.Mark, Const.1341

Charles Pollock, Const.1340

LeRoy A.Cooke, Const.2230

Frank M.Stevenson, Const.2653

James Doherty, Const.2138 (1937-1956)

Joseph G.Hatchman, Const.5540

Graham P.J.Adams, Sen/Const.4281 (serving when closed)

Michael B.Gleeson, Sen/Const.6423

William H.Larkman, Const.1/c 7727

Graham A.McIntosh, Const.1/c 8463

Keryan Warry, Const.8125

Many, now elderly adults will recall as children, the many free haircuts given them by the policeman by way of the razor sharp horse shears!

During my four years residency I oversaw the removal of the single cell watchhouse that was still present when I arrived. It had become dilapidated and infested with bird lice. Upon applying for it to be removed I received a visit from a Department of Works Inspector who promptly declared it derelict and due for demolition. I inquired what the cost to his department would be for such work and which he estimated would be in excess of $200, involving a couple of men for about a week. I offered him $5 for it and he promptly retrieved a receipt book from his car, I gave him $5 in exchange for a receipt and I was a proud owner of a watchhouse which I demolished at my leisure and retrieved much useful timber.

Another benefit I received was driving to the dairy farm at Myrtletown whenever I needed, usually with the kids, with two half gallon pannikins which I filled directly from the milk vat and leaving payment on the window sill. I would also do a Sunday evening run around the farming district and buy fruit and vegetables direct from the farmer before they took their produce to the Brisbane market. Happy contented days indeed.

The house is still there, in its original position, privately owned now and at the last visit a year or so back it still boasted a magnificent deep red Poinciana tree which I planted along with my very little son.

Policing of Pinkenba/Myrtletown passed to the Hamilton Police Station which has now also disappeared along with its police residence and all the shipping wharfs that operated nearby, especially Bretts Wharf that was situated on Kingsford Smith Drive directly opposite the Hamilton Hotel. The Pinkenba Railway Station and line has gone as has the School of Arts that stood alongside the Pinkenba Police Station. The school has long since closed with just the hotel and a shop remaining. The local Hamilton Police Station area is all but unrecognisable now with massive redevelopment and the conversion of wharfs areas into residential precincts.

One has to reflect upon the strength of policing at Hamilton in 1970 and the depth of experience and supervision that prevailed. The interaction that took place between the population, businesses, airport, race courses and wharfs was enormous. The ongoing knowledge regarding the movement, actions and residences of known criminals and suspect persons, many of whom were known by their first names, the cars they drove and who they associated with was considerable. It was true community policing with a personal touch.

This has now been replaced by what is collectively called cluster policing with the likes of Hamilton, Clayfield, Banyo and Nundah merged under one roof and involving mobile patrolling. Again, the comparison has to be made regarding the public contact then to that of today.

__________________

This article was written by Assistant Curator Virginia Gordon (c2000) and Constable W.H.Larkman (c1975) from the best resources available within the Queensland Police Museum.  The Police Museum is open 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Thursday and 10 am to 3 pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

Bill Larkman

Sergeant (Ret)

Whilst serving as a police officer I received a copy of a letter and a marriage certificate from a second cousin of mine.     She was formerly named Connolly and although a little strange in her ways she knew a lot about and has records of the Connolly clan who originated from Ireland.

She gave me the letter and certificates because my great grandfather, named Matthew Connolly was, like me, a police officer.     The wedding certificate concerned the marriage of his son also named Matthew to a Mary Conroy, who were married on 17^th June 1875 at Ipswich.

Matthew and Mary had ten children, the eighth one being my paternal grandmother, Anna Connolly.     She later married Ernest Olsen, hence the Olsen name.

The letter given to me, written by my great, great grandfather was to his sister in Ireland as is dated 15^th October 1860.     It contains family news but also a few things police-wise at the time which might be of interest.

He apologised to his sister being late in writing and says, “I would have done so earlier but I have been a good deal tossed of late and so has the entire Police Force both in Brisbane and Ipswich, particularly the older members of the establishment.     It has originated from the fact of having a Governor, and this part being proclaimed ‘Queensland’.

He complains of losing his best and dearest friend, a Colonel Gray, who resigned his commission as Police Magistrate.     Nevertheless prior to resigning, Colonel GRAY appointed Constable Matthew Connolly the watchhouse keeper at Gatton.    This was an easier job than being in the mounted Police, particularly as the Governor had proclaimed Gatton as a General Receiving Gaol and all prisoners committed either to Brisbane or Ipswich had to come by there and be quartered prior to continuing.

Matthew Connolly received ₤18 to ₤20 to receive rations, wood, water and candles etc.     He mentioned that a Sgt. Harris at Ipswich (Connolly’s previous station) and that there were 20 constables at Ipswich at the time.

He told his sister that Gatton was a healthy spot with splendid fresh water fish and abundance of wild turkey’s and the most fertile soil in all of Queensland.     An acre of land in the town area could be bought for ₤8.

Quite a few years ago an article appeared in the Sunday Mail in relation to Constable Matthew Connolly.

“On 30^th August 1861, Constable Matthew Connolly left Gatton with a prisoner to take to Ipswich.     After delivering his prisoner he was given a small phial of medicine by a Dr. Rowlands for a Mrs Joshua Bell who was desperately ill at Grantham.     He also had a phial of medicine for a Mrs Garry.

Returning along the way the constable got to Sandy Creek, near Laidley, and found it to be flooded.     A person camped nearby informed him it was too high to cross. However, because of the need for medicine the constable decided to cross the creek.     He put his horse to the creek, but the animal was swept away and the constable was dislodged and drowned.

His body was later found some 300 yards downstream and in his pockets were the two small phials of medicine he had given his life to deliver.”

To my knowledge my great great grandfather was never honoured in any way for giving his life.     His wife, at considerable expense, had his body brought from Laidley to Ipswich hoping to have a fitting burial.

The Ipswich Priests would not officiate and also forbade him to be buried in consecrated ground as he was “Not exemplary in his attention to his religious duties.”

He was buried at Ipswich with his wife and a few off-duty constables from that station where the only people present.

Even though I write of a distant relative, I conclude that history wasn’t kind to Constable Matthew Connolly, however I will always remember his as a Police hero of the past.

Matthew Connolly is the earliest officer on the Queensland Police Memorial List as he served prior to the commencement of the Queensland Police Force in 1864. Matthew’s name was added to the Memorial List 2006.