St George, Shire police memorial for Woronora Cemetery

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has officially dedicated a new memorial honouring fallen officers in St George and Sutherland Shire.

The Commissioner joined local police, families, friends, and colleagues, for the dedication of the NSW Police Memorial, led by Police Chaplain, Reverend David Warner, at Woronora Cemetery on Thursday April 9.

The memorial honours 24 NSW Police officers who have died on duty while serving in the St George, Sutherland and Miranda Local Area Commands or who were cremated or laid to rest at Woronora Cemetery. (See list below)

Commissioner Scipione said the plaques and memorial wall were a perfect way to honour local officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“The NSW Police Memorial at Woronora Cemetery is our first collective police tribute in a private cemetery,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“As we unveil the plaques today, we reflect on the lives and achievements of the officers who died while serving this community.

“One of the toughest challenges for police is starting work each day not knowing what will happen yet understanding they may have to risk their own life to save another.

“It is with great pride I dedicate this memorial and honour the officers, whose names are inscribed, remembering their selfless sacrifice and courage. They will not be forgotten,” Commissioner Scipione said.

The names of the 24 local fallen officers, who died on duty since 1862, are inscribed on the wall of the memorial.

An additional two colonial police killed in 1845, prior to the inception of the NSW Police Force, will also be remembered in the form of separate plaques. 

Officers honoured on NSW Police Memorial at Woronora Cemetery:

Sergeant 1st Class William Smith, killed on duty at Port Kembla on 1 September 1951, age 53

Constable Garnet Mortley, killed on duty at Waterfall 1 June 1953, age 25

Constable Edward Dilks, killed on duty at Corowa on 21 October 1954, age 28

Sergeant 2nd Class Cecil Ellis, killed on duty at Sydney on 29 April 1956, age 58

Constable William Lord, killed on duty at Randwick on 23 December 1958, age 24

Constable Colin Robb, killed on duty at Auburn on 7 September 1963, age 28

Constable 1st Class Cyril Howe, killed on duty at Oaklands on 20 December 1963, age 31

Constable Allan Shaw, killed on duty at Belmore on 11 May 1964, age 24

Constable Colin Roy, killed on duty at Kirrawee on 12 May 1967, age 28

Sergeant 2nd Class Adam Schell, killed on duty at Bobbin Head on 8 October 1968, age 52

Probationary Constable Warren Burns, killed on duty at Sutherland on 30 October 1968, age 25

Detective Senior Constable Denis Ware, killed on duty at Sutherland on 2 October 1970, age 32

Constable Joseph Gibb, killed on duty at Miranda on 23 January 1972, age 28

Senior Constable Neville Parker, killed on duty at Sans Souci on12 November 1972, age 34

Sergeant 2ns Class John Gill, killed on duty at Hurstville on 12 May 1973, age 47

Sergeant 1st Class John Colbert, killed on duty at Kingsgrove on 11 March 1979, age 58

Detective Sergeant Jillian Hawkes, killed on duty at Milsons Point on 22 April 1986, age 46

Probationary Constable Dana Heffernan, killed on duty at Randwick on 17 April 1987, age 20

Constable 1st Class Mark Burns, killed on duty at Tamworth on 17 March 1988, age 25

Constable John Burgess, killed on duty at Annandale on 27 April 1989, age 29

Constable Kenneth Short, killed on duty at Yarrawarra on 11 July 1990, age 27

Sergeant John Proops, killed on duty at Enfield on 22 May 1993, age 42

Senior Sergeant Raymond Smith, killed on duty at Calga on 13 July 1998, age 47

Senior Constable James (Jim) Affleck, killed on duty at Glen Alpine on 14 January 2001, age 43

Colonial police honoured:

Corporal Stephen Kirk, killed on duty at Heathcote on 12 November 1845, age 32

Trooper Luke Dunn, killed on duty at Heathcote on 21 November 1845, age 33

IFRAME

EARLIER STORY:

Fallen police officers from the region will be remembered with a police memorial at Woronora Cemetery to be unveiled on Thursday, April 9.

Eleven St George and Sutherland Shire officers will have their names engraved on the memorial alongside 13 other NSW police officers killed in the line of duty.

The memorial was the idea of Phil Peters, who chairs the Local Retired Police branch, and retired local commander Henry (Harry) Brennan.

It took more than 18 months for the project to be competed during which time Mr Brennan died.

Mr Peters said the unveiling was bitter-sweet.

‘‘It’s a beautiful memorial and I’m so proud that we’ve achieved this in 18 months,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m sorry that he [Mr Brennan] won’t be there in person but I’m certain he will be looking down with a mischievous grin to see that we got to his goal.’’

One of the officers honoured is James (Jim) Affleck who was killed at Glen Alpine in 2001.

The senior constable was laying out spikes to stop the driver of a stolen 4WD when the driver swerved, hitting the police officer. 

He was killed instantly.

Mr Peters said the local memorial was the first of its kind.

‘‘This memorial will perpetuate their memory forever,’’ he said.

‘‘By having this memorial it keeps their memory alive and that’s important to me.’’

Woronora Cemetery chief executive Graham Boyd said the memorial sat close to a section honouring missing people.

‘‘Symbolically it fitted,’’ he said.

‘‘Police really give their all, so it links.

‘‘They are the backbone of society so we were proud to work with them.’’