Issue No: 59 September 2012

(Established 1997)

NORTHERN TERRITORY RETIRED POLICE NEWSLETTER

Patron – Mr John McRoberts APM, Commissioner of Police

Vice Patron – Mr Vince Kelly APM, President NTPA

COMMITTEE MEMBERS EXECUTIVE MEMBERS COMMITTEE MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES PRESIDENT SOCIAL GRAHAM REES Tony WALLBANK (08) 8983 3087

Mobile 0400 915 499 E.mail rpa.nt@bigpond.com

SALES & MARKETING

VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER John WOLTHERS 0418 895 532 Brian JEFFERY Moblie 0417 604 363 E,mail bredery@netspace.net.au WELFARE Garry CASEY 040 884 1023 SECRETARY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS & RESPONSIBILITIES RESEARCH/EDITORIAL Norm FAINT 041 666 3553 PUBLIC OFFICER E.mail faintyen@gmail.com and

Dennis SCRUTTON (08) 8945 5178 Shirley McManus BANK DETAILS FEES

BANK NAB – BSB: 085.928 $25.00 Ordinary Members ACCT.NBR: – 49-347-2793 $15.00 Social Members Due 1st July. Fees may be paid in advance for up to 5 years. VICTORIAN BRANCH : PRESIDENT David POLLOCK Email : pollockd@bigpond.net.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA BRANCH : PRESIDENT Bruce WYATT Email : rpantsa@intermode.on.net

OFFICE: TUES & THUR – 9.00am to 1.00pm All Correspondence and payments Phone/Fax (08) 8922 3374 to Secretary at Web: www.rpant.asn.au PO Box 2777 E-Mail rpa.nt@bigpond.com PALMERSTON NT 0831

PRESIDENTS REPORT

The night before the mailing of our Issue No. 58 our friend, colleague, comrade, John R. Williams R/N 616 passed away.

John was a very long time serving Executive Member of RPANT having served many years as Treasurer and of late as Vice President. .

Many years ago John had a short spell away from the Committee. On my return to the Committee in 2004 I urged him to return as Treasurer, and he assured me he would, on the provision that I fill the position of Secretary. I did, he did, and so we remained for the next 7 years.

Important Dates this quarter: September 28th Police Remembrance, September 29th RPANT 15th Anniversary and October 21st our AGM. See pages 6 and 8 for more information.

Brian will return to his elected position as Vice President taking the position of Treasurer with him. The position of Secretary will be addressed by me assisted by the Editorial Members until our AGM.

SECRETARYS NOTES

Thanks must go to our Research and Editorial persons. Shirley and Norm who upon short notice managed to have Issue No.58 compiled, proof read, printed, folded, enveloped and posted in 7 days and, would you believe, started on this issue the following day. As suggested by Shirley two years ago a ‘LADIES COLUMN’ has been included herein and we now look forward to those that may follow ‘Annie’s’ story and hopefully, one from Shirley after living some 50 plus years in Darwin and following Denzil’s career from 1955. I trust the photos of ‘DARWIN MOVES ON’ bring back some memories and / or opened a few eyes as to the progress of our New Darwin. Please forward any inclusions for our next issue to reach here, no later than 16th November, Thanks.

Editors Desk

Somebody once said that with output to our Newsletter one needs input. I always took that as filling two thirds of a job only and responded with, ‘you gotta be like a good old street policeman, you gotta get out there and find out who is doing what, where and when’. I often remember the words of Taffy Lewellyn (dcd.) on my first night of patrol, ‘you gotta stop and talk to people’ and of Bill Spiteri (dcd.) ‘you see a sus in a vehicle, pull it over, talk to people’. So I guess to get input one needs the other third to complete the job and that is, to make conversation, to communicate. As my old Dad (dcd.) as a former member of the London Met. once said ‘if a job is worth doing, its worth doing properly’. We select between 12 and 15 phone numbers a fortnight, some members are obviously busy in ‘life after the force’, some on holiday, we do leave messages on answering services. Cheers and Enjoy.

SOCIAL REPORT Tony reports over the past 12 months functions, gatherings at Lake Bennett, for Christmas 2011, and at RPANT house for last years AGM were all very successful. Plans for our 15th Anniversary have been finalized as well as our AGM this year. SALES REPORT John reports that as a result of several trips to the Hospital either as an outpatient or as a visitor to JR there are no sales recorded for this period. WELFARE REPORT Garry reports that for the 12 month period, assistance by RPANT members has been

to Aimee Meredith with property maintenance. Bedside visits to former Vice President and his family. Plans well in place for this years Remembrance Day March.

MEMBERS IN TOWN Gathering of Squad 10/1972 at the Darwin Trailer Boat Club (photo page 5). Robin and Marie Chalker from Queensland. Kevin Maley and son Steve from N.S.W. for 20 year football re-union.

SICK PARADE Marty James APM in Hospital for surgery to shoulder. Daryl Manzie in Darwin Hospital for exploration to back. Monty O’Mahoney back in Hospital NEW MEMBERS Ross Walshe, N.S.W. and Julie Thorning (Social) Vic, NEWS FROM MEMBERS

Dave Gilmore, QLD., now retired for some 18 months, urged by the little missus to cease wandering the shops and nearby beaches and take up another hobby, he did just that. Dave now collects statistics for the A.B.S. on various subjects for 2 weeks in every month at various places including two trips to Darwin. He is set up with a Home Office, with every conceivable administrative tool in a spare room that overlooks a Miami Beach 13 kilometres north of the Gold Coast. Miami dates back to 1920 then known as Miami Shore.

A MIAMI BEACH Reminiscing on the times he spent as O.I.C. in various Traffic Campaigns, one in particular where he had to exaggerate to a News Reporter that the general public should be aware the Traffic Branch was ‘out in full force’ with ‘x’ amount of vehicles, bikes and road side breath test stations. If the truth be known, perhaps one of each. Chris Fagg, TAS., as retired as one can be in retired life, seem to do as much work if not more than when in full time work. Chris left the tropics for the coastal area of Rocky Cape in 1980, has not been back since he left but keeps in touch with Darwin news via the internet. He is set up with a Home Office being engaged as a volunteer with the Local Government, Emergency Services developing Disaster Plans. Rocky Cape first settled in 1827 as Emu Bay on the north west tip of Tasmania, the nearest town being Burnie.

ROCKY CAPE LIGHTHOUSE BUILT 1968 Mick Brennan, N.T. recently completed a 7000 kilometre ride on his Harley Davidson Road King 1700cc and has no plans to stop riding. With his next WALL TO WALL however, Mick is only going to travel with the group to the Three Ways, after which he will head south solo and across to Canberra, representing RPANT. A few years back he started serving the Public as a free J.P. outside of the Casuarina Complex Police Shop on a Tuesday, it went to 2 days a week now he has another two dedicated J.P’s offering their free service 3 days a week. In recent times Mick has been aghast at the quality of very well presented ‘forged documents’ and refuses to stamp and sign photo copies as being ‘original copies’ from a particular group of recent arrivals to Australia. With his ‘mobile office’ at the front of the Police Shop he points to and informs those suspect that they are on camera and if they sign a false Statutory Declaration they will be locked up and deported, they don’t think twice but parcel their ‘documents’ and perhaps go elsewhere. Gary Holden, N.Z. looking forward to another re-union with friends afar and within a warmer climate because, at the moment, Garry is freezing amongst the rubble of Christchurch. Marty James APM, W.A. will be ‘out of action’ for about 4 months following surgery to his shoulder. Marty recently joined the W.A. Retired Police Association. Ron Natt, VIC. with friend recently completed a 750 kilometre, four day, round trip from Clayton to Wentworth and return to drop fuel off at a deserted spot along the Murray River. A trip to be completed by boat without a fuel stop for the return journey. Ron is sending more news on that ‘adventure’. John & Jan Woodcock, N.T. spending 5 weeks in Canada. Peter Hood, W.A. from Geraldton planning an overseas trip, perhaps to follow John and Jan to the Mounties. Lindsay McDowell N.T. Ian (Dutchy) Holland S.A. Dave Picker N.T. and Terry Walsh QLD. celebrated 40 years of Squad 10 from 6th March 1972, a get together at Darwin’s Trailer Boat Club.

Left to Right as above

Roger Mayer, N.S.W. Roger joined N.T. Police October 1978 and for a period was stationed at Nhulunbuy, resigned September 1981 and joined N.S.W. Police. 2002 promoted to Supervisor – State Protection Group Dog Unit. In this years (2012) Queens Birthday honours list Roger was awarded the APM. Whilst stationed at Nhulunbuy Roger gained knowledge of ‘Gumatj’ an East Arnhem language, when seeking information regarding this, a Gumatj person named Jeanie Guruwiwi beamed with enjoyment not having heard of Roger since he left Nhulunbuy. She informed me that Roger had been ‘adopted’ by her grandfather ‘Gotju” and uncle ‘Mandawuy’ both elders of the Yunupingu family. Bill Matchett, N.T. just returned from one month in his home Country of Ireland, A quick visit to be bed side with a very ill relative. Bill was the last O.I.C. at Wollogorang Police Station. Graham Jones, Wales U.K. Graham sent a letter to say he is going through his ‘slides’ from ’59 to ’61 and will soon post to us his findings. STORIES OF THE PAST 2

nd notification not a duplication.

Retired members, our researcher is in the process of attempting to complete a set of 5 small books (about half A4 size)

of between 70 and 100 pages, each book covering a 10 year period from 1945 to 1985. Your input is sought with either

short stories of your experience (members or member’s wives) photos and location of service either in a Remote or

Town area or an Administrative position.

Many of you over the years have entertained us with short stories within our Association Newsletter and some have

compiled interesting books. Permission is sought for our researcher to use any of your stories from within our

Newsletters, other Police files and extracts from any book that is under ‘copyright’. (if it is held by you)

The books will be compiled on behalf of your Association and will be offered for sale to new recruits and serving

members at a reasonable affordable price. Association members would get a discount price. All proceeds would go to

the Retired Police Association of the Northern Territory Inc.

WANTED

NEW BLOOD UPON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. DARWIN MEMBERS PREPARED TO STAND UP TO THE ‘PLATE’. PREPARED TO SHARE THE LOAD AND

PREPARED TO HELP WITH MATTERS ARISING FROM MONTHLY MEETINGS. A.G.M. ONLY WEEKS AWAY SUNDAY 21st OCTOBER 1 p.m. RPANT HOUSE

NOTE SOME MEMBERS WILL FIND THAT THE DATE ON THE ENVELOPE LABEL SHOWS THEM AS UNFINANCIAL. THESE LABELS WERE PRINTED AT THE START OF JULY. IF YOU HAVE PAID YOUR DUES AFTER THAT DATE THEN YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WILL SHOW THE CORRECT DATE.

VICTORIA BRANCH Minutes of meeting held 1500hrs Sunday 22nd July 2012 at 88 Kurunjang Drive, Kurunjang Victoria. Police Ode by Bob Thorning. Members present, David Pollock, Steve Wallace, Mal Warren, Myra Hockley, Paul Mackellar and Bob Thorning. Others present, Julie Thorning, Rewa Wallace, Robert Hockley, Jessica Thorning and Robert Mole (serving member). Apologies, Brian Bates, Errol Finn, David Le Cerf, Jeffrey Bates, Eddy Rabl, David Jones, Tom Baker and Gerry Foster. Treasurer reports $970 in Branch account plus $6 to be added from the proceeds of last meeting. Minutes of last meeting read : Moved by Steve Wallace seconded by Myra Hockley. General Business : President reported the passing of Phil Carr and that Barry Symons and Barry Armistead travelled to Bairnsdale for the service, various speeches were made and the Police Flag was taken to the service. Tom Baker is recovering from his leg surgery but he had visited Terry Boxall in aged care. Next Southern Muster, Police Remembrance Day and Membership Fees were referred to again. Thanks to Julie and Bob for putting on a great spread, although full bellies all around, sweets were still had. David ensured that they were handing around a plate of what was believed to be his favourite. Rewa was also noted enjoying chocolate delights. Myra and Robert loved the trip west, Paul Mackellar enquired if Kurunjang was part of Wimmera. Next meeting will be held at David Le Cerf’s residence on Sunday 4th November 2012, this will also be the AGM. Meeting closed at 1530 hrs DARWIN MOVES ON (Continued from June Edition) Smith Street, Stone building former Police, later Naval now Administrators Headquarters still with cell blocks at rear. Although severely damaged by Tracy, rebuilt with stones from Old Town Hall and Christ Church Cathedral. Christ Church Cathedral, facade only of former stone main entrance now bearing a memorial plaque to those that lost their lives in Tracy. The main assembly room rebuilt with modern architecture and materials. Old Town Hall, only the remains of four walls standing showing the extent of damage by Tracy. Browns Mart and Police Boys Club, stone-work rejuvenated. Bank Corner, Commonwealth Bank remains empty for the past 4 or 5 years, former MVR site now Tourist Information Centre, former NSW now Westpac, former E.S. &. A. Bank with its elegant archways now Paspaley Building Pearl shop and headquarters. The Vic Hotel, the original building stands however, the former bar and restaurant areas now a conglomeration of an arcade of shops through to West Lane. Shops and sites change throughout that part once Smith Street now The Mall, to Raintree Park, Burns Philip building remains as does Woolworths building although empty for the past 4 or 5 years. Post Office now a high rise Hotel building with various shops at street level.

Many other buildings, shops and homes gone, replaced by Office blocks, between Peel and Spriggs a multi storey car park, of late the cnr, McLachlan (opposite St. Marys) cleared ready for excavation for another high rise. Telecom building, Tom Harris flats and Harriet Park remain ,United Garage cnr. Smith and Daly and directly opposite Savvas Motors and Garage recently closed. Corner of Packard cleared ready for excavation. To Myilly Point, high rise buildings and hotels continue with the exception of an old house in Malabar cul-de-sac that faces Smith Street West.

SMITH STREET TODAY ‘THE MALL’ AND AS MANY REMEMBER THE 60’s and 70’s (more next issue) LADIES COLUMN I was born in Sydney, a large family of 15, within 25 years my parents had 2 house moves, I married at the ripe old age of 18, my husband (at that time) always had itchy feet and a desire for excitement. During the early 60’s at Windsor, he often read (aloud) of various opportunities within the Northern Territory, Rum Jungle Mine, Aboriginal Affairs and N.T. Police. Following an illness mid 60’s he planned a holiday for me to travel to Darwin alone, without any interference from himself, I was to ‘feel’ the place out. I boarded a Red Line Coach in Kings Cross, the overland journey to take 5 or 6 days via Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide, from Port Augusta the 4 or 5 hundred miles of dirt road to Alice Springs with a half day stop at Coober Pedy where stood a Service Station/Restaurant, everything else was underground. From Alice Springs to Darwin upon the narrow highway where multiple trailered trucks weaved their way through the hills and low level bridges over the Cullen, Edith and Ferguson rivers between Pine Creek and Adelaide River. Friends met me at the Red Line Coach depot, the rear of the beer garden of the Vic Hotel also being at the rear of the Bennett Street Police Station. I stayed with them at Milner, a new Darwin suburb, Mc Millans and Sabine Roads still dirt. During my 2 weeks I spent time at all the beaches, the Sea Breeze and Fannie Bay Hotels, a boat trip to Mica beach and Mandorah, a road trip to Rum Jungle, Katherine, Beswick Creek and Daly River. Pleasantly sun tanned, armed with application forms and addresses of various would be employers, a dozen rolls of photos. I returned to Sydney with Red Line via Mt.Isa, 3 or 4 hundred miles of dirt road to Townsville, a half day trip to Magnetic Island and the scenic eastern coast back to Sydney. Although not wanting to leave my large, close knitted family, I believed the move to Darwin would be far better than perhaps some isolated place ‘out the back of Bourke’ or Broken Hill upon a sheep station. Not having any response to the various applications and letters of interest, within months my impetuous hubby sold all of our property and paid for ‘one way’ tickets with Red Line over the same route to Darwin, our small family each with a suitcase of clothes and essentials saying, “they will know I’m fairdinkum”.

Within a week of arriving in Darwin he had presented himself to Police and Aboriginal Affairs Head Offices and gained employment as a plant operator at Rum Jungle and within six months was engaged as a Aboriginal Affairs Welfare Officer. The following seven years were like a working holiday for hubby and myself gaining work as Shop Manager here and there, through-out the top end and coastal areas upon 4 Settlements and another on the edge of the Tanamai. On Melville Island my two eldest almost lived in the native village, they learnt hunting, trapping, making and reading animal tracks, digging and picking bush tucker and became fluent Tiwi speakers which became a bonus for them at Saint Johns Boarding School. At the conclusion of this period I was glad when hubby was accepted into the N.T. Police, he promising that there would be no more moves. Through his knowledge of ‘the right people’ I soon had Government employment in town also. As a result of his bush work he could recognise where various people came from calling ‘their country’ at times he could differentiate between some persons looks, as to their family group such as Tipungwuti and Kantila (Tiwi) groups or Wurramarbara and Lalara (Groote) groups, having that plus local Darwin and extended family groups knowledge he had what many called ‘informants’. In their early and late teens my two eldest saw the idea of informants as a betrayal upon their father’s part, ‘he should not use his friends’. They retaliated by wagging school, running away from home and shop lifting, living at home became like a war, I left and lived in another 3 States. Hubby stayed, the two eldest became adults making it difficult for a ‘good copper’ to remain, as if ‘consorting with’. Feeling he had let his comrades down he resigned some years after I had left the Territory. Now in my 70’s I have returned to a very different Territory…………..Annie On. POLICE REMEMBRANCE DAY WALL TO WALL RIDE to Canberra, Saturday 15th September. Departing Darwin Friday 7th September with overnight stops at Katherine, Tennant Creek and Avon Downs and then through Queensland, N.S.W. and into Canberra. REMEMBRANCE DAY MARCH Friday 28th September commencing 0930 hrs from Mitchell Street /Knuckey Street to McLachlan Street turning right towards Saint Marys Cathedral. Dress; long strides, RPANT shirt (would be good to look uniformed), hat (your desired sun protection), medals (left breast) and remembrance ribbon (right breast). RPANT Members will be led by an Auxiliary Member bearing our Flag and our RPANT Banner carried by Junior Police Rangers. 10 a.m. Service commences, it is proposed that RPANT Members will be seated in a ‘Reserved’ area, bear in mind that the Cathedral is NOT air-conditioned. 11 a.m. Service concludes, morning tea available outside of the Cathedral. 12 noon Luncheon, Location and Cost yet to be advised. ** Members are advised that they can participate in any or all of the above events, there is no requirement to attend each and every one of them. ** N.T. government Elections are to be held Saturday 25th August, as a result, we are unable to commit either Government Party to the Remembrance Luncheon, the location and cost of that Luncheon. This Issue will be proof read, in print, enveloped and ready for posting before the elected party is finalised, Members with email will be notified as soon as possible, Members wishing to attend the Luncheon please telephone RPANT office, September 4th or 6th.

15 YEARS OF R.P.A.N.T SATURDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 7:00 P.M. DARWIN R.S.L. SERVICES AND SOCIAL CLUB 27 CAVENAGH STREET DARWIN $35.00 per person includes ENTRÉE : Platters of whole King prawns with lemon & Cocktail Sauce, Oysters fresh on the half shell. Bread and butter rolls. MAIN : Local Wild grilled Barramundi in white onion sauce/ Roast Pork & Lamb with apple and mint sauce, Homemade Chicken curry with rice. All served with local fresh vegetables and fresh garden salad. DESSERT: Homemade apple pie & Ice cream – Tiramisu & cream. Tea & Coffee Beer, Wine and Spirits at reasonable prices. There are a limited number of seats available so please contact RPANT by email or phone if you wish to attend RSVP by 14th SEPTEMBER Payment must be made on or before the RSVP date Phone : (08) 89223374 Fax : (08) 89223374 Mobile : 0400915499 email : rpa.nt@bigpond.com OR CONTACT EITHER Tony Wallbank Home : (08) 89 833087 Mobile : 0438894717. Dennis Scrutton Home : (08) 89455178 DON’T FORGET MEMBERSHIP FEES WERE DUE JULY 1st. MARK YOUR CALENDER A.G.M. OCTOBER 21st at 1 p.m. RPANT HOUSE

BLUE BY YOU

The new Blue uniform has finally reached Darwin. For many months those in the Southern Command have been wearing the Blue’s including Commissioner McRoberts when visiting the Red Centre. No doubt the new colour is something for many to become accustomed to after so many many years in Khaki, one thing is for sure the Police on the street will no longer be taken as Prison Officers or Wildlife Rangers. The new uniform design looks very practical and versatile with many pockets for the various accruements that have to been worn around the waist. Headwear must be a ‘thing’ of the day, for many months those on the street have been seen not wearing the traditional peak cap, previously known in our day as ‘out of uniform’ however, todays ‘baseball’ type cap is, from all appearances, more acceptable (if not the sunnies upon the head).

For the Ballot of Blue 75% of members voted, of that number 94% supported a change and 60% supported Blue. Perhaps akin to A.D.F. uniforms, the Police Khaki and Peaked Cap will be retained for ‘Special Occasions’. THE LAST POLICE HORSE PLANT OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY By Errol FINN 20.09.11 Middle of the wet season following the opening of the new Police Station at Ngukurr (Roper River) after the closure of the Roper Bar Police Station that stood from 1886 to 1980. Senior Constable Bill Jacobs and myself were summonsed to attend the office of Commissioner McAuley. He put us at ease asking if we would collect the last of the Northern Territory Police Horse Plant from the Roper Bar and return them to Wongabilla, looking into my eyes saying “and they are not to be shot”, I was unsure if he said ‘shot’ or ‘shod’. Previous horse plants from various Police Stations throughout the Territory had been donated to the nearby Station owners however, this plant was not required at or near the Roper. I had recently acquired a Ford truck complete with a horse float for about 8 or 9 mounts, the truck was a fuel guzzler but had a lot of go, a deal was made with the Commissioner for the Department to hire the vehicle and pay fuel costs. Bill and I spent the next few days getting ready for the trip. Bill was running the Boys Club, I was running the Wongabilla Equestrian Centre, and arrangements had to be made for our replacements in those positions. We loaded our swags, tucker boxes, plenty of chaff and oats, halters, hobbles, extra fuel drums and my horse ‘Zizzal’ who was a good quiet horse had been used as a roping horse and was used to being hobbled out.

Tuesday, picaninny daylight we were on the road and Bill stated we would only stop at Road Houses that started with the letter ‘N’, it would have been a short very slow drive to Noonamah until Bill stated ‘Nadelaide River’ Nayes Creek’ ‘Nine Creek’ and Natherine’. Bill was a good travelling mate and known to have a drink or two. Each place we called at the truck was re-fuelled with Bill quoting “tank and tummy and I’ll have your half” myself being a non drinker. When we arrived in Katherine, Bill from ‘old school’ ways went and informed the O.I.C. that we were in his District to do a certain job. I was amused as Bill presented himself dressed in khaki trousers, blue singlet, white bandana and a pair of sand shoes without laces, my immediate thoughts that the O.I.C. may have taken us for a couple of undercover, beer smelling off duty officers, my second thoughts being, perhaps he, like the many we had met along the track knew and respected Bill as the fine upstanding Police Officer that he was. At Mataranka ‘tank and tummy’ and Bill purchased his last requirements, from the Stuart Highway we headed towards the Roper Bar. The country was very green, there were many palm trees, we passed the replica Homestead built for the movie ‘We of the Never Never’ but there were very few cattle to be seen. Arriving at the Bar at about 15.30 hrs, Bill soon had a fire burning and boiling the billy. I unloaded ‘Zizzal’ gave him a drink from a bucket and put on his nose bag. The local Police Tracker was soon on the scene wanting to know what we were doing, within minutes he was happy and chuckling away over a cuppa with Bill as if a new found lost friend from years past. He soon departed and returned wearing a big black stockmans hat. He was a power of help whilst we were at the Roper. The following morning I rode ‘Zizzal’ down river for about 3 kilometers and found the Police horses, they did as I had hoped they would, follow ‘Zizzal’ back towards the crossing. Then I inspected the country that we would have to travel the horses over, to get to the old yards and decided we needed some help. We would need to drive the truck seventy or eighty odd kilometres past Urapunga Station over the Wilton River and into Ngukurr. Mike Stevens was O.I.C. at the new Station and Arthur Guarrad was Manager at the Store previously a very good man in the stock camps, both men agreed they would help with their Toyota’s. That ‘arvo’ we all drove our vehicles back to the Bar. At the crossing I rode ‘Zizzal’ down stream and found the horses. Once again they followed us back until, as I expected, at the crossing they took off towards the hills and black soil ground full of cracks and holes. This is where the Toyota’s took over, Mike turned the mob back towards the river, Arthur put his up on the other side, I put my horse in front of the mob and they followed me to the yards. More good luck than anything else because the country was very rough to travel over however, with the two Toyota’s following, the mob were soon yarded. Mike and Arthur returned to Bill’s camp, I took my horse from the yard and returning to our camp I came upon a lemon tree and filled my shirt with the fruit. Bill had the billy boiling and cooking Johnny cakes with a sly grin he suggested we needed ice for the lemons, I rode to the Roper Store where Dieta charged me $5 for a one litre empty ice coffee carton filled with ice. Bill and the Tracker squeezed all the lemons with some ice and ‘other’ additive, with cups of tea, Johnnie cakes Bill’s concoctions we were soon all singing and happily stretching stories as only coppers and stockmen can, a good day and night was had by all. Next day at the yard, the Tracker gave us a running story of each horse and showed us the ‘Crows Foot’ mark as he described the Broad Arrow brand on some of the mob. Bill and I spent the rest of the day catching each horse and tying it up, some were not broken in but all were fairly quiet. I rode a couple that looked like they were broken in and they were o.k. one bucked like a silly fella but soon decided to give that up. The un-broken ones we roped off my horse and put on a head collar and soon taught them to tie up, we had them drinking water from buckets, put nose bags on with chaff, hobbled them and tied all to trees for the night, ready for an early morning start. No lemon juice that night. The yards had no loading ramp, we had to dig a hole beside the yard to back the truck into, we could then load the horses, that was when the fun started. We led each horse to the back of the truck, I had a rope around the horses rump tied to my horse ‘Zizzal’ then pulled the horse into the truck. This worked well for the first three

and then the fourth decided not to leave the Roper without a fight and fight she did. She could see the other horses in the truck, she could feel my horse pulling her and then the rope broke. The mare turned over backwards and fell on Bill. I don’t know who had the biggest fright the mare jumped up and ran inside the truck, Bill being a bit slower, we decided to boil the billy.

ERROLS & FERALS Bill recovered, back to work, all horses loaded, fire out we pointed the truck to Darwin. The truck carrying all the horses went well until we went over a large bump in the road, the weight of the horses pushed the cross bar in the tray onto the rear tyres causing the truck to stop, after much ummming and ahhhing we decided we would go back, cross the Roper and unload the horses at Urapunga Station then take the truck to Ngukurr for repairs at the garage. Ray Fryer owned Urapunga and Billy Fordham was his head Stockman cum Slaughterman at Ray’s abattoir, Ray, originally from Queensland, Bill a dinkidi, well known and respected for his horsemanship, station and bush skills Territorian part Aboriginal. On arrival at Urapunga Billy was unloading a semitrailer of feral cows into a yard. I had a yarn with him, he told me which yard I could use, but he would move the cows first. He climbed slowly into the yards and as the cows rushed at him he scooped up a heavy stone with his left foot into his right hand, with the stone smashed the cow between her eyes, she stopped in her tracks, then he used his right foot and scooped the stone into his left hand, again between the eyes stopping the next in her tracks. This system worked like a machine gun, soon he had all the cows in the next yard and the gate shut. He was the best man I have ever seen with a rock and he knew wild cattle, what a wonderful Stockman he was, straight away I decided he was ‘my mate’, we then unloaded all the horses. At Ngukurr Garage an Aboriginal boy named Leo in shorts no boots, no shirt stated he would oxy cut the offending strip of steel, being more appropriately dressed to deal with the sparks I offered to do the job he replied “na broblim mulaga I bin longa dahwin dey bin deech me broba kud wai”. Never argue with an expert is my motto. I found a sheet of tin and placed it over the tyres, Leo used the biggest cutting tip I have ever seen, a shower of sparks flew over his body and feet, I wished that I had a movie camera his movements being akin to the best corroboree dance I had ever seen. The job completed, a wonderful straight cut made all the difference to the wheels. Bill and I camped the night at the new Ngukurr Police complex, second man’s house, the set up was brand new and Mike had not had a customer to attend to whilst we were there. Somebody arrived with a huge barramundi, Bill opened the fish filled it with lemon grass and cooked it on a fire of ‘gidgee coals’, that was a filling breakfast, Bill was a top cook. Back at Urapunga Ray the owner wanted us to stay on a few days a top bloke, duty first and the local Stock Inspector Cam White helped us to adjust the hardware on the former stallion before we departed for Darwin. The last Northern Territory Police Horse Plant with the ‘Crow’s Foot’ brand served many more years carrying small children around Wongabilla Equestrian Centre.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

BELATED (July) Kym Chilton, SPECIAL BIRTHDAY (August) 60 yrs. Mick Brennan SEPTEMBER VIRGO & LIBRA. Peter Aebersold, Jack A’Hang, John Ayliffe, Geoff Blake, Graham Burgoyne, Steve Burke, Ben Cain, John Clift, Greg Dowd, John Elferink, Peter Ferrari, Helen Gordon, Dallas Graetz, Kevin Harris, Colin Haymon, Marty James APM, John Jones, Sandra Lambkin, Graham McMahon, Mark Nicholson, Bob O’Keefe, Les Perry, Eddie Rabl, Janet Robertson, Bruce Sandry, Maree Smith, Matt Sodoli, Norm Tenthy, Peter Tyson-Donely, Mark Tuckwell, Taffy (DB) Williams, Geoff Wright. OCTOBER LIBRA & SCORPIO. Barry Armistead, Robin Bullock, Graeme Charlwood, Jack Cooke, Basil Courts, Warren Donald, Sandy Earle, Norm Faint, Tom Falconer, Dennis Hart, Ron Hart, John Haywood, Alan Hook, Roger Mayer, Tony McEvoy, Aub Neiborg, Terry O’Brien, Tony O’Brien, John Pain, Bob Petersen, David Picker, Graham Rees, Teri Robson, John Scott, Kevin Setter, Harry Simpson, Jon Sims, Lindy Smith, Dave Swift, Kingsley Taylor, Denise Trenham, Mick Van Heythusen, Euan Walker, David Walter, John Walter, Sand Williams, Bill Wilson, Eleanor Wilson, John Wolthers, Tony Woodroffe. NOVEMBER SCORPIO & SAGITTARIUS. Lesley Bickerton, Richard Brown, Bob Crowell, Syd Davis, John Hodson, Blake Jobberns, Brian (Blue) Meehan, Christopher Norris, Kevin Smith, Syd Davis, Warren O’Meara, Ken Pascoe, David Pollock, Len Pryce, Dennis Scrutton, Dean Symons, Bill Taylor, Patricia Thomson, William Towers, Neil Vogelsang, Paul White APM, James Wilkinson, Joan Young. SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS 60 YEARS: Greg Dowd, David Pollock, James Wilkinson and Sand Williams 70 YEARS: John Haywood, John Wolthers, Harry Simpson and Norm Tenthy ________________________________________________________________________________________

VALE ________________________________________________________________________________________ John R. Williams No .616 N.T. 18th July 2012. A valued member of our Executive Committee since 1998 ooooooOOOOOOoooooo The Funeral for John R. Williams was held at 1000 hrs Friday 10th August at Darwin Funeral Services, Amy Johnston Road Marrara was attended by his family from Darwin and Interstate with various members and friends of the organisations to whom JR volunteered his services. Members of RPANT included G. Rees. D. Scrutton, T. Wallbank, J. Wolthers and G. Casey, Association members included Denzil and Shirley McManus. Police Commander Anne-Marie Murphy was also in attendance. The coffin was draped with our RPANT flag with Slouch Hat in place. Police Senior Chaplain Peter Wright OAM conducted the service.