September 29, 2016
South Burnett residents joined local police officers in Murgon on Thursday to pay tribute to the 143 Queensland police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1861.
The annual National Police Remembrance Day service alternates through South Burnett towns, and was this year hosted by St Joseph’s Catholic Parish.
The solemn liturgy began with a presentation of flags followed by the National Anthem.
Speakers included Fr Michael Carroll, from St Joseph’s, as well as Police Chaplains David Ferguson and John Selwood.
Assistant Commissioner Tony Wright read the Commissioner’s Address while Inspector Michael Bianchi, from the Dalby Patrol Group, read the Act of Remembrance.
This will be Insp Bianchi’s last Police Remembrance Day service in uniform as he is due to retire.
The liturgy paused for a moment to allow a special presentation to retired North Queensland police officer Richard Steley who was medically retired from the QPS in 1995 after a motor vehicle accident.
Officer-in-charge of Murgon Police, Senior Sergeant Lance Guteridge, read out Mr Steley’s service record before Assistant Commissioner Tony Wright presented him with National Police Service Medal.
While no Queensland police lost their lives while on duty this year, the six who died from other causes were remembered, as were seven QPS staff members.
The service also paused to commemorate five more officers added to the National Roll of Honour – some historic, after an examination of records.
In Queensland, Senior Constable Henry Fetherston, Constable Benjamin Ebbitt and Sergeant Thomas Heaney were added to the roll.
Senior Const Fetherston died in 1885 from a horse-riding accident at Maryborough.
Const Ebbitt died in 1894 in Highgate Hill from injuries he suffered during the attempted arrest of two offenders for an assault in Croydon in 1890.
Sgt Heaney died in 1906 in South Brisbane from injuries he suffered while attempting to arrest two break and enter offenders at the Norman Hotel, Woolloongabba, in 1905.
Also added to the roll were Constable Kenneth Shaw (Tasmania, 1982) and Senior Constable Michael Read (Northern Territory, 2014).
The liturgy also remembered the 100th anniversary of four officers who died on active service during World War I: Constables Joseph Thompson, Thomas Dedman, George Dewhurst and William Bishop.
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