Celebrating our ex traordinary history

6 Police Monthly March 2015

We take a look at the major milestones that have shaped the NSWPF in the 100 years since women joined its ranks.

A fter 12 months of planning,

we’re ready to celebrate 100

Years of Women in Policing in NSW.

Thanks to the work of the WIP100

Steering Committee, the various

working parties and dozens of men

and women who helped out, a

variety of events and celebrations

have been planned throughout

the year.

Celebrations kicked off last week

with the 100 Years of Women in

Policing Expo.

An important part of celebrating

our history has been gathering

historic legacies, memories

and memorabilia. Over the

past 12 months the History &

Achievements Working Party

has gathered a range of historic

information and photographs

to support each of the events

and displays.

Our beautiful bookWe have also used this information

to produce a beautifully bound

book, set to be launched on 1 July,

to coincide with the appointment

of our first female special

constables, Lillian Armfield KPFSM

and Maude Rhodes.

Divided into decades, it

showcases the stories of

our female pioneers, their

achievements and other significant

milestones relating to women in

policing over the past century.

At $25 each, the limited print run

of the book is expected to sell out

fast. Beat the rush by pre-ordering

your copy at the many Women in

Policing events planned over the

coming months.

Find out more on the intranet

by searching for 100 Years of

Women in Policing in NSW or email:

100YearsWIP@police.nsw.gov.au.

Celebrating our ex traordinary history

March 2015 Police Monthly 7

1915 The NSW Police

Department advertises two

positions for female police and

appoint Lillian Armfield KPFSM

(right) and Maude Rhodes as

probationary special constables.

Female recruits are required to sign

an indemnity releasing the Police

Department of any responsibility for

their safety. Maude resigned in 1920

for a career in health management

and welfare, while Lillian served

for 33 years and retired with no

remuneration in 1949.

1925 Clerical officer

Ursula Freda Meenaghan is the

first female shorthand-writer

and typist.

1929 Strength increases

to eight policewomen with the

recruitment of Ellen Bennett,

Rose Cuneen and Eva Rosser to

join Lillian Armfield KPFSM, Mary

Paulett, Nellie Mooney, Nellie

Mitchell and Mary Madden.

1941 Strength increases

to 14 policewomen after six

women were selected from

more than 500 who applied.

MAIN PHOTO 80 years of women in policing parade 1995

8 Police Monthly March 2015

1948 Amy Millgate and

Gladys Johnson join Traffic

Branch. They develop the first

female uniform.

1949 Strength increases

to 31 policewomen.

1957 Joanna Suchy is the

first migrant woman employed.

Patricia Clancy is the first

female police driver.

1958 Strength

increases to 50 policewomen.

Janice Mossfield and Noellie

Hobart are the first women

to participate in the passing

out parade.

1959 Women train

alongside male recruits – except

for physical training, swimming

and pistol practice.

1961 Women are

permitted to remain in

employment after marriage.

1947 Women are

granted membership of

the Police Association,

26 years after it was formed.

Lillian Armfield KPFSM is the

first woman in the British

Empire to receive the King’s

Police & Fire Service Medal

(KPFSM). The first three

female office assistants

are employed.

1964 Clerical officer

Marilyn Walton begins 38 years

with police.

1965 The NSWPF

celebrates 50 years of women

in policing and 58 women

are sworn in under the

Police Regulation (Women

Police) Amendment Act 1964.

Women are awarded full

police powers, conditions

and entitlements. Registered

numbers begin at 01 and the

designation ‘policewoman’

is created. Separate seniority

system is maintained.

1967 Del Fricker BEM

receives the British Empire

Medal for her involvement in

the 1963 arrest of a violent

offender wanted for rape.

1970 Nerida Keeley,

Gwen Martin and Jill Frazer

are awarded the Diploma

in Criminology from Sydney

University. Del Fricker BEM

is awarded the WD&HO Wills

Trophy for Most Outstanding

Policewoman.

1971 Del Fricker BEM

and Gwen Martin are accepted

into the Detectives Training

Course. Policewomen lobby to

establish a Women’s Branch in

the NSW Police Association but

are rejected. Lillian Armfield

KPFSM dies aged 87 years.

Penny Miller joins the Special

Weapons & Operations Squad

and Nerida Keeley joins the

Emergency Squad.

1972 After 29 years

of service, Beth Hanley QPM

is the first female promoted

to commissioned officer and

is named Most Outstanding

Policewoman.

1973 The Women’s

Branch is established within the

NSW Police Association. The

first Aboriginal public servant,

Doreen Peters starts 38 years

with police. Jan Cordell is

pictured below, undercover.

1950 The first female

clerks, Rosie Cumines and Joyce

Shaw, are appointed.

March 2015 Police Monthly 9

1974 Promotional

exams are now open to

policewomen. Female

detectives are issued with

firearms. Barbara Galvin and

Jacqueline Milledge – later

Senior Deputy State Coroner

and now a magistrate –

are our first female police

prosecutors. Unsworn

female officers begin

broadcasting over VKG. The

first female parking patrol

officers are appointed.

1975 The NSWPF

celebrates 60 years of

women in policing (below).

The Commonwealth signs

the International Labour

Organisation Covenant, which

discourages discrimination

especially in relation to women,

and the NSWPF is required to

comply. A committee reported

back to the Commissioner

in 1976 but recommended

maintaining the status quo.

Dianne Gould (née Bennett)

is the first woman to receive

maternity leave (back dated).

Policewomen are integrated

into the promotion system and

issued with handcuffs. Cathy

Brown is appointed to the

Scientific Investigation Section.

1976 Female recruits

are given integrated registered

numbers. Christine Nixon APM,

Christine Ridley, Margaret White

and Claire Britton are transferred

to general duties. Insp Del

Fricker BEM is appointed officer

in charge of the Women Police

Office. Beth Hanley QPM is

awarded the Queen’s Police

Medal. Pictured below, Before

their respective promotions,

are Chief Commissioner of

Victoria Police Christine Nixon

APM with her father, Assistant

Commissioner Ross Nixon.

1977 NSW Parliament

passes the Anti-Discrimination

Act. Del Fricker BEM is awarded

the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal.

1978 Strength increases

to 112 policewomen. The

Women’s Coordination Unit

provides a scathing report to

the Premier about the 1975

report on the position of women

in policing. It recommends

better training, integration and

affirmative action. All non-

commissioned female officers

are integrated into male ranks

and seniority list.

1979 Policewomen are

issued with firearms, provided

the same training as men

and have the same selection

criteria for the Detectives

Training Course. Gwen Martin

is appointed to the NSW

Police Association executive.

Jill Frazer (below) is awarded

Policewoman of the Year for

bravery when assaulted while

arresting an offender. This

ultimately led to the amputation

of her left leg and her death.

1980 The NSW Police

Force abandons its quota

system for female recruits

after Victoria Carr lodges

a complaint with the Anti-

Discrimination Board. Elaine

Thompsett is rejected on the

grounds of her marital status

and successfully appeals.

Christine Simpson is attached

to the Police Air Wing as an

observer. Jennifer Sheehy is

appointed to highway patrol.

Linda Ebsworth is the first

female country Aboriginal

community liaison officer.

1981 The classification

‘Woman Police Officer’ is

removed and the Women’s

Branch of the Police Association

is abolished. The Equal

Employment Opportunity

Branch is established. Phyllis

Kelly heads the first Sexual

Assault Patrol.

1982 Strength increases

to 307 female officers and

the Spokeswomen’s Network

is established. Sandra May

is the first female Aboriginal

officer. Cst Janet McGillivray

is the first female mounted

officer. Glynnis Lapham APM

(above, left) and Carolyn ‘CJ’

Smith APM (below) are the first

female negotiators.

1983 Val Bryant is

the first female highway

patrol cyclist.

1984 Strength increases

to 720 women. Patricia Hynds is

the first female GDs inspector.

Lisa Ford is the first female

police diver. Sally Verhage is

the first female rescue squad

operator. Leela Smith is the first

civilian ethnic liaison officer.

10 Police Monthly March 2015

1986 Lynda Summers

is the first female Stock

Squad investigator and is

responsible for the Walgett

and Bourke police districts.

Lisa Ford is the first female

in the Water Police.

1987 Thasaniya Long

is the first multicultural

liaison officer.

1988 The 1000th female

officer is sworn in and part time

maternity leave is trialled by five

officers. Bev Lawson APM is the

first female patrol commander.

1989 Strength increases

to 1293 women. Anne Clarke

APM, Lyn Bouffler, Elizabeth

Reeks and Rowena Lucas

complete the Tactical Response

Group course. Jane Pringle is the

first female officer appointed to

a single unit station.

1990 A taskforce

is established to review

sex-based harassment. The

Commissioner’s Taskforce on

the Status of Women & Minority

Groups is established. Bev

Lawson APM is the first female

superintendent as Wollongong

Patrol Commander.

1992 The Anti-

Discrimination Board inquiry

into pregnancy discrimination

hears evidence from female

officers. Pamela Kestel is

appointed as Police Chaplain.

Esther McKay is the first female

vehicle examiner.

1993 Bev Lawson

APM is the first female chief

superintendent and district

commander. Lola Scott is the

first female patrol tactician. Ida

Luke APM is the first woman

to receive the Australian Police

Medal. Melissa Telford is the first

woman in the Police Band.

1994 Christine Nixon

APM is the first female assistant

commissioner. Debbie Lee is

the first female dog handler

and tops the course. Julie

Middlemiss joins the Blue

Mountains Rescue Squad.

1995 The NSW Police

Force celebrates 80 years of

Women in Policing. Strength

increases to 1719 women,

with seven at commissioned

officer rank.

1997 Bev Lawson APM

(below) is the first female deputy

commissioner. Lola Scott is the

first female region commander.

1998 Serving Deputy

Commissioner Bev Lawson APM

passes away, aged 58.

2000 Following 36

years of service, Jan Griffiths

retires as the last police matron

responsible for prisoner welfare

for the courts.

2001 Christine Nixon

APM (below) becomes

Australia’s first female police

commissioner when she is

appointed Victoria’s 19th

commissioner. Nola Watson

is the first female director of

the Information & Intelligence

Centre and is named a Telstra

Businesswoman of the Year,

winning the Corporation &

Government Award. Helen

Begg is the first female squad

commander at Crime Agencies.

The first intake of civilian scene

of crimes officers includes two

women, Jennifer Raymond and

Nicole Greenway.

2004 Melanie Rose is

the first female radio technician.

2005 The NSW Police

Force celebrates 90 years

of Women in Policing.

Lee Shearer APM is the first

female commander of Legal

Services. Carlene York APM is

the first female commander

of Forensic Services.

1985 The NSWPF

celebrates 70 years of women

in policing (below). Jane Hanford

joins the Arson Squad.

Jane Ridley is appointed

manager of Balmain PCYC.

Diane Elphinstone is the

first female clerical officer

to complete the Criminal

Intelligence Analyst Course.

2006 The

Commissioner’s Perpetual

Award for the Advancement

of Women in Policing is

established. Lynette Nelson PSM

is the first woman awarded the

Public Service Medal.

2007 The Ronalds

Report into sexual harassment,

intimidation and bullying of

female officers is handed down.

Nicole Rose PSM is appointed

Director of the Office of the

Commissioner. Julie Middlemiss

is the first female commander

of the Dog Squad. Kirsten

McFadden is the first female

commander at the Mounted Unit.

2008 Helen Begg

is named a Telstra

Businesswoman

of the Year,

Community &

Government

Award.

2011 Women represent

24% of strength. Deputy

Commissioner Catherine Burn

APM (below) is named the

Telstra Businesswoman of the

Year. Clair Hodge is appointed

General Counsel. Tamara Kirby

is the first female commander

of the Weapons Training Unit.

2012 The Women’s

Leadership Program is

established for inspectors

and civilian staff at grade 9/10.

2013 Karen Lowden

(below) is awarded the

International Association of

Women Police Medal of Valor for

assisting the fake collar bomb

victim. Coordinator of the MCLO

Program, Juliana Nkrumah AM is

awarded the Order of Australia.

2014 Women represent

26.9% of strength.

2015 The NSW Police

Force celebrates 100 years of

women in policing.

BELOW From left, Snr Cst Leah Giuffre, Snr Cst Alexandra Handley and Cst Erin Rapley are among the faces of the modern NSWPF

Search the intranet for ‘100 years of Women in Policing’ to find out about upcoming centenary celebrations.

2010 Julie Middlemiss

is the first female principal of

the Police Academy.