Queensland Police Union Journal

QRPA
Edward John Lewis, 94 on 22 May (Brisbane)
Phillip Brian Hocken, 90 on 26 May (Brisbane)
Clarence Gooch Kelly, 92 on 30 May
(Bundaberg)
RECENT OBITUARIES—May They Rest In Peace
Members—Life member and former Inspector Terence
Lawler Thomsen, 18.03.13, 86 years; member and former
Superintendent John James Hopgood, 10.04.13, 66 years;
member and former Senior Sergeant William Leonard (Len)
Taylor, 13.04.13, 82 years; life member and former Inspector
Donald Ernest Victor Russell, service 17.04.13, 88 years; life
member and former Sergeant 2/C Athol Arnold Dixon, 23.04.13,
84 years; veteran member and former Constable 1/C Robert
Neil Coops, 02.05.13, 83 years.
Non-members—Former Constable Patrick Yourell, 14.03.13, 92
years; Alfred Ernest William Fawkes, service 22.03.13, 89 years;
police officer Ronald Eric Topp, 11.04.13, 57 years; former
Constable James Downing, service 26.04.13, 79 years.
Family—Mary Kathleen Miles, 15.4.13, 87 years, widow of
former police officer Des Miles; public servant Neil Murphy,
80 years, service 22.04.13; Dianne Hegarty, 22.04.13, wife of
member John Hegarty; Pat Dwyer, service 26.04.13, widow of
former Inspector William (Bill) Dwyer.
BRANCH NEWS
BUNDABERG
During April, the branch welcomed two new members:
Alan Edgerton, a former Queensland police officer, and Karl
Osterlund, a former Victorian police officer. Superintendent
Rowan Bond has accepted a redundancy package from the
QPS. Rowan and Robyn will be residing in Bundaberg and
Rowan intends to join the branch. Grannie and Neta Pearce
have completed a trip to New Zealand where they visited Neta’s
sister in Whangarei. Some time was spent cruising the Bay of
Islands and travelling to the Northern tip and 90 mile beach of
the North Island. It seems the land of the long white cloud is a
popular place: Russell and Mary Crook also headed across the
Tasman on a two week safari of the Kiwi isles. Alan and Beth
Edgerton have headed off in their caravan linking up with other
friends tripping around Australia. Bob Hayes is still recovering
from surgery in January to remove two aggressive melanomas
from his right calf muscle; the wound is healing but it’s taking
some time. Graham Caesar is still having treatment and is
much missed by the bowls team. Clarrie Kelly has transferred
to Fairhaven Care facility at Pialba. Grahame Gronow, President
of Hervey Bay branch, has arranged for his welfare team to visit
Clarrie. On the bowls front: the 2013 Bowls Association Day
was held at Moore Park Bowls Club. The team comprised of
Tony Olsen, Alan Edgerton, Karl Osterlund, and Jack Field and
came out victors on the day. Congratulations, guys: a victory
well deserved. The bowls team, again skipped by Jack Field,
with Grannie Pearce, Tony Olsen, and Frank Mueller, will attend
a charity day in Gin Gin for Gracie Lukan, daughter of Gin Gin
police officer Dan Lukan. Gracie has serious health issues and
this event is a fundraiser.
DARLING DOWNS
The branch held their meeting on 9 May at the West Toowoomba
Bowls Club. Planning for the Annual Luncheon at Toowoomba
TAFE has already commenced. At least eighty attendees are
required to make the occasion and meal price viable. Members
observed the passing of Pat Dwyer, widow of Bill. It was noted
that Gene Murphy has ongoing medical problems and Tom
Tilbrook is due to have surgery next month. The venue for the
13 June meeting is the Stock Exchange Hotel.
GLADSTONE
Members met at the Gladstone Golf Club for the monthly
meeting on 1 May. After dealing with normal business, the
meeting received welfare reports regarding the condition
of Mike Fox. Neil Colborne had visited Mike in hospital in
Gladstone. It was also noted that Keith McCann’s mother had
passed away.It was resolved for the committee to continue
organising the Mystery Tour to be held on Saturday 22 June.
The Annual Luncheon is to be held on Saturday 20 July at the
Dragon Garden Restaurant. There was discussion regarding
Gladstone members attending other branch luncheons. It was
agreed to hold over discussion about moving the date of the
Christmas meeting day.The June meeting is on Wednesday
5 June at 11.00 am at the Royal Hotel, Mount Larcom. The
branch is still seeking members to fill the positions of President
and Secretary. These are important roles in any branch and it
is hoped that the positions can be filled soon.
GOLD COAST
The May meeting was held at the Runaway Bay police station
on the 7th. There were twenty-four in attendance. Raffle
winners were Neil Raward and Jack Frost. The proceeds of the
raffles were donated to the Runaway Bay Police Social Club.
A barbecue is to be held at the home of Russell Robertson on
30 May. The Annual Luncheon is to be held on 9 July at Twin
Towns. On the welfare front, John Fox was operated on for
bowel cancer: it had moved into the lymph glands and he is
undergoing chemotherapy. Ken Morris was admitted to the
Gold Coast Hospital suffering from a possible minor stroke.
The branch will next meet at Currumbin on 4 June.
HERVEY BAY
Travellers: The Floods are somewhere in the great outdoors; the
Jamiesons have visited the Gold Coast; Bob and Dot Summers
headed to South America in April; the Bradshaws were absent
from Hervey Bay earlier this year but reported they were not
lost; Ross and Dell Skyring spent a week in Singapore; Lyle and
Grahame Gronow will be tripping to north western Australia in
May and June and will miss the Hervey Bay Annual Luncheon
on the 18th. Welfare: Col Bauer moved to a retirement village
in Toowoomba after being in and out of hospitals in Townsville
and Toowoomba. Bob Summers visited his cardiologist. Roger
Barlow received good reports about his back from his Brisbane
specialist. At the invitation of Superintendent Mark Stiles,
members visited Maryborough station in May for a morning
tea followed by a visit to the Maryborough Museum and lunch.
Queensland Police Union Journal June 2013
81