Arthur Stephen McKENNA
Arthur Stephen McKENNA
New South Wales Police Force
Redfern Police Academy Class 083
Regd. # 9677
” Relatives ” in ” The Job ” = Grandfather – Timothy GLEESON Served in the Irish Constabulary
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 30 May 1960 ( aged 19 years, 5 months, 18 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed 4 July 1960 ( aged 19 years, 6 months, 22 days )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed 30 May 1966
Senior Constable – appointed 30 May 1970
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 6 September 1976
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ???
Stations: Darlinghurst ( 3 Division )( ProCst ), Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Regent St ( 2 Division )( 1960s ), Camperdown, Fairfield ( 34 Division )( GD’s )( Court Processing ), Cabramatta ( 34 Division ) – Retirement
Was also a member of the NSW Police Choir
Unfortunately, Arthur ended his police career after returning from light duties following major abdominal surgery and an injury sustained when called out to a Yugoslav Wedding reception that went wrong and where Arthur was beaten and unable to return to duty. Several years later, he was boarded out as medically unfit for duty due to the injuries sustained from the beating – and moved to Manilla NSW and later to Tamworth NSW.
Service: From Monday 30 May 1960 to 13 June 1987 = 27 years, 0 months, 14 days Service
Age at Retirement: 46 years, 6 months, 1 day
Time in Retirement: 17 years, 3 months, 21 days
[blockquote]
Service name:
Service number: ?????????
Rank:
Unit Name: ???????
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Date of intake: 1958
Date of exit:
Total Days:
NS Training: ?
National Service: 77 days of continuous training at Puckapunyal
Follow Up Training: For the next two years, he undertook Citizen Military Force training doing weekend drills in the foothills of Canberra and Singleton. Whilst at Singleton, he received a letter to commence Police training in Goulburn. Approval to cease Citizen Military Force training was granted by the Army.
Basic Training: ?
Next of Kin: ?
Medals: None for display
[/blockquote]
Police Awards: National Medal – granted 15 September 1980 ( Sgt 3/c )
Born: Thursday 12 December 1940 in Harden, NSW
Died on: Monday 4 October 2004 in Tamworth Base Hospital, NSW
Cause: Cancer
Age: 63 yrs 9 mths 22 days
Funeral date: Thursday 7 October 2004
Funeral location: St Nicholas Catholic Church, White St, Tamworth, NSW
Funeral Type: Burial
Buried at: Lincoln Grove Gardens, 1040 Gunnedah Rd, Tamworth, NSW
Grave Location: FYP – 4 – A ( Family Plot )
GPS of Grave: -31.075638 150.849480
ARTHUR is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
Funeral location:
Arthur, back in the late 1970’s, was working the caged trucks of Fairfield and Cabramatta Police Stations ( both 34 Division ).
No further details are known of his death.
Arthur Stephen McKenna (extract from his Eulogy – dictated by Arthur prior to his passing)
One day reading the Sydney Morning Herald during his lunch break, he noticed an advertisement calling for people to apply for the NSW Police Force and he sent in an application.
Prior to being accepted, Arthur was called up for National Service in 1958 and underwent his medical by Dr Rag Holmes at Yass. Arthur did 77 days of continuous training at Puckapunyal.
The following two years, he undertook Citizen Military Force training doing weekend drills in the foothills of Canberra and Singleton. Whilst at Singleton, he received a letter to commence Police training in Goulburn. Approval to cease Citizen Military Force training was granted by the Army and he started on Monday, 30th May 1960 in the NSW Police Force.
After five weeks training and on the 4 July 1960, Arthur was sworn in and did 12 months probationary training when he was 19½ years.
Stationed at Darlinghurst No.3 at Taylor Square, he lived in the area for 12 months and passed his final exams and became fully fledged. On the eve of this graduation, he polished his boots with such vigour that next morning he was shocked to discover that all the leather had lifted from his boots – but his graduation proved a happy day for Arthur and his parents.
He was then stationed at Goulburn and Queanbeyan. During 1967, Arthur had the distinction of opening the door of Parliament House for the President of the United States of America – Linden B Johnstone and Deputy Prime Minister Jack McKeon.
Arthur later returned to Sydney and worked in the mid 1960’s at Regent Street No.2 Division Camperdown. Arthur and another rookie constable were called to escort prisoners to Long Bay Goal from Central Court. After setting off, the rookie, who was driving, asked Arthur which way? How do I know said Arthur, I’m from the bush to which the rookie replied so am I! After several circuits of the city they stopped and asked a policeman for directions to Long Bay.
He meritoriously served the Government and the people of NSW as a member of the NSW Police Force registered No 9677 from 30 May 1960 to 13 June 1987 and was honourably discharged upon reaching the rank of 2nd Class Sergeant. He was also awarded the National Medal.
Arthur had a beautiful singing voice and he was a valued and proud member of the NSW Police Choir which gave him great pleasure.
Arthur later transferred to Fairfield No.34 Division and finally to Cabramatta. He loved to work in plain clothes in court processing with great friend, Joan Lockley and had more time to spend with his young children. Later, he decided to return to uniform and took up a posting at Cabramatta where he went back on the beat.
Unfortunately, Arthur ended his police career after returning from light duties following major abdominal surgery and an injury sustained when called out to a Yugoslav Wedding reception that went wrong and where Arthur was beaten and unable to return to duty. Several years later, he was boarded out as medically unfit for duty due to the injuries sustained from the beating – and moved to Manilla NSW and later to Tamworth NSW.
Arthur was an avid reader and claimed to travel the world by reading books. The last book, Arthur was reading was “To Protect and to Serve” which is not only the motto of the NSW Police Force but also mirrored his devotion to his family and friends.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Thursday 11 March 1965, page 13
Queanbeyan Court: Constable says loud record was obscene
The section of the Vagrants Act, 1902, relating to the maximum penalty for offensive behaviour was criticised by a magistrate at Queanbeyan
yesterday.
Mr. Hughes. S.M., said the maximum fine of £5 was inadequate for some types of offences.
He convicted Michael James Coffey, of H.M.A.S. Melbourne, of offensive behaviour in Queanbeyan on July 24 last year.
He fined Coffey £5 and said he regretted that it was not more.
The case was heard ex-parte.
Const. Arthur Stephen McKenna told Mr. Hughes that he heard loud music coming from the Coffee Bean restaurant in Cassidy’s Arcade, Queanbeyan, on the morning of July 24.
The music was coming from a record called Bawdy Songs Go to College. The track being played was Study of Anatomy.
In the restaurant a number of people, both male and female, were sitting around.
Const. McKenna said he told Coffey that in his opinion the record was obscene.
The song was being played very loudly and could be heard from Monaro Street, the main street of Queanbeyan,. Const. McKenna said.
After convicting Coffey, Mr. Hughes commended Const. McKenna on his action.
Hi Greg
Based on my late fathers certificate of discharge, registered no. 9677 served from 30 May 1960 to 13 June 1987, attained rank of sergeant 2nd class and received the National Medal (I can find that date, its with his medals).
Arthur McKenna followed in his grandfather Timothy Gleeson who was a Policeman in Ireland. Arthur was in the NSW Police Choir.
Boarded out after being hurt on duty attending a call out at a wedding reception from Cabramatta Station.
Stations: Darlinghurst No.3 at Taylors Square, Goulburn, Queabeyan, Regent St No.2 DivisionCamperdown, Fairfield Station (court processing), Cabramatta Station (returned to the beat) – Division 34.
Funeral location St Nicholas Catholic Church, White St Tamworth
Arthur Stephen mckenna is my late father. Born 12 December 1940 in harden nsw. Died 4 October 2005, Tamworth Base Hospital of cancer. Buried at Lincoln grove gardens Tamworth.
Hi Jodie,
Art was a good bloke and I worked with him numerous times at Fairfield and Cabramatta back in 1977 – 1982 before I moved on to Wollongong.
I would love any photos you have or Art and I will put them with his Memorial page.
I would also love any further information you would like to share and possibly any answers to the red question marks upon his Memorial.
Also any photos of his grave.
regards
Greg ‘Cal’ Callander
Retired NSWPF 1975 – 2005
# 17463
Arthur Stephen McKenna (extract from his Eulogy – dictated by Arthur prior to his passing)
One day reading the Sydney Morning Herald during his lunch break, he noticed an advertisement calling for people to apply for the NSW Police Force and he sent in an application.
Prior to being accepted, Arthur was called up for National Service in 1958 and underwent his medical by Dr Rag Holmes at Yass. Arthur did 77 days of continuous training at Puckapunyal.
The following two years, he undertook Citizen Military Force training doing weekend drills in the foothills of Canberra and Singleton. Whilst at Singleton, he received a letter to commence Police training in Goulburn. Approval to cease Citizen Military Force training was granted by the Army and he started on Monday, 30th May 1960 in the NSW Police Force.
After five weeks training and on the 4 July 1960, Arthur was sworn in and did 12 months probationary training when he was 19½ years.
Stationed at Darlinghurst No.3 at Taylor Square, he lived in the area for 12 months and passed his final exams and became fully fledged. On the eve of this graduation, he polished his boots with such vigour that next morning he was shocked to discover that all the leather had lifted from his boots – but his graduation proved a happy day for Arthur and his parents.
He was then stationed at Goulburn and Queanbeyan. During 1967, Arthur had the distinction of opening the door of Parliament House for the President of the United States of America – Linden B Johnstone and Deputy Prime Minister Jack McKeon.
Arthur later returned to Sydney and worked in the mid 1960’s at Regent Street No.2 Division Camperdown. Arthur and another rookie constable were called to escort prisoners to Long Bay Goal from Central Court. After setting off, the rookie, who was driving, asked Arthur which way? How do I know said Arthur, I’m from the bush to which the rookie replied so am I! After several circuits of the city they stopped and asked a policeman for directions to Long Bay.
He meritoriously served the Government and the people of NSW as a member of the NSW Police Force registered No 9677 from 30 May 1960 to 13 June 1987 and was honourably discharged upon reaching the rank of 2nd Class Sergeant. He was also awarded the National Medal.
Arthur had a beautiful singing voice and he was a valued and proud member of the NSW Police Choir which gave him great pleasure.
Arthur later transferred to Fairfield No.34 Division and finally to Cabramatta. He loved to work in plain clothes in court processing with great friend, Joan Lockley and had more time to spend with his young children. Later, he decided to return to uniform and took up a posting at Cabramatta where he went back on the beat.
Unfortunately, Arthur ended his police career after returning from light duties following major abdominal surgery and an injury sustained when called out to a Yugoslav Wedding reception that went wrong and where Arthur was beaten and unable to return to duty. Several years later, he was boarded out as medically unfit for duty due to the injuries sustained from the beating – and moved to Manilla NSW and later to Tamworth NSW.
Arthur was an avid reader and claimed to travel the world by reading books. The last book, Arthur was reading was “To Protect and to Serve” which is not only the motto of the NSW Police Force but also mirrored his devotion to his family and friends.
How do I submit a photo
Hi Jodie,
Simply send it to Cal@AustralianPolice.com.au and I will add it ( them ) to Arthurs Memorial Post. I used to work with Arthur at Cabramatta.
Cal