Donald Lester AVERY
Donald Lester AVERY
AKA Dagwood, Bird Cage
Late of Chatswood, Avalon, Dee Why, Avalon, Kariong – NSW, & Proserpine and finally Surfers Paradise, Qld
Father-in-law to Fiona Elizabeth Izon Avery, NSWPF # 33380
Brother to John Edward AVERY, NSWPF # 7975 ( R.I.P. )
Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 039
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 7893
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Academy on 25 October 1954 ( aged 23 years, 2 months, 19 days )
Probationary Constable- appointed 6 December 1954 ( aged 23 years, 4 months, 1 day )
Constable – appointed 6 December 1955
Constable 1st Class – appointed 6 December 1960
Senior Constable – appointed 6 December 1965
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 30 May 1972
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 28 May 1979
Final Rank = Sergeant 2nd Class
Stations: Redfern Police Academy, 25 October 1954 – 6 December 1954,
Clarence St GDs – ( 1 Division, A District ), 7 December 1954 – 4 January 1955,
Clarence St Pedestrian Traffic – ( working the intersection of Park & Pitt St, Sydney )( 1 Division ), 5 January 1955 – 23 July 1956,
Central Traffic ( Probation ) – ( 1 Division ), 24 July 1956 – 23 August 1956,
Central Traffic ( Permanent ) – ( 1 Division ), 24 August 1956 – 3 July 1957,
North Sydney ( Traffic Duties – STP )( 6 Division ), 4 July 1957 – 10 October 1965,
North Sydney ( GDs )( 6 Division ), 11 October 1965 – 16 March 196?,
North Sydney ( Traffic Duties )( 6 Division ) 17 March 196? – 15 September 1967,
North Sydney ( GDs ), 16 September – 21 September 1969,
Mona Vale ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 22 September 1969 – 9 December 1971,
Avalon ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 10 December 1971 – 19 October 1972,
Dee Why ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 20 October 1972 – 27 October 1979,
Frenchs Forest ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 28 October 1979 – 19 July 1980,
Manly ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 20 July 1980 – 14 March 1981,
Darlinghurst ( GDs )( 3 Division ), 15 March 1981 7 November 1981,
Dee Why ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 8 November 1981 – 19 December 1981,
Frenchs Forest ( GDs )( 14 Division ), 20 December 1981 – 12 July 1985 ( Retirement )
Service: From 25 October 1954 to 12 July 1985 ( H.O.D. ) = 30 years, 8 months, 17 days Service
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system, although:
National Medal – granted ? ? ?
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted ? ? ?
NSW Police Medal – granted ? ? ?
4th Clasp to NSW Police Medal – granted ? ? ?
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal – granted 1 June 1977
Certificate of Merit by the Royal Human Society – granted 2 May 1979 ( Sgt 3/c Donald Lester AVERY was awarded a Certificate of Merit for actions involving a building fire at Manly on the 10 June 1978 )
Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage – awarded 5 January 1979
” Commended for courage and devotion to duty at Manly on 10 June 1978 when he entered a burning boarding house and succeeded in warning the sleeping residents of their danger. Driven out by the intense smoke on one occasion while evacuating the premises, he returned to check that all persons had escaped until finally ordered out of the blazing building by firemen. ”
Born: Thursday 6 August 1931 on the kitchen table, at home in Chatswood, NSW 4 of 5 children to Francis Avery & May ( nee Barnes )
Died on: Monday 28 September 2020
Age: 89 years, 1 month & 22 days old
Cause: Congestive heart failure exacerbated by long-term asbestosis
Event location: Hopewell Hospice, Arundel on the Gold Coast, Qld
Event date: ?
Funeral date: Friday 2 October 2020 @ 11am
Funeral location: Southport Cemetery, 191 Melia Crt, Southport, Qld
Wendy Withers, Celebrant; Det Inspector Matthew Kehoe, Byron Bay, attended and read Don’s Service History and the Police Ode.
( click here to see Cornona19 Virus Pandemic rules – this will be a limited numbers Funeral )
any Future Wake location: ??? TBA
any Future Wake date: ??? TBA
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: White Lady Funerals, 2140 Gold Coast Hwy, Miama, Qld ph: 07 5526 6960
Buried at: Southport Cemetery, 191 Melia Crt, Southport, Qld
Grave location: Section ?, Row ?, Plot ?
GPS: ?, ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( October 2020 )
Don is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal
May they forever Rest In Peace
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Donald Lester Avery
Registered # 7893
Born 6th August 1931 at Chatswood, NSW (on the kitchen table at home), 4th of 5 children to Francis Avery and May (nee Barnes)
Attended Chatswood Primary School and Crows Nest High School, joining School Cadet Corps.
Left school at 15, worked as a cane cutter, painter/carpenter and followed his Father to work on the waterfront, loading and unloading ships.
He applied to join NSW Police as a cadet but was told he was too thin and to go away and bulk up a bit, eating bananas.
His younger brother, John Edward Avery, also a serving NSWPF member, was working at Police Recruitment and Don was appointed as Probationary Constable on 6 December 1954 aged 23.
Police Service attached.
Most notably, Don received the Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage, in 1979, following rescuing 2 people from a burning hostel in Manly.
Newspaper report and photo attached.
Don also received the National Police Service Medal at a later date.
Don lived in Chatswood, Avalon, Dee Why, Avalon, Kariong, Proserpine and finally Surfers Paradise.
He was medically discharged from NSWPF on 12 July 1985.
His health was adversely affected by the work on the docks and later the burning building where he suffered smoke inhalation.
Don died on 28 September 2020 at Hopewell Hospice, Arundel on the Gold Coast, Qld from congestive heart failure exacerbated by long-term asbestosis.
His wife, Margot, passed away in Proserpine in 2003, and younger brother John died in 2015.
Don is survived by his son, Scott Avery whose wife, Fiona Izon was also a serving member on the Northern Beaches 1999-2002; and his daughter Debra Stephens, who cared for Don in the last years, supported by her husband, Justin Lindon.
Don had 3 grandchildren, Christopher, Sophie and Jordon, and 3 great-grandchildren, Porshia, Halliana and Tyson, with a 4th expected.
This most probably was the Award Ceremony by the Royal Human Society on 2 May 1979.
Summer and winter uniforms. Old Diamond NSW Police patch ( so pre early 1980’s ) NOT in Order, but those who received Awards on this date are: SenCon Lloyd M. DEVER – Cert of Merit re vehicle fire at Coffs Harbour on 20 Jan 1979. Sgt 3/c Keith GABB – Cert of Merit re electrocution at Coffs Harbour on 20 Jan 1979. SenCon Eric Bruce IDDLES – Bronze Medal re vehicle fire at Coffs Harbour on 20 Jan 1979. ProCst Ian J. YOUNG – Bronze Medal re suicide rescue on Sydney Harbour Bridge on 30 Jan 1979. Sgt 3/c Donald Lester AVERY – Cert. of Merit for building fire at Manly on 10 June 1978. Sgt 3/c Donald CAMPBELL – Bronze Medal re suicide rescue at The Gap, Watsons Bay on 12 Sept 1978. Sgt 2/c Henry Derold George KUPKE – Bronze Medal ( Bar ) re suicide rescue at The Gap, Watsons Bay on 12 Sept 1978. Sgt 3/c John KELLY – Cert. of Merit at Narrabri Ck on 12 Aug 1978. That is eight of the eight in photo.
Worked with Don at North Sydney Traffic. Nice guy. Had a lot of trouble fitting into a Mini Minor. R.I.P.