Graeme Francis DONNELLY
Graeme Francis DONNELLY
New South Wales Police Force
Goulburn Police Academy Class # 203 ( the 1st Class to Train at the new Academy )
ProCst # 95801
Regd. # 21504
Uniform # 9444
Rank: Commenced Training at the Goulburn Police Academy on Monday 7 May 1984 ( aged 23 years, 7 months, 29 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 20 July 1984 ( aged 23 years, 10 months, 12 days )
Constable – appointed 30 August 1985 ( Loss of 40 days Seniority )
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Chief Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: Chief Inspector
Stations: Warilla, Albion Park, Wollongong ( 82 Division ), Illawarra LAC ( 79 Division ) – Death
Service: From 7 May 1984 to 16 August 2013 = 29 years, 3 months, 9 days Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 30 August 2000
Born: Thursday 8 September 1960
Died on: Friday 16 August 2013
Cause: Heart attack
Age: 52 years, 11 months, 8 days
Funeral date: 26 August 2013 @ 1pm
Funeral location: Wollongong Catholic Cathedral, Harbour St, Wollongong, NSW
Buried at: Kanahooka Lawn Cemetery, Kanahooka Rd, Kanahooka, NSW
GPS of Grave: Lat: -34.4880559530445 Long: 150.81964650639043
Memorial: NSW Police Force Service Memorial Wall, Sydney Police Centre, Surry Hills, A29 ( left wall )
GRAEME is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT WORK RELATED
Death of Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly, 52 old around 11.30am, today, Friday 16 August 2013, who was riding his push bike with a mate around Lake Illawarra ( the actual lake ) this morning and was riding up Mt. Terry when he stopped and said to his mate that he didn’t feel well.
Whilst standing next to his bike, he suffered a massive heart attack.
An Off Duty passing Paramedic commenced CPR and called for assistance. Helicopter assistance was also considered and I am informed that the Paramedics worked on Graeme for a lengthy and extended period and was conveyed to Hospital under Police escort but, unfortunately, he never regained consciousness from the time he fell.
He was aged 52 and was a Chief Inspector ( for those who don’t know him ) and a really nice bloke.
May he forever Rest in Peace and look over the rest of us.
The funeral for Graeme will take place on Monday, 26 August, at 1.00pm at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Harbour Street Wollongong. Guest’s to be seated by 12.40pm.
I would expect this to be a big funeral with standing room only – out onto the street.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1724752/police-cyclists-mourn-loss-of-good-bloke/?cs=300
He was a highly respected policeman who sought relief from his demanding role as chief inspector in his passion for cycling.
Tributes have flowed for long-serving officer Graeme Donnelly, 52, who died of a heart attack while riding around Lake Illawarra last Friday.
Friend and cycling companion Wally Erven said Insp Donnelly loved cycling because it allowed him to de-stress.
“Being in the police force, it gave him a separation,” he said.
Insp Donnelly was the father of junior Australian cycling champion Aaron Donnelly – and Mr Erven said the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.
“Aaron’s not a professional cyclist for no reason – it’s in his genes and he got that from his father.”
Wollongong acting superintendent Tim Beattie said the policing community had been shocked to learn of Insp Donnelly’s death.
Insp Donnelly spent his career based in Wollongong until about 12 months ago when he transferred to Sydney and was attached to a specialist police unit.
“Graeme was a highly respected member of the police force who performed a significant amount of his service in the Illawarra area,” Supt Beattie said. “He is regarded by all those who knew him as being a good bloke.”
A tribute has also been posted on the Cycling NSW website.
“His loss is greatly felt by the Illawarra Cycle Club and the NSW cycling community,” the statement read.
Insp Donnelly’s funeral will be held at Wollongong Catholic Cathedral, 36 Harbour Street, at 1pm on Monday.
He was one of a kind and his death will leave a hole in the life of his family, friends and the police force.
On Monday a sea of blue police uniforms surrounded an overflowing St Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral in Wollongong as officers paid their last respects to Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly.
Insp Donnelly, 52, died on August 16 after having a heart attack while riding around Lake Illawarra with friends.
Yesterday his cycling companions joined police colleagues and formed a guard of honour stretching from the cathedral along Harbour St.
Insp Donnelly’s colleague Peter Lindwall and friend Neil Foster gave a joint eulogy.
They described the high-ranking officer’s passion for the police force and his love for his wife Kerri and sons Aaron and Brad.
Mr Lindwall said the sheer number of fellow officers in attendance, including NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, was testament to how highly Insp Donnelly had been regarded in the community.
“He was a person no-one ever had a bad word to say about,” Mr Lindwall said.
He also made reference to Insp Donnelly’s previous career as a butcher and his skills behind a barbecue.
In a statement read at yesterday’s service, Aaron Donnelly said his father’s entire life had been dedicated to helping others.
“I don’t think there’s a person here who hasn’t been impacted by his kindness,” he said.
Mr Donnelly’s wife Kerri said her husband had been a “selfless” man who gave his time “to so many people”.
In a statement also read to the service, she recalled how proud he had been when his Brad announced he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a police officer.
Mr Scipione also spoke at the service and posthumously awarded Insp Donnelly the National Police Service Medal.
– Domenic Geiger, Illawarra Mercury
Graeme Francis Donnelly (1960-2013) – Find A Grave Memorial
Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury
Photos by Greg Callander
Photos by Greg Callander
Photos by Greg Callander
Photos by Greg Callander
Graeme Donnelly – Funeral pamphlet – 27 Aug 2013
GRAVE OF GRAEME FRANCIS DONNELLY
GRAVE IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF ROAD, PAST THE NEW CRYPTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING BUILT WHICH ARE ALSO ON THE EAST AND TO THE NORTH OF THE OFFICE.
THE GRAVE IS ABOUT 3 – 4 ROWS BACK FROM THE ROADWAY AND FACES AWAY FROM THE ROADWAY.
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See https://dev.australianpolice.com.au/calendar/wollongong-v-lake-illawarra-lac-rugby-league-family-day/ re memorial Police football game to honour Graeme.
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Location of Grave: [codepeople-post-map]
As Graeme’s cousin in Qld, I thank you for sharing these wonderful images of a sad day for so many people – family, police service, cycling fraternity and the community in general. Yes, Grae was a special guy and we are all better people for having had him in our lives. On behalf of the family, thank you to all who attended and to those who were unable to attend for sending your respect.
Thanks for posting Cal, A sad day for all, thoughts are with Graeme’s family. You will be sadly missed . Vale Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly RIP
Graeme was a credit to the uniform, we are all worse off after losing a true gentleman like him. Rest in peace mate. Thanks Cal.
A truly impressive send off for a much respected colleague. Thanks.
Thanks for the post Cal
Thanks for posting these up Greg. Unfortunately I was unable to attend to farewell such a fair and well respected gentleman. RIP brother Graeme.