Over the years there have been many awards given to those serving in the Queensland Police. For their efforts some officers are entitled to receive medals, one of which is the Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM). This medal is awarded to those who have expressed exemplary acts of bravery while in service. One particular moment in police, and Australian history, where these medals were given was for brave actions displayed during the Coolangatta Hotel Fire. On this brief but intense event, seven Queensland police officers were awarded the QGM and another received the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.
In the early hours of 1 January 1975, Constables Ian Rogers and David Lacon had just finished arresting a man accused of assaulting a father and his son. As the officers were heading back to the police station to finish their paperwork they heard voices screaming out ‘FIRE’ at the back of the station. Setting off towards the screams they saw the Coolangatta Hotel ablaze with many people still inside.
At this point two other officers, Senior Sergeant Viv O’Dea and Senior Constable John Graham, ran inside to rescue those who were trapped. Soon they realised some occupants had to be pulled out through windows and Constable Rogers proceeded to climb onto the hotel ledge to carry them down. Meanwhile Constable Lacon had rushed inside with the other officers, and surrounded by flames Lacon was able to drag someone out through a window. Constable Lacon later described what he felt while in the building;
‘I was first prevented from gaining access through the door at the top of the fire escape, after the explosion left it burning… When I was crawling in black, plastic-filled smoke I genuinely thought I was going to die… I cannot say why I kept on going. I did not know then and I do not know now.’
Eventually all of the occupants had been rescued with no fatalities, although there were multiple injuries, of patrons and police officers. Because of their bravery and dogged persistence, many of the officers had inadvertently breathed in fumes from burning plastic, some had broken bones or deep cuts from falling timber and searing hot steel.
The eight officers were awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for their brave and selfless efforts and are remembered for their courageous actions.
Recipients of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, from left: S/Sgt Edwin (Viv) O’Dea, Sgt 2/c John Preston, S/Cons John Graham, Cons 1/c William Frohmuller, Cons Gordon Hoffman, Cons Anthony (David) Lacon, Cons Ian Rogers. Recipient of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct Serg 2/c A. Hayward on right.
Image taken from the book ‘For Exemplary Bravery’ by Retired Colonel Nick Metcalfe,
and provided by Retired Cons 1/c A.D. Hewett-Lacon QGM.
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This information is supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from resources provided by retired Constable 1/c A.D. Hewett-Lacon QGM, and retired Colonel Nick Metcalfe’s book ‘For Exemplary Bravery’. The article was written by Volunteer Jake Creevey and Museum Assistant Georgia Grier. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT- Coolangatta Hotel Fire” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode