AWARDS – Moreton Bay: the blue tidal playground where water sports, recreational fishing and commercial trawlers share the home of a diverse range of plants and marine creatures. The Bay was also the location of Danish dredge Kaptajn Nielsen when she capsized in 1964. A frantic search and rescue effort ensued, and with assistance of nearby boaties, professional diver Joseph Engwirda and Water Police Senior Constable Ivan Adams entering the upturned hull of the 3000 tonne dredge many times to rescue 12 seamen, and recover 9 lives lost in the tragedy. The men were awarded the George Medal, and the Danish shipping company Christiani and Nielsen, owners of the Kaptajn Nielsen, presented the Queensland Police Force with a handsome vase for assistance given during the salvage operation. These items are currently on loan and being displayed in the Police Museum.
A gathering of boats and divers beside the capsized Danish dredge Kaptajn Nielsen, September 1964.
Image No. PM0402 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
EVIDENCE – Fortitude Valley has long been a bustling location of shops, restaurants, hotels and night clubs. It is rich in cultural diversity and its ability to entertain patrons well into the night is renowned. On 8th March 1973 a terrible crime was committed at the Whiskey Au Go Go night club, Fortitude Valley, when two large drums of super grade petrol was spilt into the foyer and set alight. 15 people died in the dreadful inferno, and John Andrew Stuart and James Richard Finch were charged with murder and gaoled for life. We currently display several pieces of evidence from the crime scene, including the petrol drums.
A Scientific officer preparing to analyse the petrol drums used to bomb the Whiskey Au Go Go Night Club in 1973.
Image No. PM1904 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
TAXIDERMY – In 1952 a dog called Peter was owned by Arthur Ernest Halliday. Peter was the silent witness to a murder committed by Halliday and human witnesses identified him as the kind of dog seen at the crime scene. Sadly Peter died of a tick infection before Police found him, however he remained an important part of the prosecution’s case. Peter was mounted by a taxidermist for his court appearance, and it is said Halliday was so surprised to see the stuffed dog he admitted ownership before he could stop himself! By using Peter as evidence the prosecution linked Peter to Halliday at the crime scene, Halliday to Peter as owner, and therefore Halliday to the murder. Read more about this unusual piece of evidence and see the real Peter on display at the Police Museum.
‘Peter’, an unusual piece of evidence.
Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
TRANSPORT – The Queensland police commenced using motorcycles for detective work in 1925. Since those early days, traffic duty, ceremonial occasions and special operations require the use of police motorcycles. The fleet has included some classics, one of which we proudly display in the Police Museum, a 1986 Yamaha XJ900 equipped with flashing lights and horn. Feel free to come in sit on it and feel the wind in your hair, it makes a great photo opportunity!
Traffic Constables Don Williams (left) and Bernard Randall on their BSA motorcycles in 1955. We’d love one of these bikes in our collection!
Image No. PM0122 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
_____________________
This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday 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: The QPM Collection” 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… Continue reading