WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains images and stories of deceased persons.
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples contribution to Queensland Police history, today’s FROM the VAULT is about our Native Police Trackers. NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week commenced Sunday 6th July 2014, and this article, providing a few stories of the many men who served, is a timely reminder of the dedicated service given to Queenslanders by Indigenous peoples. Police Trackers had superior knowledge of the land, and we trust you’ll enjoy our beautiful images of these hard working men.
Sam Johnson commenced as a Tracker for Longreach Police station in 1899. In 1902 three brothers named Kenniff were sought for illegal cattle duffing. Along with Constable George Doyle and Carnarvon Cattle Station Manager Mr Dahlke, Sam attended as Tracker for the group and the trio set out in search of the felons. In the process of capturing two of the brothers, Constable Doyle and Mr Dahlke were shot and killed. Sam escaped and returned with news of the murders. As the sole survivor of the police clash with the Kenniffs he became a key witness, and his evidence was crucial in the conviction of the brothers.
Sub Inspector Quilter (front, third from left) and his men at Longreach, 1907. Tracker Corporal Sam Johnson stands on the right.
Image No. PM0325a Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
In June 1919 Corporal Tracker Sam Johnson was admitted to the Longreach General Hospital suffering from Influenza, were he died on the 22nd of that month. There is a long standing display in our Police Museum, dedicated to Corporal Johnson, Constable Doyle and Mr Dahlke.
An overnight camp between Laura and Coen, at Mount Musgrave, 1928. Tracker Jackie (his first name) stands at left, with mule Jessie, and Tracker Peter at right, with horse Phiz.
Image No. PM0286 Courtesy of Sergeant 1/c C.Green, Fortitude Valley. All efforts were made to contact both families seeking permission to use this image, and no disrespect is intended.
George Musgrave commenced as a tracker with Laura Police Station on 27th April 1972. As husband to Kathleen, and father to Christine, Tommy, May and George, Tracker George was also a good provider, and had been employed on almost every cattle station within the Laura Police Division, which comprised 8,500 square miles. George was born and bred on the Peninsula, was a very competent horseman, with sound knowledge of the terrain and movement of stock using keen tracking skills passed down by his father.
Tracker George Musgrave.
Image by Oliver Strewe Photography. All efforts were made to contact the family seeking permission to use this image, and no disrespect is intended.
In 1989 George recalled the time he located a Normanton pig shooter lost in Cape York for 10 days; “I walked all day and camped, I walked 35 miles, you have to keep walking, if you stop for lunch that boy keeps walking and you never catch up with him”. In 2005 George Musgrave was recognised with an honorary doctorate from James Cook University for his stewardship of Indigenous culture. Dr Musgrave passed away at the impressive age of 85 in Laura on 8th February 2006.
Barry Port, Queensland and Australia’s last police tracker, worked with Tracker George Musgrave (see above) to trace a stolen vehicle in 1984. Their persistence with old car tracks and deliberate attempts to conceal them for 22kms paid off, with the duo locating the car, the offender, and a large drug crop. Barry was born in Coen, and based at the Coen Police Station. During his career with the Queensland Police Service Barry tracked down stowaways from a ship off Cape York, tracked vehicles being driven upstream to avoid detection, located hidden drug crops in the bush and even tracked the Kelly gang.
Tracker Barry Port, outside Coen Police Station, 2001. Image courtesy of the Qld Police Museum, and used with the permission of Mr Port.
Mr Port has recently retired from the Queensland Police Service, with a career spanning 34 years. He celebrated in style with staff from the Coen Police Station, family members, the wider Coen community and Police and civilians from several other Queensland Districts. We wish you well in your retirement Barry!
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from resources available at the time of writing. The article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.
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 – Police Trackers” 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