1915
The New South Wales Police Department advertised two positions
for female police. Nearly 500 women applied for the positions. Two
applicants, Lillian Armfield and Maud Rhodes were chosen and
subsequently sworn in as Probationary Special Constables. Maud
Rhodes resigned in 1920 and Lillian Armfield retired after 33 years
service in 1949. The women were required to sign an indemnity
releasing the Police Department of any responsibility for their
safety and wore civilian clothes, as they were not issued a uniform.
Their service was recorded on a separate seniority list until 1965.
They were the first women employed for police duties in the
Commonwealth.
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1919
Mary Paulette recruited. Lillian Armfield promoted to Special
Constable First Class.
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1920
Maud Rhodes resigns.
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1921
Nellie Mooney recruited.
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1922
Strength increased to four women police with the recruitment
of Nellie Katheen Mitchell.
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1927
Mary Madden recruited.
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1929
Strength increased to eight women police with the recruitment
of Ellen Bennett, Rose Cuneen and Eva Rosser.
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1941
As a result of wartime difficulties in recruiting men, there
was a further increase in strength from eight to fourteen
women police. Over 500 women responded to advertisements for
policewomen. Six women were selected: Rita Collins, Coralie
Lucas, Catherine MacRae, Nancy Morgan, Ita Taylor and Joan
Weaver who would later become Officer in Charge of the Women
Police Office.
Two policewomen, Rita Collins and Eva Rosser, transferred to
Newcastle.
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1943
Six women temporarily recruited to aid the Health Department
locate people suffering from venereal disease.
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1946
Premier McKell approves increase in strength of women police
to thirty six. Women that had been employed temporarily were
made permanent employees.
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1947
Twenty six years after the formation of the NSW Police
Association , women police are granted membership as Special
Constables. Special Sergeant (First Class) Lillian Armfield
awarded the Kings Police and Fire Service Medal for
distinguished service, the first womam in the British Empire
to receive this distinction.
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1948
Commissioner McKay trials two women, Amy Millgate and Gladys
Johnson, at the Traffic Branch. The women develop their own
uniform, based on the military uniform with a male police cap.
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1949
Thirty one women in the Women Police Office. Twelve women were
transferred into the CIB, four to divisions and others to
traffic. Lillian Armfield retires as Special Sergeant First
Class, receiving no remuneration on retirement.
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1951
School Lecturing Branch formed. All women recruits now
commence at the Traffic Branch, then move into plain clothes
work as vacancies arise.
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1955
Two woman police, Pat Stuart and Joan Banner, transferred to
Wollongong.
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1957
First migrant woman officer, Johanna Suchy, recruited. First
certified woman police driver, Special Constable Patricia
Clancy.
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1958
Fifty women in NSW Police Force. For the first time, the two
women from the class of 1958, Janice Mossfield and Nellie
Hobart are permitted to participate in the passing out parade
with their 53 male counterparts.
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1959
Women police undertake initial, intermediate and secondary
training conducted alongside male counterparts, but this did
not include any physical training, swimming or pistol
practice.
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1961
Departmental decision taken to permit women to remain in
employment by the NSW Police Department after marriage.
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1962
Centenary of the New South Wales Police Force.
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1965
58 women of various ranks sworn into the NSW Police Force as
regular officers (under the Police Regulation Women Police
Amendment Act No.64 of 1964) with full police powers and other
employment conditions and entitlements. Women police given
separate registered numbers to male police, establishing a
separate seniority system for women police. Women police now
known as Policewoman in place of Special.
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1966
Del Fricker and a number of policewomen commended by
Commissioner for their role in the apprehension of two armed
offenders, Ronald Ryan and Peter Walker who were wanted for
escaping from lawful custody and murder..
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1967
Del Fricker receives British Empire Medal for her involvement
in the 1963 arrest of a violent offender wanted for rape.
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1968
Seventy women in the NSW Police Force.
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1970
Three women police, Senior Constables Nerida Keeley, Gwen
Martin and Jill Frazer obtain their Diploma in Criminology
from Sydney University. Del Fricker is awarded the WD & HO
Wills Trophy for 'Most Outstanding Policewoman'.
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1971
Gwen Martin and Del Fricker accepted into the Detectives
Training Course, later to become the first women detectives.
Policewomen lobby the NSW Police Association for more direct
representation to improve their position within the Police
Force through the establishment of a Women's Branch but are
rejected. Lillian Armfield dies aged 87 years.
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1972
First female commissioned officer at the Women Police Office,
Inspector Beth Hanley, at 29 years service. Beth Hanley is
awarded the 'Most Outstanding Policewoman'.
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1973
Gwen Martin is awarded the 'Most Outstanding Policewoman'. A
Women's Branch is established within the NSW Police
Association. Del Fricker is the inaugural President and Carol
Tubnor, inaugural Secretary.
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1974
Policewomen become eligible by statute to sit for promotional
examinations. Policewomen Barbara Galvin and Jacqueline
Milledge transferred on probation to the Police Prosecuting
Branch. Women detectives issued with firearms.
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1975
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, 60 years of Women in Policing.
Communication to Commissioner Hanson from the Premier that the
NSW Police Force will be required to comply with the
International Labour Organisation Covenant signed by the
Commonwealth. The Commissioner established a committee to
examine aspects of this covenant, which aimed at discouraging
discrimination especially in relation to women. The committee
reported back to the Commissioner in 1976, recommending and
reinforcing the status quo. Maternity leave granted by the
Premier of NSW to policewomen after strong campaigning by the
NSW Police Association on behalf of women police. Policewoman
Dianne Bennett (Gould) was the first woman to receive
maternity leave benefits (backdated). The NSW Police
Association successfully proposes to the Commissioner that
policewomen be integrated into the promotional system.
Handcuffs issued to policewomen. First police woman attached
to the Scientific Investigation Section, Cathy Brown. Del
Fricker promoted to Detective Inspector Third Class.
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1976
Beth Hanley awarded the Queen's Police Medal. Four women
transferred to general duties on trial basis: Claire Brittain
to Mascot Airport police station; and Christine Nixon,
Christine Ridley and Margaret White to Darlinghurst police
station.. Newly sworn policewomen were provided with
integrated registered numbers. Inspector Del Fricker appointed
Officer in Charge, Women Police Office.
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1977
NSW Parliament passes the Anti-Discrimination Act. Del Fricker
awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal.
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1978
112 women police in the NSW Police Force. Women's
Co-Ordination Unit report to the Premier, 'The employment
position of women police in the New South Wales Police Force'
blasts the departmental committee report into position of
women in policing and recommends better training, integration
and affirmative action for women in policing. Commencement of
integration into male ranks for all non-commissioned officers.
Women integrated into the seniority list (completed in 1981).
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1979
Firearms become standard issue for all Policewomen. Gwen
Martin is the first female appointed to the Executive of the
NSW Police Association.
Jill Frazer is awarded 'Policewoman of the Year' for bravery
when assaulted whilst arresting an offender which ultimately
resulted in the amputation of her left leg and her subsequent
death. Women provided with the same training as men, same
selection criteria for Detectives Training Course.
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1980
NSW police Force is forced to abandon it's quota system for
women recruits by the direction of the Anti-Discrimination
board after a complaint lodged by Victoria Carr. Successful
appeal of a female police applicant, Elaine Thompsett, whose
application for joining the Force was rejected on the grounds
of her marital status. First policewoman attached to the
Police Air Wing as an observer, Constable Christine Simpson.
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1981
Disbanding of Women Police Office at the CIB. Classification
of Woman Police Officer removed and women were transferred to
a variety of duties. Women's Branch of the Police Association
abolished. First policewomen appointed to the Highway Patrol,
Constable Jennifer Sheehy (country) and Constable Julie
Richardson (metropolitan).
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1982
Now 307 women officers in the NSW Police Force, representing
3.3% of police strength. First Aboriginal Policewoman, Sandra
May. Spokeswomen's Network Program established by the NSW
Premiers Department, and the Police Force establishes a
Spokeswomen's Network. First policewoman attached to the
Mounted Police, Constable Janet McGillivray.
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1983
First policewoman Highway Patrol Cyclist, Constable Val
Bryant.
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1984
Last passing out parade at Redfern Police Academy. 720 women
in the NSW Police Force. First female General Duties
Inspector, Pat Hynds. First female country Inspector, Ruth
Styles at Warilla. Introduction of first stage of merit based
promotion. First policewoman certified as a Police Diver,
Constable Lisa Ford. First policewoman certified as a Police
Rescue Squad operator, Constable Sally Verhage.
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1986
Recruiting height restrictions removed. First policewoman
attached to the Water Police, Constable Lisa Ford.
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1988
Part-time maternity leave trialled by 5 women police in
metropolitan and country areas. 1000th female officer sworn in
at the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn. First female Patrol
Commander, Inspector Bev Lawson, at Engadine.
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1989
Now 1,293 women in the Police Service, representing 10.1% of
police strength. First female Superintendent, Bev Lawson,
Patrol Commander, Wollongong.
Merit based promotion for sergeants introduced.
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1990
First woman appointed to the Executive of the NSW Police
Association, Bernadette Dubois. Taskforce established to
review Sex Based Harassment. Commissioner's Taskforce on the
Status of Women & Minority Groups.
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1992
Physical requirements for recruiting change and the height of
the wall is reduced allowing more women to enter.
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1994
Christine Nixon appointed as the first female Assistant
Commissioner in New South Wales. Seven women attend the NSW
Police Association Biennial Conference as delegates.
First woman in Dog Squad (tops course), Constable 1/c Debbie
Lee.
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1994
For the first time two women are appointed to the
Executive of the NSW Police Association, Beth Stirton and
Marea Rayment. First all female Appeal Board at the Government
and Related Employees Appeals Tribunal (GREAT).
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1995
Chief Superintendent Lola Scott appointed Commander, Internal
Affairs Branch. 1,719 women in the NSW Police Service,
representing 13.1% of police strength. Eighty years of women
in policing in New South Wales.
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