Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

's National Police Memorial is in the national capital,

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

, in King's Park on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin adjacent to the National Carillon on Aspen Island. It commemorates Australian police who have died on duty.

Design

The two key elements of the design are: * a bronze commemorative wall with 'touchstone plaques' carrying the name and rank, date of death (day, month and year), and place of death, of police officers who have died whilst on active duty; * a large stone paved area or 'terrain' across which visitors move to gain access to the wall. The surface of the touchstone wall is clad in cast

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

panels with a slight textural feel and a dark patina. The surface of the cladding is smooth enough to allow the patina to have a gloss wax finish. The touchstones are also cast bronze but have a golden, almost polished patina, that will change over time with the degree to which each stone is touched. There are 1200 touchstones, which is meant to symbolise the ongoing danger for police on duty. The 'terrain' tilts to direct visitors to the wall, with undulations that is intended to create "an uncertainty in experience and reflects the uncertain path that police tread in the performance of their duty." The design also incorporates elements acknowledging Saint Michael, the patron saint of policing. Access roads have been constructed from King's Avenue, joining to the previous the lakeside road.

Design competition

A competition for the design was sponsored by the Australasian Police Ministers' Council (APMC), launched on 2 March 2005 by Senator

Christopher Ellison Christopher Michael Ellison (born 16 December 1946 in St Pancras, London) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as DCI Frank Burnside in the ITV police series ''The Bill'' and short-lived spin-off series '' Burnside''. Education A ...

, the Federal Minister for Justice and Customs. 77 entries were submitted by its close on 29 April 2005. The memorial cost A$2.4 million. The winning entry was by Fairweather Proberts Architects ( Brisbane).

National Police Memorial Project Dedication Team

The Australian Federal Police Recognition and Ceremonial Team were given the honour in managing the Dedication Project.

Dedication of the NPM

The Memorial was officially dedicated by Hon. John Howard,

Prime Minister of Australia The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...

, on 29 September 2006, National Police Remembrance Day. The Master of Ceremonies was Ita Buttrose. More than 700 police from all states and the

Australian Federal Police The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the national and principal federal law enforcement agency of the Australian Government with the unique role of investigating crime and protecting the national security of the Commonwealth of Australia. Th ...

were gathered for the official opening, the first time since the opening of Old Parliament House in 1927 that there had been such a mass gathering of Australian police in Canberra.

Death of Constable Joseph Luker

The first policeman to die on duty was Constable

Joseph Luker Joseph Luker ( – 26 August 1803) (also spelt Lucar and Looker) was a British convict transported to the Colony of New South Wales on the 12-gun sailing ship ''Atlantic'' as part of the Third Fleet. After the completion of his sentence he joine ...

, aged 38, who died on 26 August 1803, after being bludgeoned to death when

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

was only 15 years old.

Death of Sergeant Colin McKenzie

NSW Police Force members have suffered the largest losses of all Australian Police Forces, and to that end the last Australian Police Officer to die on duty before the official dedication was New South Wales Police Force Sergeant Colin McKenzie, aged 50, who died on 28 September 2006, the eve of the official opening, after falling ill at the Dedication rehearsal session at the National Police Memorial in Canberra. This 30-year veteran New South Wales Police Force policeman complained to colleagues of feeling ill, then collapsed and died. In memory of the Sergeant, Sergeant McKenzie's cap was carried by a NSW Police Force Sergeant on a cushion, leading the NSW Police Force Contingent in the march from Old Parliament House to the NPM in Kings Park, Canberra in a moving tribute.

External links

* National Capital Authoritybr>memorial site
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winning design
* Australian Federal Polic
memorial site
an
Memorial Honour Roll
(PDF) {{coord, 35.299, S, 149.144, E, type:landmark_region:AU-ACT, display=title Landmarks in Canberra Law enforcement memorials Monuments and memorials in the Australian Capital Territory 2006 establishments in Australia Tourist attractions in Canberra Law enforcement in Australia