A Respected Cop

 

“He was a character, Slats. But he kept the town in order, one policeman. We had respect for him, I think that was it. We had respect. If we didn’t, we got a clip across the ears, or a boot up the backside.” These comments seem to reflect the town’s feelings toward a much-respected cop. A man who well and truly left his mark on Campbelltown.

Bernard Patrick Slattery, known affectionately as Bernie, joined the police force on 3 July 1939, at the age of 21. After initial training, he was posted to Sydney’s Clarence Street Police Station until 1945. Then transferred to Camden, he remained there for eleven years. At Camden he was promoted to Sergeant 3^rd Class and then got sent to Grenfell for two years.

A rugby league match at Camden between fierce rivals Camden and Campbelltown threatened to erupt one year in the 1950s. Before the match, Bernard went to both dressing rooms and said we might just arrest someone today. There had never been an arrest at a football match in the area before. It ended up one of the cleanest football games anyone had seen.

In October 1960, Bernard transferred to the position of officer in charge of Campbelltown Police Station. Sergeant Slattery served 12 years in charge of the little station in Railway Street. He lived in the police sergeant’s residence down from the police station in the same street. In those days, the station was closed between midnight and 8am so the telephone had to be answered by the lock-up keeper.

Sergeant Slattery earned a reputation of being a fair and respected policemen. Young offenders, after receiving a stern lecture, then benefited from the Sergeant’s advice. He would say “I am not just a jailer waiting for you to put your foot wrong. I like to think I am here to protect life and property and that I can lead the community and encourage citizens to be law-abiding.” One story told by his son Michael concerned a certain Campbelltown youth who was in the habit of stealing bikes. Sergeant Slattery bought a second hand bike and lent it to the boy but asked him to look after it, including oiling it regularly. He wanted him to bring the bike in every second Saturday so he could inspect the boy’s work. After a while, he gave the bike to the lad permanently.

Bernard rose through the ranks from constable to sergeant, inspector and finally superintendent, where he oversaw a division incorporating Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool. He was later sent to Broken Hill, Philip Street in the city and then Wollongong, before “returning home” as superintendent in charge of I division which covered Fairfield to Bargo. He considered the high spot of his career as the time when he was in charge of police arrangements in Sydney on the day that the Whitlam Government was sacked in 1975.

Following his retirement from the Police Force in 1978, Bernie became a member of the Campbelltown Hospital Board and director of the Campbelltown Catholic Club. He always held Campbelltown dear to his heart. Bernard Slattery died in 2002 aged 83. The cramped and inadequate Railway Street police station, was eventually demolished in 1988. The Police Sergeant’s house was demolished in 1970.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, 27 June 1978

Macarthur Advertiser, 15 June 2002

Interviews with Robyn Watson, Ted Sedgwick and Michael Slattery

Minto Mall begins

Surprisingly, Minto Mall was named, not by a corporate think tank, but by a local primary school boy. Prior to its grand opening on April 28 1981, developers launched a competition asking for suggestions to name the brand new shopping centre. The winning entrant was Mathew, a young local with his nicely alliterative entry.

14 Nov 1980
Arthur Jones Collection

At a cost of 13 Million dollars not only did the building itself employ 200 workers during its construction but an additional 300 would be employed in the shopping centre. Opening with Coles New World, Ansett Travel, Mr Whippy, bank and also Kmart boasting 13 Checkouts!

18 Feb 1981
Arthur Jones Collection

Coles Managing director, Mr Bevan Bradbury said they would “offer a form of shopping that has proved enormously popular.” - referring to the latest fashion for malls. He also proclaimed New World itself would have a 132 metres of refrigerated selling space.

Minto News April 1981
The advertising materials ushering in
this new form of shopping experience,
 proclaiming “Yes, right now you can step into
 1980’s style shopping”

For two weeks the mall offered tickets in various competitions. “Up for grabs” was a refrigerator, colour television and dishwasher. The winning ticket was presented by the “Multimedia” personality of Michael “Hollywood” John Howson and flamboyant Gold Logie award winning comedian, Jeanne Little who's catchcry of "Ohhhhh, Daaaahling was no doubt heard throughout Minto Mall. 

Minto News April 1981

Other promotions in the inaugural weeks included model train displays and free balloons for kids young and old.

According to the advertising there are
 spaces here for 950 cars in this one stop shop.
Photo by Ron Hutchings in the Minto News.

First Accident on the F5

The new section of the F5 freeway from Campbelltown to Yanderra opened on 15 December 1980. The new stretch was opened by Premier Neville Wran, with large queues of cars banked up for kilometres waiting for the opening. The new section reduced travel times greatly, but unfortunately accidents on the freeway still occur. Strangely however, the first accident on the freeway happened BEFORE the official opening. 

On the weekend before the opening, Sergeant Olivera and Constable Bailey were patrolling the new section at the request of the Department of Main Roads. The DMR had been concerned that people may have misused the freeway before its official opening. About 12 kilometres south of Campbelltown, a kangaroo appeared from the grass on the eastern side of the road directly in the path of the police car. Despite braking, the police car was unable to avoid hitting the kangaroo. It died instantly. Damage to the police car was minor and neither officer was injured.

Looking north from the bridge over construction of the F5 Freeway at Menangle Park in 1976. (Trevor Richardson Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Source: Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, 16 December 1980, p1

The night they blew the safe!

I recently opened a pamphlet file which contained a very old cheque book. My curiosity was piqued by the little note on the front of it – see photo below. 

The note on the front of the cheque book

Inside the cheque book - Police v Douglas

This led to an interesting tale of theft and forgery!
During the night of the 19th and 20th April 1933, Ingleburn Council premises were broken into. The safe was blown, and a number of items stolen. These included a pistol and cartridges, postage stamps, cash, some loose cheques, and a cheque book. Constable Best of Campbelltown attended the Ingleburn Council Chambers at 10.30 am on the 20th April, where he saw that the safe had been blown open, with the safe door off its hinges. There were books and papers strewn about, plus a quantity of putty (explosive) in a paper towel. Most importantly was a paper match case on the floor near the safe. The side window had been forced open.

Shockingly, another go was had at the Council Chambers on the 28th April, just 9 days after the first robbery. Not as competent as the first attempt, the robbers left a large amount of putty all over the Town Clerk’s office, to his considerable annoyance, and only escaped with a few pounds.

Ingleburn Council Chambers as they were in 1933

In the Campbelltown Police Court on the 19th May Mr John Charles Douglas was charged with breaking and entering the Ingleburn Council Chambers. Douglas had been questioned by Detective Surridge of the Parramatta Police. Douglas tried to explain away the cheque book he had in his possession by stating it had been given to him by another man, who, not surprisingly, was unable to be located. Douglas had passed two cheques on Gowing Bros and Hordern Bros, after forging the name of H.J. Daley on them.

Cheques in the stolen cheque book

Detective Surridge showed Douglas a cardboard match case bearing the words “Boomerang” 53 Market Street, Sydney – the same match case that had been left behind at the robbery. Douglas admitted to having one ‘similar’.

Douglas was remanded to stand trial at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions on the 6th June, which he did. He was charged with breaking and entering, and was convicted on an alternative charge of receiving. He was sentenced to 12 months hard labour.

The Council Chambers must have been seen as an easy target, as they were broken into yet again on the 21st June. The safe door withstood the charges, and nothing of value was taken. Bryan Chrystal recalls this incident as follows - "I think he (Harley Daley) got the job of Town Clerk in the 30s. This was right in the middle of the depression. Part of his job was handing out the dole and also if they did any relief work. They had a big strong room in the middle of the Council offices. This particular night, apparently they all knew that the money had come in and he had put it away to pay out the next day. These two characters must have come in and put gelignite on the door of the safe and they detonated it. They didn’t get the money because the building fell down all around the strong room. It made a real mess of the Council Chambers. He always told that story."

Written by Claire Lynch

Sources 

Trove

"Campbelltown Recollections"

 https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/ServicesandFacilities/Libraries/LocalStudies/CampbelltownRecollectionsStoriesFromOurPast

New Year 1921

Thought I'd take a look back to the Campbelltown-Ingleburn News of 7th January 1921 to see how our predecessors of a hundred years ago brought in the new year. Mayor Hannaford had had a tough year with the "influenza epidemic" still causing issues.

A quite prominent notice by T.H. Barnett, owner of the Mount Gilead Estate said he would impound any trespassing stock and prosecute anyone cutting timber there. Quite the new year's resolution! But it was the article about the Soldier's Settlement Social Committee which gave a great picture of life of the time. We know now there will be very rough years ahead for them but this new years' they gathered in the communal hall for songs, music and merriment, with the venue being "taxed by the large company present". The program began with a pianoforte solo by Miss Molly Menzies and continued with violins, cornet and Mrs Warner of the Hurstville Philharmonic's rendition of "Nocturne in F". The young Miss Eva Macintosh "gained the hearts of her audience singing "Here's to love and Laughter" later joining Mr Sidman in a duet. The happy group only dispersed at 2 am, to reassemble on new year's day for sports on the recreation reserve of the settlement.

One of the cottages in the soldier's settlement in Waminda Avenue

Sports Day

Delayed for an hour due to the extreme heat and with a tendency for the great majority to be "surf-bathing" the flat race for kids under-10 took place, followed by a potato race resulting in a dead-heat, a win eventually secured by Miss Cambourne over Miss Biehler. The article does not mention how many potatoes were collected for the win. 

Thirty-two entrants "stepped out" a 100 yards, with R.J Warby winning, after he was found to be only nine and a half inches off the mark. Miss Biehler triumphed however, in the egg and spoon race with several competitors losing their eggs entirely. Controversy was had in the men's heat though when the winner, Mr Hepher, it was alleged, GLUED his egg to the spoon! 

After the "Married ladies" heat, the pillow fight was hotly contested with Mr Hazel "knocking out" Mick Casey in the final. The extraordinary Miss Woods, after conceding two yards start to the other entrants, beat the field in the single women's race. Finally, after the "sweethearts race" was won and 39 contestants all "threw at wickets", the obstacle race took place. Involving climbing poles, tarpaulins and hurdles it caused much hilarity especially when everyone simultaneously went for the one "Big Barrel" 

What a day to remember!

Written by Andrew Allen

 

Christmas in the 1890s

 

W. Wilkinson Collection

This delightful Christmas postcard from our photograph collection is of Queen Street. It was taken by the Sydney firm of Kerry and Co. The shot is taken from near the intersection of Queen and Dumaresq Streets and is looking south. Pictured in the postcard are Charles Tripp's Wheelwright business on the left behind the lamp post, a hairdresser business opposite and the Old Post Office behind it. 

Charles Tripp and his brother Thomas rented this building in 1884. It was later used as a garage after much alteration and served the people of Campbelltown until its demolition in 1966. The hairdresser building continued as a hairdresser for some years after this photo was taken. It operated under the name of Fred Joseph after 1900. It was demolished in 1977. The Old Post Office was built in 1881 and still stands.

Kerry and Co. began operation in 1892, taking over from Kerry and Jones. Given that the name on the hairdresser is different to F. Joseph that took over in 1900, we can assume that the postcard was created between 1892 and 1899.

Written by Andrew Allen

Happy Birthday Campbelltown!

Three cheers from a crowd of 50-60 settlers echoed around the tiny settlement. The settlers were celebrating the naming of Campbell Town on this day 1 December 1820. Governor Lachlan Macquarie formally marked the boundaries of the township, the sites for the church, school and burial ground. He named it after his wife's maiden name. The ceremony was held at the current site of Mawson Park, probably close to St Peter's Church.

A portrait of Lachlan Macquarie

Written by Andrew Allen