Eden Gillespie
Stadium shrouded in silence at Queensland police memorial service
I’m here at the public memorial for constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.
A sea of blue fills the stands of Brisbane Entertainment Centre, with thousands of officers here to honour the lives of the young constables who were murdered last week on a Queensland property.
Tissues were handed out on arrival, with the stadium shrouded in a deeply sad silence.
The police ode is printed on the back of the memorial brochure:
The sun surely sets, dawn will see it arise. For service above self demands its own prize. You’ve fought the good fight, life’s race has been run, and peace your reward for eternity begun.
Key events
Filters BETA
A very big thank you to Natasha for taking us through a big day.
I will be with you for the next little bit.
Thanks for your attention today everyone. I’m handing you over now to the ever wonderful Amy Remeikis.
Football Australia respond to show cause notice
Mike Hytner
Football Australia has confirmed it has received a response from Melbourne Victory to the show-cause notice issued on Monday, in which the club was asked to justify why it should avoid heavy sanctions for the behaviour of fans that caused the abandonment of the weekend’s Melbourne derby.
The club met this morning’s 9am deadline for the submission, as the club faces potential financial penalties, the loss of competition points and the threat of playing games behind closed doors.
An FA statement on Wednesday read:
Football Australia understands the importance of swift action; however, it will take whatever time is necessary to work through this submission before determining what sanctions will be imposed upon the club. No timeframe has been put on this process.
Football Australia is also assessing what measures may need to be implemented, and will be working with the Australian Professional Leagues, Melbourne Victory FC, Western United FC, and the operators of AAMI Park as to how they plan to ensure the safety of all fans, players, officials, and staff at the scheduled A-League Men’s Boxing Day match.
It comes after two Victory fans involved in the chaotic scenes at AAMI Park on Saturday night, which resulted in injuries to City goalkeeper Tom Glover, the referee, a camera operator and two security personnel, were handed life bans from football on Tuesday night.
Victoria police has charged three men in relation to the pitch invasion, with a further five men identified on Tuesday. Investigations are continuing.
The memorial service has ended but the guard of honour continues.
The Governor attended the Queensland Police Memorial Service for Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, laying a wreath and paying her respects to the fallen officers. With honour they served. @QldPolice pic.twitter.com/Q8ICpWyt4X
— Governor of Queensland (@QldGovernor) December 21, 2022
#LIVE: A special Queensland Police Memorial Service with full police honours is being held at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to commemorate fallen Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold. #9News https://t.co/cPHI7pkaOJ
— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) December 20, 2022
Arnold and McCrow’s coffins leave memorial with guard of honour
A final prayer is given by the chaplain and the entire room stands again before the police flag and banner parties prepare for the recessional.
Drums announce the pallbearers who lift McCrow and Arnold’s coffins and carry them out of the service to the sound of bagpipes.
All serving, retired and former police officers and Queensland police staff follow the constables’ families and commissioner Carroll to form the guard of honour.
A minute’s silence follows police ode
The audience is asked to be upstanding as Senior Constable Andrew Gates reads the Police Ode.
As the sun surely sets, dawn will see it arise.
For service above self demands its own prize.
You have fought the good fight, life’s race has been run, and peace your reward for eternity begun.
And we that are left, shall never forget, rest in peace friend and colleague, for the sun has now set.
We will remember. We will remember.
The Police Requiescat is then played before a minute’s silence.
Arnold and McCrow awarded police medals posthumously
Carroll says she would like to acknowledge Matthew Arnold’s and Rachel McCrow’s professionalism and dedication to the QPS by awarding them the following awards:
The National Police Service Medal and National Medal are two national service levels which are for Australian awards and honours systems. … These two medals are usually awarded to Australian police officers in recognition of 15 years of diligent and ethical service as a police officer and for protecting life and property. These two medals can be awarded in circumstances when police officers’ services have been cut short. I thank His Excellency, General the Hon David Hurley AC DSC, who has posthumously awarded these two national award levels to Matthew and Rachel.
Similarly, the Queensland Police Service Medal may be awarded in similar circumstances. This medal is usually awarded after a member of QPS has ten years of service of ethical and diligent service. And it is my great honour to posthumously award these two, to our two young Constables.
Finally, the acknowledgement of the exceptional bravery displayed by Matthew and Rachel. I have posthumously awarded them the Queensland Police Valour Medal, which is the highest bravery award the Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service can award.
The Queensland community has been well and truly served by Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow. And the Queensland Police Service is a better organisation for having had Matthew and Rachel as our valued members.
Carroll details the other jobs Arnold held, including in hospitality, before becoming a police officer:
Matthew would never let go of his dream, which became a reality when he was accepted into the Queensland Police Service some three months after his first security job.
Whilst at the academy, Matthew excelled in all his studies. His Facilitators remember him as a lovely, kind young man, with a cheeky disposition and always smiling. He was someone that got along with everyone, and the type of person that you could rely on.
Matthew graduated from the academy on 27 March 2020 and began his career as a general-duty police officer at Dalby police station. Matthew was well liked by everyone at the station and his passion for policing grew very quickly.
He quickly moved through the first-year constable development program and after a year of dedicated service was confirmed as a constable of police.
On 23 April 2021, Matthew transferred to the Tara police station and remained at the station until his tragic passing on 12 December 2022.
In his time at the station, Matthew was extremely well respected and always dedicated his time to community.
Carroll moves onto speaking about Matthew Arnold:
Matthew’s dream to become a police officer first started when he was in Grade 9 and St Laurence’s College. His father, Terry, mentioned this to several police dads and St Laurence’s, who threatened to take him to visit the watchhouse on a Friday night. His passion, however, never dissipated, despite these warnings.
During high school, Matthew initially excelled at cricket, playing A grade and scoring 105 off 54 balls. Matthew then decided to give volleyball a go and went on to represent Australia in the Australian Schoolboys’ side.
Carroll continues:
Rachel’s commitment to service life commenced at the Queensland Police academy on 4 January 2021 at Townsville as a recruit. Whilst at the academy, Rachel excelled in her academic and operational training.
Rachel’s facilitators remember her as a beautiful person who always strived to achieve the highest and was always willing to assist others.
Rachel graduated from the academy on 24 June 2021 and began her career as a general-duties officer at Dalby police station.
Rachel was very popular at the station and her enthusiasm for policing and the community became a way of life. Rachel quickly moved through the first-year constable development program and after a year of dedicated service was confirmed as a constable of police.
On 21 July 2022, Rachel transferred to Tara police station and remained at the station until her tragic passing on 12 December 2022. During this time, Rachel’s commitment, passion, and unwavering service matured and she became a much-loved and respected member of that community.
Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll steps up to speak next.
I am honoured to stand here today representing the Queensland Police Service to deliver the valedictory for our colleagues, Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold, who served the community of Queensland and our organisation with great integrity, compassion, and dedication.
She goes on to give biographical details about the lives of the young officers.
From day one, Rachel was regarded as warm, loving person, who always had a funny story to tell, but was always ready to support anyone who needed it. Rachel also displayed courage and was the first one to stand up and support others when there were other issues to be resolved.
She excelled both academically and in the sporting arena, becoming the swimming champion for Genesis College for a number of years. This required 5:00am training sessions and sleepovers at friends’ houses for the early-morning starts. She was so dedicated that when Rachel broke her arm, she insisted on a water-proof cast so she could continue training at 5:00am in the morning.
Upon finishing her senior schooling, Rachel commenced justice studies at the Queensland University of Technology. During this time, Rachel worked at a number of part-time jobs, including one as a research assistant in the aged care environment observing people living with dementia.
Police ‘will not be broken’, chaplain says
Police chaplain Jeffrey Bails follows:
What happened on December 12 was un-Australian and does not belong in this country. It was abhorrent. It was not of God. It was absolute evil. This barbaric act has shocked our community, and it’s irreparably damaged the Arnold family and the McCrow family.
And we stand and we sit with you in your grief today, and in the days that lie a head, and I can truly say on behalf of everybody present, and on behalf of everybody online, our hearts go out to you. In times like this, ladies and gentlemen, it is necessary for us to pause, to honour, and to grieve.
We have had a major attack on the police in Queensland but…we will not be broken.
But we will, tomorrow, turn up to our shift and we will stand shoulder to shoulder again and seek to do the best we can to keep Queensland safe and fulfil our duties as outstanding men and women.
A slideshow of pictures from Rachel McCrow’s life also follows, set to the music of Daryl Braithwaite’s the Horses.
‘The police officer that the world now so loudly demands’
Hardigan goes on:
You were the police officer that the world now so loudly demands – a copper who deals in fairness, respect and love. A copper who truly listens, a copper who deeply cares. A copper with a strong sense of justice and a copper who will fight to protect those they have sworn to serve.
Rach, you spoke about the desire to work in child protection and youth justice. It would have been the first career step of many for you. I could see you achieving the rank of the officer that has supported your family with such beauty and vulnerability this week, the police commissioner.
Judy, you raised Rach and Sam into such beautiful, strong and intelligent women. Rach was so proud of Mama McCrow. The world will know about the sacrifices you made to raise Rach into such a wonderful woman.
Dr Judy, being asked by you to speak today is the greatest honour of my life. Sam, Jess, Jay, Jake, Andy, thank you for taking me in and sharing your memories of Rach with me. You are all as amazingly beautiful as Rach described. The blue family is forever here with you.
Rach, you will forever mean so much to us. You were the linchpin holding our eccentric groups of recruits together. You were welcomed and then adored by every person in every group by just being you, the absolute goof that we love. Rach, you will forever mean so much to me. We are struggling, Rach, but we will continue to tell your story. We will tell of your dedication. We will tell of your laughter. We will tell of your warmth. We will tell with honour you served.
‘Everything was done in such a genuine and loving way’
Constable Freddie Hardigan who trained with Rachel McCrow at the Townsville academy shares his memories of not only her achievements but her generosity.
It is with honour that I stand here as a fellow member of the Townsville academy and loving friend of Constable Rachel McCrow. Rach started her policing career at the Townsville police academy in January 2021. Rach was a live-in recruit at the luxury accommodation there. And Rach was stuck with us 24 hours a day for six months until she marched out with incredible pride as a sworn police officer in June 2021.
Rachel exceeded every benchmark in every aspect of academy life. She achieved excellent results in academic testing. She was dedicated to physical fitness and fierce in a wrestle.
But for every drop of sweat Rach put in for herself, she genuinely would put 10 in for the team. Rach organised group runs and early-morning beep tests for those that were struggling with their fitness.
She volunteered as a driving instructor, volunteered at a charity swim for multiple sclerosis research, and volunteered selling raffle tickets at the Cowboys House boarding school, parading around Cowboys Stadium like an absolute fool. Rach provided study sessions to recruits who needed it.
Everything was done in such a genuine and loving way, and Rach saved me and Nath multiple times by giving us her study cards the day before the exam.
Fresh out of the academy, Rach was posted to Dalby police station and from there continued to serve in Queensland’s south-west. With the majority of intake 44 in Townsville being posted to the farther north of Queensland, I know a lot of 44 regret losing contact with Rach as they started their own policing career.
But 44 is here with you today, Rach. Burnsey and the team from Townsville have come down. The girls from Mackay are here. The lads from Cohen had to drive down. Charleville, Bamaga, Aurukun, Rachel you are the only person who could have brought us all together.
Discussion about this post