Alexander Riley (tracker) facts for kids
Alexander Riley (1884-1970) was an amazing Aboriginal tracker and police officer from Australia. He made history by becoming the first Aboriginal person to reach the rank of sergeant in the New South Wales Police Force. He was known for his incredible tracking skills and his dedication to helping people.
Early Life
Alexander Riley was born on May 26, 1884, in a place called Nymagee, New South Wales. His father, John Riley, was a labourer, and his mother was Mary Calligan.
Police Career
Before joining the police, Alexander Riley worked on a farm as a stationhand. On June 11, 1911, he joined the New South Wales Police Force as a tracker. Trackers like Riley were very important. They used their amazing skills to follow trails, find lost people, and help solve mysteries.
In 1912, Riley injured his foot, and he left the police force on August 31, 1914. But he came back to the NSW police on January 1, 1918. His hard work and skill were recognized, and he was promoted to sergeant on August 5, 1941. This was a very special moment because he was the first Aboriginal person to become a sergeant in the New South Wales police force.
Notable Cases
Sergeant Riley helped with many important cases. One time, he helped find a young person named Roy Governor near Mendooran in June 1923. Another time, he used his tracking abilities to find a six-year-old girl who had been lost for a whole day in the mountains near Stuart Town. She was barefoot, making it even harder to track her, but Riley succeeded.
Riley retired from the police force on July 13, 1950. Even though he had paid into a pension fund from his salary, he was not given a police pension. This was because he was seen as a "special part-time employee," which was unfair to him and other Aboriginal and female employees at the time.
Family and Hobbies
Alexander Riley married Ethel Taylor on June 14, 1924, in Wellington. They lived at the Talbragar Aboriginal Reserve and had eight children together.
Outside of his police work, Riley was a very active person. He loved playing football and was a talented athlete. He also spent many years coaching athletics in Dubbo, helping young people develop their sporting skills.
Alexander Riley passed away on October 29, 1970, in Dubbo.
Awards and Recognition
Alexander Riley's contributions were remembered and honored:
- He received the King’s Police & Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service on January 1, 1943. This medal is given for outstanding service.
- The Tracker Riley Walkway and Cycle Path in Dubbo, along the Macquarie River, was named in his honor. It was opened in June 1997 by his granddaughter, Kathy Green, and the Minister for Roads, Carl Scully.
- His great-grandson, Michael Riley, made a short documentary film about him called Blacktracker. This film was shown on the Australian Broadcasting Commission in September 1997, sharing Alexander Riley's story with even more people.
