National Police Memorial (Australia) facts for kids
The National Police Memorial in Canberra is a special place that honors Australian police officers who have died while doing their job. It's located in King's Park, right by Lake Burley Griffin and near the National Carillon. It's a place for everyone to remember the brave men and women who served and protected their communities.
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What the Memorial Looks Like
The memorial has two main parts that make it unique:
- A bronze wall with special plaques called 'touchstones'. Each touchstone has the name, rank, date, and place of death for police officers who died while on duty.
- A large paved area, called the 'terrain', that visitors walk across to reach the wall.
The touchstone wall is covered in bronze panels. They have a slightly rough feel but a shiny, dark finish. The touchstones themselves are also made of bronze, but they are a golden color. They become even shinier over time as people touch them. There are 1200 touchstones, which reminds us of the dangers police officers face every day.
The 'terrain' area gently slopes and has small bumps. This design is meant to make visitors feel a bit unsure, like the unpredictable path police officers often face in their work.
The memorial also includes symbols that honor Saint Michael, who is considered the patron saint of police officers.
How the Design Was Chosen
A competition was held to find the best design for the memorial. It started on March 2, 2005, and 77 different designs were submitted. The winning design was created by Fairweather Proberts Architects from Brisbane. The memorial cost about A$2.4 million to build.
Remembering the Dedication Day
The National Police Memorial was officially opened on September 29, 2006. This day is also National Police Remembrance Day. The Prime Minister of Australia at the time, Hon. John Howard, led the dedication ceremony.
More than 700 police officers from all over Australia gathered for the opening. It was the first time so many Australian police had come together in Canberra since the opening of Old Parliament House in 1927.
The First Officer Remembered
The first police officer to die on duty in Australia was Constable Joseph Luker. He was 38 years old when he passed away on August 26, 1803. This happened when Sydney was only 15 years old.
A Recent Loss Before Dedication
Just before the memorial was officially opened, Sergeant Colin McKenzie from the New South Wales Police Force passed away. He was 50 years old and had served for 30 years. Sergeant McKenzie became unwell during a rehearsal for the dedication ceremony on September 28, 2006. To honor him, his police cap was carried on a cushion during the march to the memorial.
Other Memorials to See
- National Workers Memorial (Australia)
- HMAS Canberra (D33)
