Current and retired female members of the Queensland Police service gathered at the Brothers Leagues club in Raceview recently to celebrate the amazing milestone of 85 years of women in Policing.
It was a very proud moment for everyone involved and a real treat to hear about the first female officers in Queensland. Eileen O’Donnell 35, and Zara Dare 45 who were appointed in 1931.
In a time where the police force was completely male dominated these women began to pave the path of success and equality for Policewomen in Australia.
Although these women had been appointed Policewomen, they were not actually ‘sworn in’ and had no uniform or powers of arrest. Their main duties were helping female victims and also young children in domestic violence cases.
It wasn’t until 1965 that women were sworn into the ranks and given police uniforms.
Former Deputy Commissioner Kath Ryner spoke about her experience in the Police Force, the struggle to be taken seriously and to prove women were just as valuable as male officers.
On September 1 1970, 39 years after the first policewomen were appointed, and on the same day Ray Whitrod became Police Commissioner, and equal pay was finally achieved.
In 1971 the minimum height for women joining is set at 162.5cm and the bar on married women joining was removed, so women no longer had to choose between marriage and a career.
When Commissioner Ray Whitrod took over he introduced a programme that called for the same introductory training for female recruits at the academy as men. It was a great time for women in the Police service, but between 1976 and 1978, under commissioner Terrence Lewis, recruitment and advancement of women in the Queensland Police stalled, with the number of female officers dropping to five per cent.
Then in the1990s the Police Service Administration Act and the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act reinforced merit-based criteria of employment.
Kath Ryner said women have had a tough ride during their careers and have had to fight for their positions.
Mayoress Janet Pisasale said, “I know the long hours you put in and how hard your job is. I appreciate everything you do for us and don’t ever take it for granted.�
