A new police memorial has been dedicated in Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens to honour the 147 officers who have died while serving the Queensland community since 1861.
Attending the dedication ceremony today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland Police Memorial would be a place of quiet reflection for all Queenslanders.
"While we dedicate this new memorial today, we also recognise no single monument can ever do justice to the enormous sacrifice of our fallen police officers," the Premier said.
"Nevertheless, it’s important that we have a place which is solely in memory of the men and women who have tragically died in the line of duty.
"These gardens opened only a few years before the Police Service was formally established in Queensland, so it’s an appropriate historic setting for a permanent memorial honouring officers from one of our State’s oldest and most important institutions.
The decision to redevelop the lower end of George Street led to the decommissioning of the previous Queensland Police Memorial in November 2016, with associated name plates temporarily relocated to the Queensland Police Service Academy at Oxley.
The new Queensland Police Memorial in the City Botanic Gardens was delivered by Urban Arts Projects, with the final design incorporating various symbolic aspects, including five individual archways and 10 pillars representing the 10 ranks within the Queensland Police Service.
The archways reflect the memorial ribbon that officers wear on each National Police Remembrance Day, and the pathway that connects the archways emphasises that ‘no officer or affected family will stand alone’.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the relocation and dedication of the memorial had been a collaborative effort.
"This memorial – here in the heart of our State’s capital – will serve as an important historical monument and symbol to the people of Queensland for many years to come," Minister Ryan said.
"I want to thank Commissioner Stewart, the Queensland Police Union, the Queensland Police Commissioned Officers’ Union, and all the members of the steering committee of the QPS Memorial Relocation Project who have worked so hard to bring the development of this memorial to fruition."
The granite and naming ‘touch stones’ reflect the Sillitoe Tartan – a familiar chequered pattern used by Police around the world – and they are scattered randomly throughout the memorial to highlight that no matter what rank, years of service or where they served, each officer’s sacrifice is equally significant to protecting the community of Queensland.
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the memorial would be a solemn site for all who recognised the contribution of the Queensland Police Service.
"Since our first officer was killed on duty in 1861, there are now 147 officers whose name appears on the pillars of this police memorial," Commissioner Stewart said.
"Our community is made safer every day by the men and women of the Queensland Police Service and it is only fitting to honour and acknowledge those who made the ultimate sacrifice in this way."
The memorial was funded through the Queensland Police Service’s own budget, with donations from the Queensland Police Union, Queensland Police Commissioned Officers Union and the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and Commonwealth Games.
