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When Ida joined the NSWP in 1961 she was older than her peers but brought with her the experience of working in the private sector. Ida's early years of policing were in the traditional field of looking after the wellbeing of women and children. In 1973 she joined a number of women and undertook the Detective's Training Course, which she completed with distinction. Ida's work in criminal investigation at Central Police Station spanned 1974 - 1981 after which she moved to Waverley Police Station and then Kogarah where she was the detective sergeant in charge of Rockdale Police Station. In 1978 Ida was awarded the W.D. & H.O. Wills Trophy for the most outstanding female police officer. Ida's background as an accountant served her well, as her later interest and roles involved working on the development of systems, including the Crime Information and Intelligence System and Licensing System. These skills fitted perfectly with Ida's final role as Commander, Telephone Intercept Branch ( 1988 - 1992 ). Ida retired from the NSWP in 1992 at the rank of Chief Inspector after 31 years service. Ida was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 1989.
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Ida Courtney LUKE

Cal@AustralianPolice.com.au 2243 Views
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Ida Courtney LUKE   APM   

 

AKA Ida LUKE   

* Nickname:  ?  

Late of Chatswood, NSW  

 

Relations in ‘the job’   ?  

 

“possible” relation in ‘the job‘:    ?   

 

 

NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern  –  Class #  087A     

 

New South Wales Police Force    

 

Regd. #   P/W 0049  

 

 

Rank:  Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 29 May 1961  ( aged   28 years,   6  months,   14  days )    

Probationary Constable – appointed   Monday 3 July 1961  ( aged   28  years,   7  months,   18  days )    

Constable – appointed   ? ? ?  

Constable 1st Class – appointed   ? ? ?  

Detective – appointed   ? ? 1973  ( YES )  

Senior Constable – appointed   ? ? ?    

Leading Senior Constable – appointed   ? ? ?  ( N/A )  

1st mentioned in the 1977 ‘Stud Book’ as women were not considered, at the time, to be included in the male ‘Stud Book’.  They allegedly had their own ‘Seniority list’.  

If placed in the male ‘Stud Book’, Ida would have fallen between Registered #s 10033 ( Trevor NEILL ) & 10034 ( R. JEWELL ).  

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 June 1976   –  Seniority date = 30 October 1977      

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 31 July 1984  –  Seniority date = 6 July 1984    

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed   ? ? ?   

Inspector – appointed   ? ? ?   

Chief Inspector – appointed 27 August 1986   ( went from Sgt 2/c – C/Insp in 2 years )    

 

Final Rank: = Chief Inspector    

 

Stations:    ?, Women Police Office, Detectives Training Course ( 1973 ( passed with Distinction ), Central Police Station ( 1 Division )( Detectives )( 1974 – 1981 ), Waverley ( 10 Division ), Kogarah ( 12 Division ), Rockdale ( 12 Division )( Det Sgt In Charge ), State Intelligence – Telephone Intercept Branch ( 1988 – 1992 )( Commander ), Retirement     

 

 

Service ( From Training Date ) period: From  29 May 1 961   to   10 July 1 992 =   31  years,   1 months,    11  days Service    

Time employed ( Paid ) with NSW Police:  From  29 May 961   to   10 July 1992 =   31  years,   1 months,    11  days Service    

 

 Time in Retirement from Police:     33  years,   0  months,   20  days    

Age at Retirement / Leaving: =    59  years,   7  months,   25  days    

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 11 December 1980 ( Det Sgt )  

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 8 June 1988 ( Det C/Insp )  

Australian Police Medal – granted 26 January 1989  ( C/Insp )

 

When Ida joined the NSWP in 1961 she was older than her peers but brought with her the experience of working in the private sector. Ida's early years of policing were in the traditional field of looking after the wellbeing of women and children. In 1973 she joined a number of women and undertook the Detective's Training Course, which she completed with distinction. Ida's work in criminal investigation at Central Police Station spanned 1974 - 1981 after which she moved to Waverley Police Station and then Kogarah where she was the detective sergeant in charge of Rockdale Police Station. In 1978 Ida was awarded the W.D. & H.O. Wills Trophy for the most outstanding female police officer. Ida's background as an accountant served her well, as her later interest and roles involved working on the development of systems, including the Crime Information and Intelligence System and Licensing System. These skills fitted perfectly with Ida's final role as Commander, Telephone Intercept Branch ( 1988 - 1992 ). Ida retired from the NSWP in 1992 at the rank of Chief Inspector after 31 years service. Ida was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 1989.

 

 Born: Tuesday 15 November 1932   

Died on:  Wednesday 30 July 2025   

Age:  92   years,   8  months,   15  days  

 

Organ Donor:  No – Age restrictive    

 

 

Cause:   Age  

Event location:     ?  

Event / Diagnosis date:    ?  

 

 

Funeral date:  Wednesday 13th August, 2025 @ 10.15AM  

Funeral location:  Rose Chapel at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, cnr Delhi and Plassey Rds, North Ryde, NSW    

 

LIVE STREAM      ?  TBA  

 

 

Wake location:   ?

Wake date:    ???

 

Funeral Parlour:  White Lady Funerals, 962 Pacific Hwy, Roseville, NSW 

 

Buried at:     ?  

 

Grave Location:  Section:          Row:  ?         Plot:  ? 

Grave GPS:  ?,         ?  

 

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at:    ?  

 

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( August 2025 )    

 

 

IDA is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED    

 

 

 

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

 

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSWFallenPolice/ 

Australian Police YouTube Channel

 

Class 087A of 1961 Left to right - back row - Mike Stephens, Rod Fulham, Paul McGowan, John Imeson, Merv Braithwaite, Kevin Mongton, Barry Luckie, Brian Rowley, John Baker, Brian Borthwick, Barry Cooper, John Hayes, Tony Madigan, Bruce Spencer, Barry Lawson, Bernie Lee, Roy Fry (partly obscured by Ian Robb standing at end of middle row), Roy Leadbeater (Instructor).Middle row - Ross Goodwin, Brian McIlvenna, Leo Gately, Gordon Doyle, Harvey Juergens, Wally Lark, Helen Clark ( later Magnus ), Ida Luke, Fred Sewell, Ron Blake, Terry Lester, Tom Powick, Ian Robb (standing). Front row - Trevor Neill, Les Wyatt, Bob Drooger, Warren Taylor, Brian Johnson, Brian Warwick, Les Miller, Bill Dent, Clem Long, Lloyd Taylor, Len DeAudney, Col Bell.
Mike Stephens
Visual Storyteller · March 31, 2019
Posting two group photos taken 40 years apart of the same members. My Class 87A from 29 May, 1961 and our 1st reunion 40 years later 2001 at the Swansea RSL Club Lake Macquarie. 
Our class was the first to pass the 9999 registered No’s into the 10,000s.

When Ida joined the NSWP in 1961 she was older than her peers but brought with her the experience of working in the private sector. Ida's early years of policing were in the traditional field of looking after the wellbeing of women and children. In 1973 she joined a number of women and undertook the Detective's Training Course, which she completed with distinction. Ida's work in criminal investigation at Central Police Station spanned 1974 - 1981 after which she moved to Waverley Police Station and then Kogarah where she was the detective sergeant in charge of Rockdale Police Station.<br />In 1978 Ida was awarded the W.D. &amp; H.O. Wills Trophy for the most outstanding female police officer.<br /> Ida's background as an accountant served her well, as her later interest and roles involved working on the development of systems, including the Crime Information and Intelligence System and Licensing System. These skills fitted perfectly with Ida's final role as Commander, Telephone Intercept Branch ( 1988 - 1992 ). Ida retired from the NSWP in 1992 at the rank of Chief Inspector after 31 years service.<br /> Ida was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 1989.
When Ida joined the NSWP in 1961 she was older than her peers but brought with her the experience of working in the private sector. Ida’s early years of policing were in the traditional field of looking after the wellbeing of women and children. In 1973 she joined a number of women and undertook the Detective’s Training Course, which she completed with distinction. Ida’s work in criminal investigation at Central Police Station spanned 1974 – 1981 after which she moved to Waverley Police Station and then Kogarah where she was the detective sergeant in charge of Rockdale Police Station.
In 1978 Ida was awarded the W.D. & H.O. Wills Trophy for the most outstanding female police officer.
Ida’s background as an accountant served her well, as her later interest and roles involved working on the development of systems, including the Crime Information and Intelligence System and Licensing System. These skills fitted perfectly with Ida’s final role as Commander, Telephone Intercept Branch ( 1988 – 1992 ). Ida retired from the NSWP in 1992 at the rank of Chief Inspector after 31 years service.
Ida was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 1989.

 

When Ida joined the NSWP in 1961 she was older than her peers but brought with her the experience of working in the private sector. Ida's early years of policing were in the traditional field of looking after the wellbeing of women and children. In 1973 she joined a number of women and undertook the Detective's Training Course, which she completed with distinction. Ida's work in criminal investigation at Central Police Station spanned 1974 - 1981 after which she moved to Waverley Police Station and then Kogarah where she was the detective sergeant in charge of Rockdale Police Station. In 1978 Ida was awarded the W.D. & H.O. Wills Trophy for the most outstanding female police officer. Ida's background as an accountant served her well, as her later interest and roles involved working on the development of systems, including the Crime Information and Intelligence System and Licensing System. These skills fitted perfectly with Ida's final role as Commander, Telephone Intercept Branch ( 1988 - 1992 ). Ida retired from the NSWP in 1992 at the rank of Chief Inspector after 31 years service. Ida was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 1989.

 

Class 087A - 02 of 1961 Our class was the first to pass the 9999 registered No's into the 10,000s. <P>The reunion photo identified as follows: Left to right - back row - <P>Mike Stephens, Rod Fulham, Paul McGowan, John Imeson, Merv Braithwaite, Kevin Mongton, Barry Luckie, Brian Rowley, John Baker, Brian Borthwick, Barry Cooper, John Hayes, Tony Madigan, Bruce Spencer, Barry Lawson, Bernie Lee, Roy Fry (partly obscured by Ian Robb standing at end of middle row), Roy Leabeater (Instructor). <P>Middle row - Ross Goodwin, Brian McIlvenna, Leo Gately, Gordon Doyle, Harvey Juergens, Wally Lark, Helen Clark (later Magnus), Ida Luke, Fred Sewell, Ron Blake, Terry Lester, Tom Powick, Ian Robb (standing). <P>Front row - Trevor Neill, Les Wyatt, Bob Drooger, Warren Taylor, Brian Johnson, Brian Warwick, Les Miller, Bill Dent, Clem Long, Lloyd Taylor, Len DeAudney, Col Bell. We held a 45 year reunion at the same venue 2006. If anyone interested I can post a group photo - let me know.     The reunion photo identified as follows ( 2001 ):
Left to right – back row

Mike Stephens, Rod Fulham, Paul McGowan, John Imeson, Merv Braithwaite, Kevin Mongton, Barry Luckie, Brian Rowley, John Baker, Brian Borthwick, Barry Cooper, John Hayes, Tony Madigan, Bruce Spencer, Barry Lawson, Bernie Lee, Roy Fry (partly obscured by Ian Robb standing at end of middle row), Roy Leadbeater (Instructor).

Middle row –
Ross Goodwin, Brian McIlvenna, Leo Gately, Gordon Doyle, Harvey Juergens, Wally Lark, Helen Clark ( later Magnus ), Ida Luke, Fred Sewell, Ron Blake, Terry Lester, Tom Powick, Ian Robb (standing).

Front row –
Trevor Neill, Les Wyatt, Bob Drooger, Warren Taylor, Brian Johnson, Brian Warwick, Les Miller, Bill Dent, Clem Long, Lloyd Taylor, Len DeAudney, Col Bell.
We held a 45 year reunion at the same venue 2006. If anyone interested I can post a group photo – let me know.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1501013186882198/permalink/2260065610976948/

 

 

* Story behind any Nickname:    

 

 

Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.

**********

 

Cal
2 August 2025 

 

 

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