Harold Alfred R. MORFOOT
Harold Alfred R. MORFOOT
( late of Glenmore Park, NSW )
AKA Flaps Morfoot, Harold MORFOOT
New South Wales Police Force
NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # 060
Regd. # 9111
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Sunday 3 August 1958 ( aged 21 years, 7 months, 26 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed 8 September 1958 ( aged 21 years, 9 months, 0 days )
Constable 1/c – appointed 8 September 1964
Senior Constable – appointed 8 September 1968
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 September 1974
Senior Sergeant – retirement
Secondary Training: Commenced Monday 6 April 1959. Finished Friday 15 May 1959
Stations: ?, Traffic with the Triumph Tiger Sidecar Outfits in the 1960’s – Blacktown, Auburn ( around 1979 / 1981 ), Parramatta ( 18 Division )- retirement
Service: From Sunday 3 August 1958 to 13 April 1989 = 30 years, 8 months, 10 days Service
Age at Retirement: 52 years, 4 months, 5 days
Time in Retirement: 26 years, 5 months, 22 days
Awards: National Medal – granted 3 September 1985 ( Sgt 2/c )
1st Clasp to Nation Medal – granted 3 September 1985 ( Sgt 2/c )
Anniversary of National Service 1951 – 1972 Medal – granted 18 January 2002 ( Bombardi )
National Police Service Medal – posthumously awarded to his wife at Harold’s funeral – but Awarded on 23 June 2015 ( Sgt 2/c )
Born: Tuesday 8 December 1936
Died on: Monday 5 October 2015 about 4.30pm at home
Cause: ?
Age: 78 years, 9 months, 27 days
Nominal Roll of NASHOS:
Service: Army
Service #: 2.747613
Rank: Gunner
Date of Intake: 18 August 1955
NS Training: 12 NST Battalion
Follow up Training: 17th LAA & 32nd Heavy Regiment
Basic Training: Holsworthy, NSW
Medals: ADM ANSM
Funeral date: Thursday 15 October 2015 @ 2pm
Funeral, scheduled for the 13 October, is altered. New time / date is:
Thursday 15 October 2015 @ 2pm
Funeral location: North Chapel, Pinegrove Memorial Park, Kington Street, MINCHINBURY
Buried at: Pinegrove Memorial Park
Cheers Guys,
Morf.
Memorial: a park bench seat. The seat is adjacent to the Victoria Park Memorial and inscribed with a plaque in
recognition of Harry and Tom. ( see article below )
HAROLD is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
Funeral location: [codepeople-post-map]
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MAN, HIS SERVICE, LIFE AND DEATH ARE WELCOME.
Harry Morfoot: An enduring legacy
The work of a 40-year veteran police officer and national serviceman has been recognised with the
unveiling of a distinctive tribute in western Sydney.
Harry Morfoot was a member of NSW Police Force from 1959 to 1989, attaining the rank of Senior Sergeant.
But Mr Morfoot’s life of service didn’t end there.
In retirement, he set about forming the Penrith City Sub-Branch of the Australian National Servicemen’s Association, assisted military veterans and was also a tireless worker for charity.
In 2015, he received the Seniors Week Local Achievement Award for the Mulgoa Electorate. Presenting the award, Ms Tania Davies MP, Member for Mulgoa said, “Harry dedicated a large portion of his time to serving, supporting, and caring for the welfare of community members who served our nation and their families”.
“I feel very humbled and grateful for the special recognition”, Mr Morfoot said at the presentation of the Seniors Week award.
Sadly, Harry Morfoot passed away later in 2015 at age 78, but that’s still not the end of the story. Earlier this year, Harry was commemorated by Penrith City Council with a special tribute – a bench seat in Victoria Park, St Marys.
Graham Larkham ( NSWPF # 13428 ) is a retired Sergeant and was a friend and colleague of Harry and a fellow National Serviceman (Nasho).
He takes up the story:
A FITTING TRIBUTE
On 23 May 2021, the Penrith Australian National Servicemen’s Association held its 15th Anniversary Memorial and Tribute Laying Ceremony in Victoria Park, St Marys.
The ceremony was attended by Federal and State Members of Parliament, dignitaries from returned services organisations, the Nepean PAC, and members of the public.
During the Memorial, the Mayor of Penrith City, Karen McKeown OAM, unveiled a tribute to former Senior Sergeant Harry Morfoot and sub-branch co-founder, Mr Tom Kelly, in the form of a park bench seat. The seat is adjacent to the Victoria Park Memorial and inscribed with a plaque in
recognition of Harry and Tom.
A lot of young men including Harold Alfred Morfoot were conscripted into National Service. In August 1955 Harry started his National Servicemen’s duties at 12NST Battalion. After initial training, he continued training with the Royal Australian Artillery.
After retiring from a 40 year career with NSW Police, he formed the Penrith Sub-Branch, (Penrith City Australian National Servicemen’s Association Inc.) in 2002 and maintained membership up until his passing in 2015.
Harry was of a generation that rolled their own cigarettes. His habit of flapping his elbows whilst simultaneously rolling a cigarette and talking, earned him the nickname ‘Flaps Morfoot’.
Upon his passing in October 2015, a joint National Servicemen’s Association – NSW Police Funeral was held, and tributes flowed from Federal and State Members of Parliament.
The Penrith Australian National Servicemen’s Association carries on the legacy of Harry Morfoot’s work. Our 2022 parade will be held on 22 May. All National Servicemen are welcome.
On Police memorial sites
The bench seat remembering Harry Morfoot is the latest public tribute to those who served the people of NSW.
The locations of some memorials are well known.
For example, Glen McEnallay Reserve near Mascot, and the Jim Affleck Bridge near Campbelltown mark the locations where these NSW Police Officers made the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of the community.
Other public tributes may not be as widely known. Sometimes, the Police Association is contacted about a local memorial. When this happens, it is usually because the memorial has fallen into disrepair or requires vegetation control. We are aware of several Facebook pages with devoted administrators keeping track of grave sites and memorials. In the lead up to Police Remembrance Day on 29 September 2021, we’re keen to profile some of these and also invite current serving members and associate members to send us photos of memorials in your area to policenews@pansw.org.au Please include information about who the memorial is dedicated to, key dates on the memorial and its exact location.
Class 60 Intake. Commenced training on 3 August 1958. Commenced Secondary training 6 April 1959. Completed 15 May 1959. Photo taken April 1959
Back Row ( L-R )
F. STEWART, P. JONAS, Harry MORFOOT, A. HOLLAND, R. BROWNE, Thomas Gordon CUTHBERT, K. HUNTER, A. PETRIE, K. MURPHY, A. DAWSON, R. MANSFIELD, B. NEAVES, B. RASSMUSSEN, Arthur Edward GROCH
3rd ROW:
B. MARTIN, M. TUMETH, B. JARRATT, P. SLETTEN, D. SMITH, M. McDONALD, G. IVANOFF, J. ELSWORTHY, C. SWALES, V. RIDDOCH, J. CHAPMAN, J. McDONALD, Roy James SECKOLD, B. MILWARD
2nd ROW:
E. WHITE, S. ELVINS, D. MacDONALD, R. HILL, W. CULLEN, R. SMITH, F. DELAMARE, W. PEARCE, N. HUNTER, Warren SKINNER, S. MERTON, C. TREMBATH
1st ROW:
Sgt HALL, A. MILLBANK, B. LYONS, V. DAVIS, B. SHOOBERT, J. JENSON, N. HOBART ( P/W ), Sgt BARKER, Sgt STIGOR, Sgt Ernie PORCH, J HARRISON ( P/W ), G. YOUNG, B. PETERSON, E. HOPTON, R. GIBSON
Absent: B.H. OAKLEY # 9104
It was noticed, on 11 Feb 2025, that Alfred John EDWARDS # 9112 is not in this photo for some reason. He also did not appear in the Class list for Class 060.
Harry Morfoot, past President of the Penrith City Nashos National Servicemen’s Association.
Harry, a National Service veteran was 78.
Harry had been President of the Penrith City Nashos for more than a decade, when he resigned earlier this year due to poor health. He will always be remembered for his role in developing the Nashos in the Penrith area.
In 2002 Harry and Tom Kelly were members of the Blue Mountains Nasho Sub-Branch, when they thought it was time to form a branch in Penrith. From humble beginnings, the Penrith City Nashos today has around 150 members.
Harry was a tireless worker for charity and through the Nashos he was one of the figures who spearheaded fundraising drives for bodies including the Cancer Council, Salvation Army, the burns and cancer units at Concord Hospital, St John Ambulance, Defence Care and Legacy.
My sympathies go to Harry’s wife Dorothy, children and grandchildren.
Your cigarette holder has been remembered and the fact that you also stood up for your Constables within the NSW Police Force.
THANK YOU TO POLICE LEGACY, W2W COMMITTEE AND RIDERS. ( Wall to Wall )
I would like to say this to you all as a retired NSW Police Officer and Wall to Wall Rider since 2012.
Like all of us, I participate in the Wall to Wall to honour fallen mates, raise much needed funds for Police Legacy and enjoy the comradery that this important event brings. Since late last year I have have been experiencing the vital work Police Legacy do first hand after the death of my father.
I was a second generation Police Officer, my dear Dad, Retired Snr Sgt Harold Morfoot (Harry or ‘H’ as he was known to his mates) passed away at home late last year at the age of 78. Dad was in the job for 30 years working the City and Western Suburbs. He was also Branch Secretary of the NSW Police Association for many years and strong advocate for Police Legacy, as he, like a lot of us also lost mates in the job. Dad also loved motorcycles and did a tenure in Traffic with the Triumph Tiger Sidecar Outfits in the 1960’s.
Dad was more than a great father, he was a close mate to me and I miss him more than I can ever explain.
As you can imagine, my mother Dorothy, his wife of 60 years was devastated by his passing and has had difficulty adjusting to life without him and we had been extremely concerned for her.
Recently a NSW Police Legacy Package was delivered to Mum. Included in the package was a Welcome letter, booklet on grief management, registration forms for her and the Police Legacy Pin. She has worn her Police Legacy Pin each day since receiving it. Mum was overwhelmed at the offers of assistance that this package has given her, and as a Coppers wife of many years she feels privileged to be as part of the Police Family and looks forward to her association with Legacy. She said wearing the Pin helps manage her grief as she knows Dad’s service was valued.
I have already sent a personal thank you letter to NSW Police Legacy but I wanted to thank the W2W Committee and each and every W2W rider as I can see the help that this package has given to Mum, a dedicated Police Officer’s wife and loving Mum who supported Dad through his 30 years in the job. In particular I would like to thank Miss Karen Murphy, Police Legacy Network Co-ordinator who forwarded the package to Mum, Sen Sgt Paul Bousefield, President and Inspector Ian Colless, Treasurer, both old workmates I have the pleasure of saying and who are instrumental in the organising of the ride as well as their Legacy and Policing Duties. I have always known that Police Legacy performs a very important role and have been impressed no end seeing it first-hand. Thank you again on behalf of my family.
Regards and ride safe.
Glen Morfoot.
Jan 2016
First published on 7 October 2015
Updated on 1 March 2025 with Service and age calculations together with an article from Police Association.
I’m so proud of my Dad Harry and we all miss him terribly. He inspired us to help one another and to remember the values of life. Our mother was the love of his life and the tributes and messages flowers and phonecalls are just beautiful.