John DRYBURGH
John DRYBURGH
AKA ?
* Nickname: ?
Formerly of Berkeley, NSW, Late of Hervey Bay, Qld
Relations in ‘the job’
Darren DRYBURGH, NSWPF # 38855
“possible” relation in ‘the job‘:
Andrew DRYBURGH, NSWPF # 45154 ?
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 086
New South Wales Police Force
Uniform # 3975
Regd. # 9974
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 27 February 1961 ( aged 24 years, 4 months, 2 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Monday 27 March 1961 ( aged 24 years, 5 months, 2 days )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed 27 February 1967
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( No )
Senior Constable – appointed 27 February 1971
Final Rank: = Senior Constable
Stations: South Coast district ( 1969 ), Wollongong ( GDs ), Berkeley ( GDs ), Unanderra ( GDs ), VKG2 – Warilla _ Senior Operations Officer )( S.O.O. ) – Retirement
Service ( From Training Date ) period: From 27 February 1961 to 24 October 1991 = 30 years, 7 months, 27 days Service
Time employed ( Paid ) with NSW Police: From: 27 February 1961 to 24 October 1991 = 30 years, 7 months, 27 days Service
Time in Retirement from Police: 34 years, 11 months, 4 days
Age at Retirement / Leaving: = 54 years, 11 months, 29 days
Awards: National Medal – granted 6 November 1980 ( SenCon )
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 8 June 1988 ( SenCon )

Born: Sunday 25 October 1936 in Balgownie, NSW
Died on: Monday 28 September 2026 @ 2.38am
Age: 89 years, 11 months, 3 days
Organ Donor: No – Age restrictive
Cause: Vascular Dementia
Event location: Harvey Bay, Qld
Event / Diagnosis date: several years prior
Funeral date: ? ? ? TBA ( Private family funeral only )
Funeral location: ?, Harvey Bay, Qld
LIVE STREAM ?
Wake location: ?
Wake date: ???
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Grave Location: Section: Row: ? Plot: ?
Grave GPS: ?, ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( September 2026 )
JOHN 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.
If you have anything further to add to what is recorded here, please get in touch.
PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal
May they forever Rest In Peace
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It is my sad duty to inform you all that around 2.28am today ( Monday 28 September 2026 ) we lost John DRYBURGH to Dementia.
John and Doreen were long time residents of Berkeley before moving to Hervey Bay because of his failing health.
John worked, for many years, at VKG2 ( Warilla ) and was widely respected.
On behalf of all that knew John, and his family,we offer the family all our Love and Respect.
As was Johns’ wishes – there will be No public funeral but a private family funeral, in Hervey Bay, Qld, will be held with a possible ‘get together’ in the Illawarra at a later date.
A story told to me, this morning, by Darren was many years ago, John rode his motorcycle up to Bowral but it was winter.
Doreen, being the family seamstress, made him a pair of Long Johns to wear under his cloths to keep him warm on his ride.
Unfortunately, for John, Doreen wasn’t the seamstress he thought she was because she made the ‘Y’ front far to high for little johnny to poke his head out – and we all know the ‘struggle’ and ‘desperation’ that ensues when little johnny has to pee pee.
I can imagine the stress.
You were a bloody lovely and funny bastard John and I really enjoyed my time working with you at VKG2.
Rest In Peace my friend.
Cal

THURSDAY 10 JULY 2003.
FORMER SGT BARRY YOUNG # 11883? (ALBION PARK), ?, FORMER SENCON JOHN DRYBURGH # 9974 WITH DOREEN DRYBURGH (WIFE)

THURSDAY 10 JULY 2003.
FORMER SENCON JOHN DRYBURGH

LAKE ILLAWARRA RETIRED POLICE DAY.
45 people turned out to Lake Illawarra ( Oak Flats ) Police Station at 10am today for the Retired Police Day.
15 National Police Service Medals were awarded to various Police who live in and / or worked in the Lake Illawarra Area Command.
These awards were presented by the current LA Commander, Zoran Dzevlan # 27320.
John DRYBURGH # 9974 receiving his Medal.
OTHER MURDERS OF THE 1960s
Two women were horribly murdered in New South Wales in early 1966. Wilhelmina
Kruger was murdered at Wollongong on the 29 February, 1966, and on the 26th February, 1966, the body of Annva (aka Annyva) Dowlingkoa, was found in the bush off Old Illawarra Road, Menai.
Dowlingkoa was manually strangled and there were two knife wounds in the body. The genitals were also mutilated. The knife wounds and mutilation were considered to have been inflicted after Dowlingkoa was murdered. Dowlingkoa was also known by the following aliases, Anne Dowling, Elizabeth Anne Dowling, Sherry or Sherrie Willis, Tomlinson, Levy, Sterling, Sperring, Faye McKenzie, Wilson, Campbell, Gorman, Kay Hunter and Sonya or Sonyia Lienchfield.
Wilhelmina Kruger’s near naked body was found in the basement of a building in
Wollongong’s Piccadilly Shopping Centre, where she worked as a cleaner.
Death was caused by manual strangulation and strangulation by a cord.
Wilhelmina Kruger had suffered a number of knife wounds to the face and body as well as fractured bones and internal injuries. The genitals and breasts were also mutilated.
The Government Medical Officer opined that the knife wounds and mutilation were inflicted on Wilhelmina Kruger after she was murdered.
Police were looking for a late 1940 or early 1950 model cream or white utility.
This vehicle could have been a Chevrolet or Holden, which had a shabby appearance with various rust marks. The utility had a plywood canopy with flaking paintwork and was opened at the rear. The bonnet of the vehicle was ill fitting, it had missing hub caps and a noisy engine.
In May, 1966, a Government reward of 10,000 pounds in each case was offered for information leading to the arrests of the murderers of Kruger and Darlingkoa.
Carolyn Orphin, was another 1966 murder victim. A man was arrested by Sydney and
Wollongong Police and charged with Carolyn Orphin’s murder.
The man was arrested by, Detective Inspector Lendrum, Detective Sergeants Fleming, Paul, Boyd and Arantz, Detective Constables Watkins and Shaw, Detective Sergeant Winter, Constable 1st Class McDonald, Constable Rogerson, Constable 1st Class McCann, Detective Constable Welsh, Constables Hobson and Dryburgh, Detective Sergeant Brown, Detective
Constables Bowra and Johnson, Constable Johnston, Detective Constables Parsons,
Hadrick and McNally, Constable Dooley, Policewoman Constable 1st Class Luke, Constable 1st Class Brook, Detective Sergeant Pickett and Detective Constable Bendt.
The man was found guilty sentenced to life for the murder of Carolyn Orphin.
Source: Police Heritage Story, p 198 – 199
* 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
28 September 2026




