Warren John MATHESON
Warren John MATHESON
Late of Reynella, S.A.
South Australia Police Force
Regd. # ?
Rank: Constable
Stations: Darlington, Glenelg & Christies Beach
Service: From 20 June 1974 to 29 March 1982 = 7 years, 9 months, 9 days Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: Thursday 6 June 1957
Died on: Monday 29 March 1982
Age: 24 years, 9 months, 23 days
Cause: Motor Vehicle Collision – Driver – Urgent Duty
Event location: Tapleys Hill Rd, Glenelg North, South Australia
Funeral date: Thursday 1 April 1982
Funeral location: Mt Gambier, S.A.
Buried at: Carinya Gardens Cemetery, Mt Gambier, South Australia
Section: Water Lily Garden Grave: 14 Row: N
Memorial located at: ?
WARREN is mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
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May they forever Rest In Peace
Police honour their comrades
Community members joined Limestone Coast police at a ceremony at the Mt Gambier Police Station on Thursday for the National Police Remembrance Day.
The presence of riderless horse at a ceremony at the Mt Gambier Police Station on Thursday was a time-honoured way of paying respects to the fallen.
Such gestures have been hallmarks of military and State funerals since the nineteenth century.
Local officers arranged for the riderless horse with boots reversed in its stirrups to be part of the annual religious ceremony to mark National Police Remembrance Day.
The 16-year-old grey horse called “Limelight” was formerly a part of the South Australian Police Mounted Cadre.
In retirement, “Limelight” was brought to Mt Gambier by its former rider Senior Constable Stephanie Cooper.
After nine years with the Mounted Cadre, Senior Constable Cooper is now on general police duties in Mt Gambier.
She rode another horse “Star of Courage” to the ceremony while “Limelight” was led to it by Constable Barb Bushell.
The two horses stood guard while community members and police honoured those who had given their lives in the line of duty.
The wreath layers at the 45 minute ceremony included local resident Maureen Matheson.
She laid a floral tribute in memory of her eldest son, Warren John Matheson, who was killed while on police duty in Adelaide in 1982.
At the time of his death, he was a 24-year-old married father with an infant son and daughter.
He was laid to rest in the Carinya Gardens Cemetery in Mount Gambier.
Mrs Matheson said another young officer from this region was killed in the same motor vehicle collision which claimed the life of her son.
“He was 22-year-old Constable Matthew Payne, of Rendelsham.
“Matthew was not supposed to be on traffic duties with Warren on this day but his regular partner could not make this shift.
“Matthew is buried at Rendelsham.
“I have been coming to these annual ceremonies for several years.
“One has been held at Warren’s grave while another took place at the Rendelsham cemetery.
“In recent years, we have been holding the ceremony here at Mt Gambier,” said Mrs Matheson.
The other wreath layers were representatives of the Limestone Coast Police Local Service Area, SA Police Legacy, Mt Gambier City Council, District Council of Grant, MFS, SA Ambulance Service and the Rotary Club of Mt Gambier West.
A wreath was also placed on Constable Payne’s grave later in the day by Sergeant Richard Murphy, of the SA Police Legacy.
The master of ceremonies in Mt Gambier was Sergeant Andy Stott while the prayers were led by Police Chaplain and Mt Gambier Anglican parish priest, the Reverend Canon Brian Ashworth.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/09/29/3025054.htm
First published 12 April 2017.
Updated 17 September 2025 with date calculations and updated NPM link.
