50 Year Reunion – Class 98a
Class 98a of 24th February, 1964
Submitted by Phil Budge, a Member of Class 98a.
On Monday 24th February 1964, seventy eight young men and one young woman aged from 19 to 29 years, commenced training to be Police Officers at the NSW Police Barracks, Bourke Street, Redfern. Included in this class were also 11 cadets.
After the initial 6 weeks training, all trainees were sworn in as Probationary Constables and attached to Divisions within the City of Sydney for one year.
On Monday 24th February 2014, a reunion was held at City Tattersalls Club, Pitt Street, Sydney to mark the 50th year since commencement in the NSW Police Force.
It was a great opportunity for reflection, a time to tell some stories and to catch up with people we have not seen for many years as our last reunion was at the 30 year anniversary.
We would like to thank Police Bank who were kind enough to provide special shirts to commemorate this important milestone.
My association with Police Bank, like many others of class 98A, goes back a long time. It was mid 1964 whilst I was attached to Clarence Street Police Station that a meeting was called to discuss starting a ‘fund’ whereby paid up members could borrow small amounts of money to assist them in special circumstances. I remember the meeting was in the traffic room at Clarence Street and Arthur Sharp was one of the organisers. It cost those who were willing to join five pounds. I joined and at that stage being a 19 year old from the bush with little or no money, I had to pay the five pounds off in instalments. Hence my low two digit Member number that I now still retain today with Police Bank!
The ‘fund’ was initially confined to serving Police from Clarence Street, but was later extended to other stations. As we know, it later became the Police Credit Union and now Police Bank.
I don’t think any of us ever thought the ‘fund’ would end up the large and successful bank it has become. Full credit has to be given to those who organised and set up the parameters back in 1964.
Pictured left to right: Back row – Ted Perry, Howard Wright, Kevin Rafferty, Ted Smith, Harry Hanlen, Bruce Dunn, John Gibbons, Ken Barklem and Maurie Joseph. Front row – Arthur Kelly, Tony Wright, Brien Gately, Barry Scott, Fred Brame, Phil Budge and Mike Hagan.
