Queensland Police Archives - Paddington Today

Brisbane Broncos Facility Hit By Fire As Stolen Car Burns Near Training Base

A stolen car caught fire in the car park beside the Brisbane Broncos’ Clive Berghofer Centre in Red Hill, prompting a rapid response from emergency crews.

Emergency Response Near Major Facility

The incident involved a vehicle alleged to have been stolen that was later found burning close to the club’s 27 million dollar headquarters. Police and fire crews arrived to put out the flames, and officers began investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Emergency services reached the scene soon after the blaze was reported. Police took control of the scene once the fire was out and began checking early evidence as part of their investigation. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Staff Vehicle Damaged In Heat

The burning vehicle caused heat damage to a staff member’s car parked nearby. Media reports confirmed that the staff vehicle was affected as a result of the blaze.

The training buildings and fields were not harmed. The club is expected to review parking and access points around the facility as a routine security measure.

Training Centre Not Affected

Reports stated that the main facility did not suffer structural damage. The club noted no impact to the centre or training grounds. Regular team activities are expected to continue without interruption.

Community And Safety Considerations

The fire drew interest within the local area due to the training centre’s position in a busy part of Red Hill. The incident prompted attention to general safety around the precinct.

Police are investigating the matter and will examine available surveillance and witness reports to gather more information about the stolen car and how it was brought to the site.

Published 21-November-2025

QPS Marks 60 Years of Sworn Female Officers Since Petrie Terrace Induction

Photo Credit: Queensland Police

The Queensland Police Service is celebrating sixty years since its first sworn female officers began their journey at Brisbane’s historic Petrie Terrace Depot, marking decades of progress for women in policing.

Milestone Marked

This significant anniversary traces back to 1965 March 31, when eight women were officially inducted as sworn officers at the Petrie Terrace Depot. This event was a major step forward for the Queensland Police Service (QPS), then known as the Queensland Police Force. The Service is now honouring this 60-year history of female officers holding police powers.

Early Steps and Hurdles

The path to having sworn female officers began much earlier. Following a campaign by Irene Longman, the first woman elected to Queensland’s Parliament, Zara Dare and Eileen O’Donnell joined the force in March 1931. However, these pioneers were not sworn officers, meaning they had no power to arrest. They wore plain clothes instead of uniforms, were paid only half as much as male officers, and could not join the superannuation fund.

Despite these unequal conditions, their value was recognised, and the Women in Police Section was formed by 1941, growing to nine members by 1945. In 1955, unsworn policewomen were permitted to join the Police Union, which later, in 1958, asked for a review to better align the roles and powers of female officers with their male colleagues.

A Pioneer’s Experience

Judith deBoer (nee Barrett) was one of the eight women sworn in during the 1965 ceremony. Then 22, she applied after reading a newspaper article about the Commissioner seeking women to work with young people. Her father encouraged her, citing her experience running a church youth group. Ms deBoer recalled her amazement at being accepted, stating she hadn’t realised there were any policewomen in Queensland before then.

Now 83, Ms deBoer spoke positively about her time in the QPS, particularly the support and mentoring she received from male officers. She mentioned learning the value of laughter for coping with difficult situations. However, her time in the Service was short as she left in December 1966 to get married.

At that time, a rule known as the “marriage bar,” which lasted until 1971, forced female public servants to resign when they wed and prevented married women from joining. Ms deBoer admired today’s female officers and the opportunities available to them. She believes her QPS experience helped prepare her for later work, including roles with the United Nations in Afghanistan, East Timor, and Kosovo, and she received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2023.

Path to Equality and Leadership

Progress continued after the first sworn officers joined. The first uniformed female officers appeared just months later, in June 1965. Equal pay for male and female officers was achieved in September 1970; previously, women like Ms deBoer earned 75 per cent of the male rate. The number of sworn women grew steadily, reaching 308 by 1976.

Women increasingly moved into leadership roles. The first five female Inspectors were appointed in 1990, the same year the organisation officially became the Queensland Police Service. The first female Superintendent and Chief Superintendent followed in 1992.

Kathy Rynders became the first female Assistant Commissioner in 2000 and the first female Deputy Commissioner in 2008. In July 2019, Katarina Carroll became the first woman appointed as QPS Commissioner. Today, women hold over 35 per cent of the executive leadership positions within the Service.

Reflections on Modern Policing

Assistant Commissioner Katherine Innes, who heads the Domestic and Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command, has witnessed many changes over her career of more than 30 years. She stated that barriers for women are certainly fewer now, with women serving at every rank and performing every job within the QPS. In previous roles, she led the development of Queensland Police’s first strategies addressing sexual violence and cybercrime.

Assistant Commissioner Innes acknowledged society’s progress over 60 years but recognised that work still needs to be done regarding respect within the community. She expressed pride in representing women in the QPS and leading efforts for improvement.

According to Assistant Commissioner Innes, good policing is not about gender but about the different skills diverse individuals bring, including care and empathy, to achieve the best results for the community. She emphasised that the strength of today’s QPS comes from teamwork involving people from all backgrounds – different genders, cultures, and life experiences – working together.

Published Date 11-April-2025

Brisbane Home Invasion: Woman and Elderly Mother Attacked in Red Hill

Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

A woman and her elderly mother were allegedly attacked with a brick by an intruder at their Red Hill home. The attack left both of them injured in what police describe as a violent home invasion.

Victims Assaulted in Their Own Home

A home invasion in Red Hill turned violent. A 51-year-old man allegedly attacked a woman, 48, and her elderly mother, 83, with a brick after they arrived home and disturbed him. The incident occurred on 13 February at approximately 11:15 a.m.

The alleged intruder had already broken into the house. He was rummaging through their belongings when the victims returned. The women, who had only been away for a short period, were reportedly set upon with a brick. He left them with severe injuries, including facial wounds and bruises.

Victims Assaulted in Their Own Home — *Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook*

A Harrowing Encounter

The 48-year-old woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, described the attack as a terrifying experience that left her fearing for her life. Unlike a previous break-in she experienced two decades ago, she found this incident particularly distressing due to the direct physical violence involved.

She recalled the moment of the attack. The woman explained that she believed she would not survive as she was assaulted on the pavement. The level of violence and unpredictability of the intruder heightened her fear for her safety.

Impact on the Family

The attack has had a lasting impact on the family. It left them feeling anxious and unsettled in their own home. The woman explained that she and her family have been on edge since the incident. They became highly sensitive to noise and movement.

The distress was particularly evident when the victims’ daughter visited the hospital. She saw her grandmother with visible injuries, including facial lacerations. The family has found it challenging to regain a sense of normalcy.

Red Hill home invasion — *Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook*

Police Investigation and Arrest

Queensland Police launched an investigation following the incident. It led them to a residence in Slacks Creek, Logan. A 51-year-old man from Crestmead was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple offences, including:

Two counts of armed robbery
One count of entering a dwelling with intent to break
One count of serious assault on a person over 60
One count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed

The accused has been remanded in custody. He will appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 17 March.

Support and Recovery

Following the attack, the victims sought assistance from Voice for Victims. It is an advocacy group that provided guidance and support through Victims Assist. The aftermath of the incident has been emotionally and physically draining. Still, the family continues to seek justice and recovery.

Published 5-Mar-2025