Alexander Riley (tracker)
Alexander Riley (1884-1970) was an Australian Aboriginal tracker from the Dubbo area and the first Aboriginal person to gain the rank of sergeant in the New South Wales Police Force.
Early years
[edit | edit source]Riley was born 26 May 1884 at Nymagee, New South Wales.[1] He was the son of a labourer, John Riley, and his wife Mary, née Calligan.[1]
Career
[edit | edit source]After working as a stationhand, Riley joined the New South Wales Police Force as a tracker on 11 June 1911.[1][2][3][4] He injured his foot in 1912[5] and resigned from the police force on 31 August 1914.[1] Riley was reappointed to the NSW police force on 1 January 1918. He was promoted to sergeant on 5 August 1941.[1] He was the first Aboriginal sergeant in the New South Wales police force.[1]
Some of his most notable cases included the capture of Roy Governor, the youngest brother of bushranger Jimmy Governor, at Mendooran in June 1923.[1] He found a barefoot six-year-old girl who had been lost for twenty-four hours in the mountains near Stuart Town.[1][6] He was also involved in the case of the serial killer “Mad Mossy”.[7]
Riley retired on 13 July 1950[1] but was denied - alongside female employees and other aboriginals - a police pension (due to him being regarded as a "special part-time employee") even though he had been contributing to the pension from his salary.[8]
Family life
[edit | edit source]Riley married Ethel Taylor at Wellington on 14 June 1924.[1][9] They lived at the Talbragar Aboriginal Reserve and together they had eight children.[9]
Riley was a keen footballer and athlete. He coached in athletics at Dubbo for many years.[10]
Riley died on 29 October 1970 at Dubbo.[1]
Awards and memorials
[edit | edit source]- King’s Police & Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service – granted 1 January 1943[11][12]
- Tracker Riley Walkway and Cycle Path along the Macquarie River in Dubbo named in his honour - opened June 1997 by Riley’s grand daughter, Kathy Green, and the Minister for Roads, Carl Scully[9][13]
- Michael Riley, his great-grandson, made a short documentary film, Blacktracker, that was screened by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in September 1997.[9][14]
Further reading
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References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Tracker Riley: Outback Hero - 3 part series on his career by Forgotten Australia podcast
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