April 2000 Volume 81 Number 4 "serving the protectors"
SA Police Chaplains
By David Marr

Knowing but Not Knowing

Have you ever felt something was different when viewed from another angle? This was the experience of Edward John Eyre while making a pioneering “sortie” into the Flinders Ranges in 1840. From Crystal Brook he noticed a significant single peak which he named Mt Remarkable. When viewed from the Willochra Plain the same mountain appeared to him as a wall of rock barring the way. Viewed from another perspective things can appear quite different.

Of course, the same can be said of people. I never knew our former commissioner, John McKinna, before his retirement, but whenever I met up with him I was impressed with his sense of station and personal dignity. Youthful nursing staff caring for him in hospital as he sought to recover from major surgery may have simply observed him to be an aged gentleman, no longer capable of caring for himself. In the eyes of his wartime enemies and peace time opponents, however, he was not someone to be taken lightly or to make assumptions about. It is from the benefit of experience and hindsight we can revisit and recall a much younger man leading his troops in wartime action and later leading his police service with a courage and style advantaging the Australian community.

He was no shrinking violet either. No doubt the business and diverse military experiences brought significant challenge and change into the life of this young man from the manse, assisting the development of his notable leadership skills. These he brought to the office of Deputy Commissioner when appointed to that position in 1956. His strong sense of duty, honesty, service to the crown and community saw him establish himself as one of the nation’s greatest commissioners. His strength and integrity enabled him to lead our police service during an era noted for its strong and influential senior officers.

John McKinna was a man whose exemplary standards and community commitment brought him into dispute with the premier and government of the day. He stood true to that commitment and to the police members who faced the emotive and violent occasions of the moratorium marches during the late ’60s.

Some people spend their lives serving others and have an extraordinary sense of community. John McKinna continued to be involved in those communities that engaged most of his life and contribute positively long after his retirement in 1972.

From time to time we all are faced with decisions that test and challenge us. Life is like that. Whether we stand or fall may depend upon our attitude and the strength of our commitment. Jesus once checked the antagonists of John the Baptist, inferring John was no reed shaken by the wind as according to their perception, but one who was already standing up to be counted. Jesus was suggesting they look again and take another view of John.

There is no doubt perception is an important issue but we need to be flexible enough to take a second view. As never before, policing comes under daily public scrutiny. We can truly learn from John McKinna’s professionalism and skill in imparting good influence and exemplary standards into beneficial action. The public good was always his aspiration. He was certainly no reed shaken by the wind.

Hoping you are the same.

Welfare Section 58	David Marr	8364 3567
	Senior Police Chaplain.
Academy 8	Mark Thomas	8296 9616
Adelaide: Angas Street 158	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide: Hindley Street 62	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Adrian Stephens	8398 2510
	Office:	8398 2517
Berri 212	Vacant
Ceduna 214	Bob Borgas	086 253 503
Christies Beach 20	Vacant
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke	088 423 681
Communications 172	David Hand	8295 6992
Elizabeth 52	Stephen Brooks	041 884 0739
Far North 210	John Folkman	08 8672 5011
Focus 21	Richard Lawton	08 8362 4936
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke	085 222 288
Glenelg 22	Malcolm Thomas	8377 0772
Henley Beach 18	Brenton Daulby	8443 8286
Holden Hill 44	Rod Dyson	8365 1170
Kadina 71	Vacant
Kingston 208
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth (w)	087 231 353
	(h)	087 252 537
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill	085 325 536
Naracoorte 208	Bruce Cliff	8737 2457
		0417 811 702
Norwood 60	Lynton Wade	8362 2227
		0418 831 703
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald	085 621 011
Plympton 14	Ian Dempsey	8210 8108
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake	8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Steve Ardill	8632 3977
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Vacant
Port Lincoln 214	Vacant
Salisbury 53	Vacant
South East	Terry Natt	8571 1114
Sturt 12	Chris Beal	8278 9578
Tea Tree Gully 48	Bob George	8395 9363
Thebarton Barracks 32	Joe Grealy	8338 3225
Transit Division	Wayne Shepherd	8443 4895
Unley 28	Max Bowers	8272 8324
Whyalla 218	John Dunkley	0886 452 500

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