Brendan Michael McGee
Detective, Lion and police unionist
Born: January 15, 1946
Died: March 2, 2003

A policeman of the old school with a truly no-nonsense approach, Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan McGee loved his job. And, of those who worked with him, the strong-willed detective expected tireless effort and the highest standards.

Thorough in his own work, he always believed that those not prepared to commit themselves fully to a job should never undertake it.

McGee died at the age of 57 last month, after a two-year battle with cancer. He had given 37 years of his life to law enforcement.

Elizabeth victim contact officer, Dawn Zschorn, said anything in which McGee took part “had to be done properly”. “There wasn’t anything he would miss or not do, and he was very up on policies,” she said. “There wasn’t anything he didn’t know.

“His commitment and dedication to his area was massive. His loyalty and the way that he worked were unsurpassable.”

McGee, a former Blackfriars Priory School student, had joined the police force as a 20-year-old in 1966. After a short stint in the city, he spent most of his early years as a policeman in country posts. They included Oodnadatta, Marree and Port Augusta, where he met his then future wife, Helen, in 1968.

In 1973, he returned to metropolitan Adelaide, where he worked at Para Hills and Elizabeth CIB. But, in 1978, McGee committed himself to six more years’ country service, this time in Renmark CIB and Whyalla.

He returned to Adelaide in the mid-1980s and rejoined Elizabeth CIB in February 1985. From that time, McGee made no further moves but climbed steadily up the ranks. In 1996, he became senior sergeant to Elizabeth CIB.

Although he expected much of those in his workplace, McGee at the same time practised great compassion and humour. Officers under his command say he had a true open-door policy, would willingly discuss any issue of concern with them and respected their confidence.

Elizabeth LSA boss, Superintendent Peter Woite, said that, of McGee, he most remembered his “jovial self”. “He could often make a very serious situation – that had quite a bit of stress involved – settle down by appropriate use of humour that made everyone calm down,” he said. “That was a wonderful talent that he had.”

McGee’s deep concern for his colleagues’ welfare led him to vigorous involvement in the Police Association of South Australia. A member of the association throughout his career, he joined its committee of management in January 1986.

He later served terms as vice-president (Jan 1987 – Nov 1988) and president (Dec 1988 – Dec 1990). McGee’s successor and current association president, Peter Alexander, speaks of a man of strong character at the committee table.

“He was part of the 1991 pay campaign when we marched down King William St to Parliament House and won enormous public support,” he said. “He was the immediate past president and very supportive of that important campaign.”

Also as an association official, McGee sat on a government committee of review in the late 1980s. Its members included then commissioner, David Hunt, and then director of social welfare for the government, Ian Cocks.

The spark for the formation of the committee had come from a motion passed at an association delegates’ conference. Under examination were police work practices that had not kept pace with the then contemporary workforce.

“They included, for example, police who were married to other police officers being unable to get shift arrangements,” said Peter Alexander. “The review delivered outcomes, and Brendan did an excellent job on that.”

Strongly community-minded, McGee had joined the Lions organization in 1980 during his police service in Whyalla. As a member of the Gawler Lions Club after his return to Adelaide, he continued to work tirelessly for the needy up to the time of his illness.

During a term as club president, he organized a fashion show at the Gawler Institute. The event raised $7,500 for the Anti-Cancer Foundation. McGee also took part in the Lions Drug Awareness and Youth Outreach programme. Dedicated to the concept, he made frequent visits to schools to speak to children about the dangers of drug abuse.

Although totally committed to police work and the Lions, McGee’s greatest love was his family. He and his wife had raised a son and daughter and recently become grandparents to Grace, on whom McGee endlessly doted.

McGee’s recent illness was his second encounter with cancer. He had survived an earlier bout of the disease 10 years ago.

“He handled his illness with great dignity,” said Peter Alexander, who went to Blackfriars with McGee. “He put his family first and faced a very challenging time with great courage.”

Several hundred of McGee’s colleagues and friends filled Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Gawler, to bid him a final farewell on March 7. Among the mourners were SA and interstate police union officials, Lions representatives and Deputy Commissioner John White.

McGee is survived by his wife Helen, children Damian and Tricia, and grand-daughter Grace.

- Brett Williams