A Busy Constable Polices Gamblers and Larrikins
George Charles Rayner was born at Moraby, near Yeulba, on 28 October 1876. Before joining the Queensland Police Force he was employed as a stockman. His employer, Mr. Moore at Miles described him as ‘a willing and hard worker, honest and sober’.
Rayner was sworn in as a Constable on the 4 March 1899. He was stationed at Charleville for about 18 months, before being transferred to Bundaberg in January 1901. Three months later Rayner resigned to help his mother and brothers at Moraby Station. On the 6 August 1901 he married Edith Bunt, whose family lived in Chinchilla.
Application For Admission Into The Police Force, submitted by George Rayner on May 6, 1897.
Two days later Rayner applied to be reappointed to the Queensland Police Force, and was accepted and sworn in. He served at Nanango, Stanthorpe, Roma, Harrisville and Esk before being placed in charge of the new Toogoolawah Police Station on the 17 September 1908.
Rayner was stationed at Toogoolawah for almost ten years. During this time four complaints were made to the Commissioner of Police regarding Constable Rayner’s conduct. On one occasion one of the complainants was overheard to say, ‘since he came here Toogoolawah is done, a fellow cannot get a drink on a Sunday and our gambling is about settled’. In defence Rayner said, ‘I have tried to do my duty fearlessly and without favour during my time at Toogoolawah and consequently have made enemies amongst the gambling and larrikin crowd’.
Upon further investigation by police inspectors, especially amongst the leading business people of the township, there were found to be no grounds for complaint. The Inspectors found Rayner to be ‘zealous in the discharge of his duties’, and the residents spoke well of the manner in which the Constable performed his duty.
Pages 1 and 2 detail a complaint of misconduct against Constable Rayner. The matter is investigated and reported, and found to be groundless. Source: QP Museum.
Upon further investigation by police inspectors, especially amongst the leading business people of the township, there were found to be no grounds for complaint. The Inspectors found Rayner to be ‘zealous in the discharge of his duties’, and the residents spoke well of the manner in which the Constable performed his duty.
On the 15 April 1918, Rayner applied for a transfer as one of his four children was about to leave school and the opportunity of pursuing a trade in a larger town. The following month he was sent to Ipswich.
Constable Rayner also served at the Stephens, Roma Street, South Brisbane, Townsville, and Woolloongabba police stations. While at Stephens he was promoted to Acting Sergeant. Rayner became a Sergeant while serving at Roma Street in 1931.
Sergeant Rayner retired from the Queensland Police Force on the 28 October 1936, and died in Brisbane on 15 December 1956, aged 80.
Originally published by Qld Police Museum on Jan 9, 2018 “FROM the VAULT – A Busy Constable Polices Gamblers and Larrikins” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.
This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au