Sergeant Kelly Rowlatt shares her proud history as we celebrate a centenary of women on the police force

The occasion will have special significance for Sergeant Kelly Rowlatt. The Mid-North Coast woman is a fourth generation police officer, but its how her family got involved in the force that is most interesting. Her great-grandmother Margaret Lillian Jeffrey was the first married woman to join NSW Police. Her husband had been a serving officer, but he passed away when she was heavily pregnant with their fourth child.

 “That’s why she joined up,” Sergeant Rowlatt said.

Mrs Jeffrey was appointed Special Constable in 1932. She was too old to join the force, but then Commissioner William MacKay accepted her application because she was an officer’s widow with four dependant children. 

She became a Special Constable Second Class in 1943, Special Sergeant Third Class in 1950 and Special Sergeant Second Class six years later. 

During her professional life she worked in different departments including the Criminal Investigation Branch, and she was commended numerous times by the Commissioner. She furthered the causes of women and children during her 25 years of service. Mrs Jeffrey changed life for generations to come with her trailblazing career, which culminated with her rising to be the first officer-in-charge of women police, an appointment she held from 1954 until her retirement two years later. 

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Sydney and we moved up to Port Macquarie when I was about 10 years-old. It was a great place to grow up: I played lots of sport including softball, indoor cricket and hockey. I had a very loving upbringing.

Were you aware of your great-grandmother's legacy when you were growing up?

I was very aware of my history, all of which had an impact on me. My grandfather was the child that never met his father, and my grandfather joined the police too. There was actually a period of six years where my great-grandmother and he served together which was very rare back then. My grandfather's son, my uncle, also joined when he was old enough.

Did you envisage a career in policing from a young age?

Yes, I've always wanted to help people. I think having those foundations through my family probably contributed too.

Have you been posted to places other than the Mid-North Coast?

I was in Sydney for 13 years, Bourke for a while and here we are now on the beautiful Mid-North Coast. My grandfather served in Bourke too, which is where he met my nan. I actually have a cousin who is working in the police station out there now.

Would you encourage your own children to go join the force?

No. I hope they take on their own career roles and embrace different challenges.

What is the hardest thing about your job?

Seeing the tragedies of life.

And the most rewarding?

The people that you work with. I think most people join up because they want to help and its great to see that each day.

What do you think women bring to policing that men cannot?

Women probably bring to policing different degrees of compassion. And to some extent [they bring] different approaches to verbal communication. Women love to talk. Our skills in that way are different.

What do you predict women will achieve in the next century of policing?

I think we will just continue to be recognised as equal counterparts within the organisation. The female pioneers have allowed us to be treated equally. We will continue to forge ahead.