John Alfred Hooley

John Alfred Hooley was a policeman in Redan, <190o-1914>.

History
John Alfred Hooley was born on 19 September 1868.

He joined the Victorian Police Force on 3 November 1893.

Hooley, with Detective Armstrong, arrested two youths who had robbed J. P. Ditchfield's grocery store on the corner of Darling and Drummond Streets, in September 1900.

He was injured while rescuing two children from a fire in Cobden Street (now Bell Street) on 5 April 1902: "A TRIBUTE TO CONSTABLE HOOLEY. To the Editor. Sir,—In the midst of my misfortune, through loss of my house and all by fire on Saturday night last, feel it my bounden duty, with your kind permission, to express through your columns my sincere thanks and appreciation of the brave services rendered by Constable Hooley, of the Redan Police Station, in rescuing two of my dear children, who might have met a frightful death only for his prompt action and bravery. I consider that acts of bravery should be recorded, not only as a means of rendering thanks for their performance, but also for the purpose of keeping before the minds of mankind the object lesson taught, that by presence of mind many a life might have been saved which through want of promptness of action has been lost. I sincerely hope that Constable Hooley may soon recover from the severe burns which he received in his manly work of rescue. Yours, etc. P. DONNELLY. Cobden street, Ballarat South, 7th April, 1902."

In September 1908, Hooley was involved in retrieving the bodies of two men killed in the Band and Loch United Company mine: "The Coroner said that great credit was due to the men who had gone down the shaft to fetch the bodies, and he would certify for their expenses. He also considered that Constable Hooley deserved a word of praise for his promptitude in assisting to get the bodies up. Sub-Inspector Ryan said he would take care that the Coroner’s reference to Constable Hooley should be brought under the notice of the proper authorities."

In June 1909, Hooley was one of several people who attempted to rescue a man from a burning house: "MAN TERRIBLY BURNT. On Saturday night a girl rushed into the Trades Union Hotel, Ballarat South, and addressing the licensee, Mr Christopher Fitzgerald, exclaimed, 'Come quickly. The house over the way is on fire, and there is someone inside.' Fitzgerald found that the front portion of a four-roomed cottage in Sebastopol-street, occupied by Chas. Wilson, a miner, was in flames. He burst in the kitchen door, and was met by a dense volume of smoke, which came down through the ceiling from the two front rooms. He heard moans in the kitchen, and, half-suffocated, he endeavoured to locate the person in distress. Meanwhile, the flames were gaining a strong hold of the cottage, but Fitzgerald nevertheless continued to make a gallant endeavor to ascertain if anyone was inside. He was continually beaten back by the smoke, and Constable McKay next made a dash into the burning building, when he, also, heard moans. He, too, was overcome by the smoke, and Constable Hooley and two civilians, Messrs Halligan and Power, then entered the cottage in the hope of saving human life. The moans were finally traced to the kitchen chimney, where Charles Wilson, the occupier of the house, was found in terrible agony. He was burnt in a shocking manner from head to foot, and on being rescued he collapsed, and became insensible. He was conveyed to the hospital and on Sunday the surgeons reported that there was but little hope of his recovery. It is supposed that Wilson, on going to bed, left a lighted candle on a chair near the bed, and, falling asleep, the candle came into contact with the bed hangings, and thus set fire to the place. He was evidently partially suffocated by smoke, when he sought refuge from the flames in the chimney."