John Alfred Hooley

John Alfred Hooley was a policeman in Redan, <1900-1914.

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."

Hooley was a keen member of the Redan Quoits Club, based at the Redan Club Hotel. The quoits were heavy iron rings thrown, similar to rope quoits. In March 1903 Hooley's daughter's skull was fractured when she was hit by a quoit: "Two accidents, both, of which were caused through the sufferers being struck by iron quoits, came under the notice of the Hospital authorities yesterday and on Saturday. The more serious is that of a young daughter of Constable Hooley, of the Redan police station. The little girl was accidentally struck on the head yesterday afternoon by a little boy who was playing with the quoit, and she sustained a fractured skull. Her condition is causing a good deal of anxiety, and the doctors are considering as to the advisability of performing an operation."

In December 1904 Hooley tool legal action against his neighbour Mrs. Dowling for using abusive language to him in November. She had complained that his children were "hammering" her daughter. She also called him a liar, and threatened to "have his jacket off". She also made complaints that Hooley had called her calf. Her lawyer said that: "'...his client who was a highly respected resident of Redan, and that she had received great provocation through one of the constable's children beating her girl. The defendant, on being sworn, stated that she said that if he (Hooley) did not keep his children from beating hers that she would summons them, and that he answered she was more trouble than all the women in Redan, and that she ought to live on an island by herself. He finished up by calling her a calf. Vera Pobjoy and Veronica Dowling stated that they heard the constable use the words attributed to him by the defendant.'"

Dowling had reported the incident to Constable Serpell at the Redan Police Station. Hooley denied calling the woman a calf; the court found Dowling guilty of the abusive language charge and fined her 10 shillings.

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."

Hooley died in October 1914: OBITUARY. It was with very general regret that the public learnt of the death of Constable J. A. Hooley, of Redan, which occurred very suddenly on Saturday morning. The deceased officer, who was 46 years of age, had been for some time suffering from quinsy and tonsilitis, and had arranged to go to Melbourne on Saturday to consult a medical specialist. He was, in fact, on his way in to Ballarat to catch the early train, and when near Carthew's butcher's shop, suddenly collapsed. He was assisted back to his house in Skipton street, and died very shortly afterwards. Constable Hooley joined the force in November 1893, and had been for nearly 20 years stationed at Redan. He was of a very charitable disposition, and many a family in indigent circumstances can testify to his unostentatious acts of kindness. He was very popular with his comrades, and the expressions or regret at his demise were widespread and sincere. He leaves a widow and large family. One of his sons is a member of the Expeditionary Force. The funeral took place yesterday, and was very largely attended, in fact it was the largest and most representative ever seen in Ballarat or district. His remains were encased in a massive English oak casket, of exquisite design, elaborately mounted in silver and Masonic emblems. About 50 members of the police force and the officers marched in uniform, marshalled by Mounted-Constable Morey, on a beautiful grey troop horse, and members of the A.N. A. and the members of the Old Iron Quoit Association to the number of 60, also marched to the grave. The coffin bearers were six comrades of deceased— --Constables R. Harnetty, E. P. Hedger. Geo. Arhery. R. Harvey, D. Sullivan, W. O'Brien. The pall-bearers were: — Superintendent Bennett, Inspector Sampson, Sergeants Evans, Nicholson. Rogerson, Robinson, Curtin, and Senior-Constable Blanchfield, representing the Police Department. Sebastapol Masonic lodge — D. Jones, W.M., H. Clark, P.M., secretary; W. Binder, P.M. ; G. Wilson. P.M. ; and J. Brown. P.M. The Parliamentary representative present were Senator J. Barnes, Mr D. C. McGrath, M.H.R., and the Hon. R. McGregor. Other representatives, were Miners' Turf Club — Messrs J. Lyons (secretary), M. Newton (starter), Chas. Hager, F. Herman, Chris. Hager, R. Wilson, J. Jansen, A. W. Hager, W. White, J. Taylor and P. O'Halloran. City Council— The Mayor (Cr R. Pearce), Cr's L. Lederman, W. D. Hill. City A.N. A.- — Messrs A. Jonas (president), L. D. Evans (treasurer), J. Corbet (secretary), A. M. Taylor (chief president of the Board), and ex-president E. Birss. Sebastopol Council—Mayor Clark and ex-Mayor Mathes. Personal friends — Messrs W. Bailey. T. Greenhalgh, John Noonan, J. Harris. T. C. Banbrick, J. H. Brown, W. Gordan, J. Walsh. A. Hooley, D. Downs. City Fire Brigade — Ex-Captain R. E. Richards. Mining industry — Messrs M. Richards. J. Richards. W. Dooley. M. Kauffman. V. Jermyn, and J. Rowlands. Professional — Messrs M. Lazarus and J. Ridings. Lal Lal Turf Club — Messrs J. Davey (secretary) and J. Bird. Bungaree Turf Club — Messrs D. Barry (secretary) and A. Frazer, J. Tucker. G. Walmsley, E. C. Sartori, Cr Smith. Bungaree Shire, Mr R. Porteous. Ancient Briton Lodge Druids— Messrs J. Willy, A.D., R. E. Williams (secretary), W. H. Henderson, D. Hamilton, E. McCann, W. Pinny, A. Copperwaite, Rex Uart, C. Cornelle, G. Jolly, A. Dempster. Geo. Halliday, and R Chinnery. The Rev. R. Reed of All Saints officiated at the house and grave. The Masonic service was conducted by Bro. W. Binder P.M. The mortuary arrangements were carried out in a most satisfactory manner by Mr R. J. Miller.

His son George was reported to be very ill in March 1915: ILLNESS. The many friends of Mrs Hooley and the late Constable Hooley, of Redan, will be very sorry to hear of the very serious illness of her son, George. Dr. Devine, of Collins street, performed a serious operation on him, and holds out very little hope of his recovery. He is at present in "Bethesha" Private Hospital, Richmond.