The people of Maitland have stepped out in force in celebration of 100 years of women in policing.
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HISTORY OF SERVICE: Maitland celebrated the contribution of its women police officers over the past 100 years during a stage of an Australia-wide baton relay in the city yesterday. Picture by PERRY DUFFIN
Police officers past and present walked along the riverbank on Monday afternoon as part of a baton relay that has made its way across Australia.
The centenary of women in the police force harks back to 1915 when the NSW Police Department advertised two positions for female officers.
Of the 500 applicants Lillian Armfield and Maude Rhodes were chosen and subsequently sworn in as Probationary Special Constables.
They were the first women employed for police duties in the Commonwealth. Women now make up 35 per cent of the force and 13 policewomen are superintendents.
