ON the 125th anniversary of his death, a memorial for ex-constable Hugh Bracken will be unveiled at a public ceremony.
Members of Wallan Police, where Bracken was occasionally stationed at, will also be in attendance, hoping to highlight the importance of mental health treatments within the force.
Greta Cemetery Trust, who list Bracken as being buried at the Wallan Cemetery, state that he served as a constable with Victoria Police intermittently over a span of 13 years.
Victoria Police Historical Graves committee member Ralph Stavely said Bracken played a key role in the capture of the infamous Ned Kelly, whose birthplace and early education centred around Beveridge.
The Ned Kelly tale is one of curiosity and drama. It is well documented that Ned Kelly formed a gang to commit both petty and heinous crimes, and partly due to the gang’s knowledge of local scrub and tracks, was able to elude police and their efforts to capture them for years.
Stationed at Glenrowan, Bracken joined his peers to search for the infamous Kelly Gang on November 2, 1878, and was present for the historical Glenrowan Inn siege.
During the siege, Bracken was kidnapped and held hostage, before managing to escape and successfully warn Wangaratta Police of the gang’s activities.
Despite the traumatic experience, he returned with more law enforcement, and showed great coolness and bravery, even towards Ned Kelly himself.
Mr Stavely said Bracken prevented a senior officer from taking Ned Kelly’s life on the day of his final capture on June 28, 1880, and was consequently shunned for standing up for justice instead of seeking revenge.
Three years later, he was discharged from the force after being assessed as medically unfit for further service, which is believed to be due to his suffering of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sadly, he took his own life on February 23, 1890.
He was never honoured with a headstone, and there are no details as to the section or plot that Bracken was buried in at the Wallan Cemetery, a fact many have deemed unjust.
To right this wrong and ensure his story is not forgotten, Mr Stavely and Greta Cemetery Trust secretary Noeleen Lloyd collaborated with the Wallan Cemetery Trust committee to fundraise for a dignified memorial plaque, and a storyboard for public perusal.
Ms Lloyd, who is the great-grandniece of Kelly gang members Steve Hart and the great-granddaughter of Thomas Lloyd Junior, said there had been an outpouring of support for the project, which saw an impressive $10,000 raised to honour Bracken’s memory.
Ms Lloyd told journalist Jordan Duursma at Wangaratta Chronicle that Bracken’s chapter in early colonial Australian history should not be ignored.
“Hugh Bracken deserves to have his story told and every dollar donated has counted,” she said.
“We want to share his life story and shine a light on PTSD and mental illness.”
The Victoria Police Historical Graves committee could not provide financial support for the project, as their funding is limited to Victoria Police Honour Roll members, which does not include Bracken.
However, both the committee and Victoria Police members remain committed to partaking in the unveiling ceremony, and hope that Bracken’s story spearheads improved mental health support systems for past and present police officers.
The public ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 23 at the Wallan Cemetery, located at 148 Queen Street, Wallan, beginning at 10.30am.
