New South Wales Police
NA
NA
15 February 2026
Male
Friday 01 January 1960
NA, NA, NA
Friday 16 August 2013
NA, NA, NA
53 years, 8 months, 1 days
No
21504
9444
No
203
175
Force
New South Wales Police
Full Name
GRAEME FRANCIS DONNELLY
Nick Name
NA
AKA
NA
Cadet #
NA
Uniform #
9444
Registered #
21504
Class #
203
Date: NA @ NA
Location: NA
Awards / Commendations etc: National Medal – granted 30 August 2000
Note: Final Rank: Chief Inspector
Buried: Unknown
Cemetery name: KANAHOOKA LAWN CEMETERY
Uniform # 9444
Rank: Commenced Training at the Goulburn Police Academy on Monday 7 May 1984 ( aged 23 years, 7 months, 29 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 20 July 1984 ( aged 23 years, 10 months, 12 days )
Constable – appointed 30 August 1985 ( Loss of 40 days Seniority )
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Chief Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: Chief Inspector
Stations: Warilla, Albion Park, Wollongong ( 82 Division ), Illawarra LAC ( 79 Division ) – Death
Service: From 7 May 1984 to 16 August 2013 = 29 years, 3 months, 9 days Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 30 August 2000
Born: Thursday 8 September 1960
Died on: Friday 16 August 2013
Cause: Heart attack
Age: 52 years, 11 months, 8 days
Funeral date: 26 August 2013 @ 1pm
Funeral location: Wollongong Catholic Cathedral, Harbour St, Wollongong, NSW
Buried at: Kanahooka Lawn Cemetery, Kanahooka Rd, Kanahooka, NSW
GPS of Grave: Lat: -34.4880559530445 Long: 150.81964650639043
Memorial: NSW Police Force Service Memorial Wall, Sydney Police Centre, Surry Hills, A29 ( left wall )
Chief Inspector Graeme DonnellyGRAEME is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT WORK RELATED
Death of Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly, 52 old around 11.30am, today, Friday 16 August 2013, who was riding his push bike with a mate around Lake Illawarra ( the actual lake ) this morning and was riding up Mt. Terry when he stopped and said to his mate that he didn’t feel well.
Whilst standing next to his bike, he suffered a massive heart attack.
An Off Duty passing Paramedic commenced CPR and called for assistance. Helicopter assistance was also considered and I am informed that the Paramedics worked on Graeme for a lengthy and extended period and was conveyed to Hospital under Police escort but, unfortunately, he never regained consciousness from the time he fell.
He was aged 52 and was a Chief Inspector ( for those who don’t know him ) and a really nice bloke.
May he forever Rest in Peace and look over the rest of us.
The funeral for Graeme will take place on Monday, 26 August, at 1.00pm at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Harbour Street Wollongong. Guest’s to be seated by 12.40pm.
I would expect this to be a big funeral with standing room only – out onto the street.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1724752/police-cyclists-mourn-loss-of-good-bloke/?cs=300
He was a highly respected policeman who sought relief from his demanding role as chief inspector in his passion for cycling.
Tributes have flowed for long-serving officer Graeme Donnelly, 52, who died of a heart attack while riding around Lake Illawarra last Friday.
Friend and cycling companion Wally Erven said Insp Donnelly loved cycling because it allowed him to de-stress.
“Being in the police force, it gave him a separation,” he said.
Insp Donnelly was the father of junior Australian cycling champion Aaron Donnelly – and Mr Erven said the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.
“Aaron’s not a professional cyclist for no reason – it’s in his genes and he got that from his father.”
Wollongong acting superintendent Tim Beattie said the policing community had been shocked to learn of Insp Donnelly’s death.
Insp Donnelly spent his career based in Wollongong until about 12 months ago when he transferred to Sydney and was attached to a specialist police unit.
“Graeme was a highly respected member of the police force who performed a significant amount of his service in the Illawarra area,” Supt Beattie said. “He is regarded by all those who knew him as being a good bloke.”
A tribute has also been posted on the Cycling NSW website.
“His loss is greatly felt by the Illawarra Cycle Club and the NSW cycling community,” the statement read.
Insp Donnelly’s funeral will be held at Wollongong Catholic Cathedral, 36 Harbour Street, at 1pm on Monday.
He was one of a kind and his death will leave a hole in the life of his family, friends and the police force.
On Monday a sea of blue police uniforms surrounded an overflowing St Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral in Wollongong as officers paid their last respects to Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly.
Insp Donnelly, 52, died on August 16 after having a heart attack while riding around Lake Illawarra with friends.
Yesterday his cycling companions joined police colleagues and formed a guard of honour stretching from the cathedral along Harbour St.
Insp Donnelly’s colleague Peter Lindwall and friend Neil Foster gave a joint eulogy.
They described the high-ranking officer’s passion for the police force and his love for his wife Kerri and sons Aaron and Brad.
Mr Lindwall said the sheer number of fellow officers in attendance, including NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, was testament to how highly Insp Donnelly had been regarded in the community.
“He was a person no-one ever had a bad word to say about,” Mr Lindwall said.
He also made reference to Insp Donnelly’s previous career as a butcher and his skills behind a barbecue.
In a statement read at yesterday’s service, Aaron Donnelly said his father’s entire life had been dedicated to helping others.
“I don’t think there’s a person here who hasn’t been impacted by his kindness,” he said.
Mr Donnelly’s wife Kerri said her husband had been a “selfless” man who gave his time “to so many people”.
In a statement also read to the service, she recalled how proud he had been when his Brad announced he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a police officer.
Mr Scipione also spoke at the service and posthumously awarded Insp Donnelly the National Police Service Medal.
– Domenic Geiger, Illawarra Mercury
Graeme Francis Donnelly (1960-2013) – Find A Grave Memorial
Graeme and Kerri Donnelly – 2011 Illawarra Police Charity Ball Graeme and Kerri Donnelly – 2008 Illawarra Police Charity BallChief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury
Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione speaking of Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Commissioner Andrew Scipione leading the march for Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly – Photos from Illawarra Mercury Funeral Service for Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly.
| Academy | Start Date | End Date | Class # | Comment |
|---|
| Rank | Achieve Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Probationary Constable | 20 July 1984 | ? |
| NSW Constable | 30 August 1985 | ? |
| NSW Chief Inspector | ? | ? |
| Station | Start Date | End Date | Comment |
|---|
