The trophy cabinet
Trophies are symbolic objects, intended for display as evidence of achievement, especially of victory in a contest of some kind.
Many of the trophies in the collection of the Justice & Police Museum of are rewards for sporting prowess: cups presented to members of the police force for winning athletics events, for cycling, rowing, tennis and wrestling. The Caroline Simpson Library has a cup presented to a woman named Dora Walford for taking second prize in the Ladies Bending Race at a Sydney Polo Club Gymkhana in the 1920s. Rouse Hill Estate also has trophies related to horses, including an embroidered silk purse won by a horse named Hercules at the Hawkesbury Races in 1838. The earliest trophy in the collection is a fine silver gilt cup presented by the Duke of Northumberland in 1815 to former military officer George Johnston, the man who arrested Governor William Bligh in 1808.
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The Hawkesbury Races purse
This embroidered blue silk purse was presented to the winner of the weight for age Subscription Purse at the Hawkesbury Races in August 1838, and held £50 prize money
Lance Townsend’s athletics trophy
Lance Hayes Townsend (1915-1978) was a formidable athlete. He received this trophy as Champion Athlete at the Penrith Amateur Athletics Carnival in April 1935 after winning the javelin throw, the high jump, the discus throw, the broad jump, the shot putt, and the hop, step and jump
Roy Garlick’s rowing trophy
This trophy was presented to Constable Roy Garlick (1905-1974) for his part in winning the maiden fours race at the NSW Police Rowing Club Regatta held on the Parramatta River in March 1935
Dora Walford’s polo trophy
This small cup, just over 10cm tall, is the trophy presented to Dora Walford, nee Alexander (1895-1972), for winning second prize in the Ladies Bending Race at the Sydney Polo Club Gymkhana in June 1923
Percy Shepherd’s road race trophy
This silver trophy was awarded to amateur cyclist Percival (Bunny) Shepherd (1887-1949) for winning the Balmain Bicycle Club’s ten mile road race in May 1905
NSW Police Choir trophy
The trophy was presented to the NSW Police Choir, conducted by Mr Richard Thew, for winning the Chief Male Voice Choral Contest at the City of Sydney Eisteddfod in September 1954
Indian Army Remounts Trophy
This cup was presented to Richard Rouse (1842-1903) and his younger brother Edwin Stephen Rouse (1849-1931) in April 1882 at the New South Wales Agricultural Society’s annual show
George Kemp's mile walk trophy
This trophy was awarded to Constable George Eric Kemp (1904-1987) for winning the Mile Walk Handicap at the NSW Amateur Athletics Association Police Carnival in February 1936. He had come second in the same event in 1935
Jack Reilly’s wrestling trophy
This silver trophy was presented to Constable John (Jack) Theodore Reilly (1904-1992) for winning the Light Heavyweight Wrestling competition at the NSW Police Carnival in February 1935
The Duke of Northumberland’s cup
This fine two-handled lidded cup was presented to ‘Lieutenant Colonel George Johnston’ of Annandale, New South Wales, by his patron Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (1742-1817)