Frank Keating's Grave - NT

Grave of Police Constable Frank Keating who died at Bow Hills police station on 5th November 1916.The plaque reads: "Erected on 5th November 1983 by volunteers and former members of Wave Hill Police Station to the memory of Mounted Constable Frank Keating who died at Bow Hills police station on 5th November 1916."The Bow Hills Police Station was located near modern day Kalkaringi in the western central region of the NT.In the more remote areas, the situation was even more primitive. The death of Mounted Constable Keating demonstrates the frontier nature of outback policing. Keating was stationed at Bow Hills from 1 September 1916 until his death a short time later. On 16 October 1916, his officer in charge reported in the daily journal that ‘Mounted Constable Keating sick’. He continued to be reported as sick each day until 5 November when ‘Mounted Constable Keating expired – cause of death not known’The death of Mounted Constable Keating provides an insight into the harsh conditions experienced by early police officers. Later the Wave Hill Police Station was constructed at the Victoria River Crossing adjacent to the Kalkaringi CommunityKalkiringi or Wave Hill lies 480 km south west of Katherine on the Buntine Highway on the banks of the Victoria River. It was gazetted an open town in 1976. The Daguragu Community is 8 kilometres away over Wattie Creek and is the site of the renowned 'Walk Off' of the Gurindji stockmen, led by Vincent Lingiari, from the Wave Hill Cattle Station in 1966 . The land was later handed back during the Whitlam government.