Guard-of-honour for Stan Single APM

RETIRED Superintendent Stan Single APM was remembered for his extensive service to the NSW Police Force.

Mr Single died peacefully at Orange Hospital aged 74 years on 19 June with his funeral held at the Gunnedah Town Hall.

Officers of all ranks paid tribute to Mr Single by forming a guard-of-honour and saluting as the funeral cortege left the town hall for the Memorial Park Lawn Cemetery.

Mr Single served in the NSW Police Force from 1971 to 2014 and retired as the commander of the Orana Police District based in Dubbo.

Mr Single was still held in high esteem within the police force.

His funeral service was attended by officers of various ranks, from senior constables to serving and retired deputy commissioners.

Away from his policing, Mr Single was widely celebrated as the creator of the Commissioner’s Baton.

The batons are held by every police force in Australia and bear the names of officers who have died in the line of duty.

Each year, they are carried on the Wall to Wall Ride to Canberra – an annual charity motorcycle event that honours fallen police officers and raises funds for Police Legacy organisations.

Mr Single created the idea and hand-crafted each baton.

He was a member of the Police Association of NSW for more than 55 years and his legacy will live on each year as those batons are conveyed.

Mr Single was the recipient of an Australian Police Medal, announced in the Queen’s Birthday honours in June 2008.

Sadly, Mr Single was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Joan, last October.