Bronwyn Keighley-Gerardy obituary: Trailblazer’s pursuit of facts that matter

Running after alleged offenders, leading at times to physical altercations ... for such occasions policewomen would surely be hampered by wearing a uniform skirt. Bronwyn Keighley-Gerardy, who was then early in her career, was the sort to challenge this dress code. This was no vanity project. After a chase of a criminal suspect, she approached the police commissioner to tell him how difficult it was to do her job properly in a skirt. Soon afterwards, recalls Blair Fraser, her nephew by marriage, female officers in WA were allowed to wear trousers, like their male counterparts. There were other incidents of Bronwyn putting practical assessment and positive action above restrictions set by the rule book. “She spoke about making decisions that might not be acceptable nowadays,” he adds. “For example, she admitted taking two country boys arrested for graffiti offences to Hay Street Mall in Perth with buckets and scrubbers, to clean off their handiwork. The pair’s parents congratulated her when they came to collect their boys.” Her 23-year police career, included promotion from senior sergeant to superintendent, and becoming one of two officers in the first appointment of women to the criminal investigation branch as detectives. If eyebrows were raised at Bronwyn’s breaking of gender barriers, the fact is that her superiors were motivated by her sheer competence. They also noted her successful university studies, graduating in law and arts, with a major in industrial relations. She could juggle commitments, sometimes arriving home after night shift and, without sleep but with a “bite of breakfast”, as she said, preparing to attend lectures on the University of Western Australia campus. She also studied at Perth Technical College and was well remembered by her law lecturers there. This range of academic achievements was a factor in her 1993 appointment as WA’s inaugural information commissioner, following the passing of the first freedom of information law the previous year. Political controversy reared its head. In simple terms, the Labor opposition leader, Carmen Lawrence, complained of potential bias because Bronwyn’s husband had had links with the Liberal Party. An editorial in The West Australian said the Liberals “seem obsessed with witch-hunts aimed at cutting off the information supply”. Bronwyn took it in her stride. She was given every encouragement by top ranks in the police world. The police commissioner, Brian Bull, sent a letter of congratulations that included the comment that “officers within the ranks could aspire to senior positions in the public service”. Bob Wiese, then minister for police, wrote that if she applied “the same energy, skill and talent as you have in your police career, you will fulfil your duties extremely well”. Bronwyn Keighley-Gerardy was born on September 5, 1946, in Maryborough, 260km north of Brisbane, middle child of three of Catherine (nee Bellert) and Brian Keighley-Gerardy. Bronwyn attended Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne, and in 1967, the year she turned 21, moved to Western Australia. She worked as a laboratory assistant before joining the WA Police Force. Blair Fraser recalls her recounting an arrest that needed more brawn than brain: “Sergeant Bronwyn subdued an offender in an arm lock when another offender grabbed her. With an accompanying constable, both men were arrested. The next day, the offenders’ solicitor wanted to complain about ‘the burly sergeant who bashed his client’.” The lawyer left quickly on seeing the slim female sergeant. In the 1980s Bronwyn became a police union representative and at a committee meeting met then union secretary Ivor Fraser, known widely as Jock in a nod to his Aberdeenshire roots. They married in 1983. Bronwyn’s fine brain and firm manner were an asset when she became responsible for policy development, including the policing of airports, merit promotion, handling domestic violence and release of information. It was the latter experience that helped pave the way for the appointment as information commissioner. She learnt to deal with cases that required finesse because they meant conflict with government. Though initially appointed for seven years, she in fact served for 10, retiring in 2003. On leaving office she claimed that during this decade she had seen improvement in WA government agencies’ accountability to the public. “Authorities,” she added, “were now much more likely to release documents on request.” In retirement she took to golf — the committee of the Marangaroo Ladies Golf Club functioned best when Bronwyn was filling various positions. She suffered a stroke in June and died a week later, on the 24th. She is survived by Jock. Genealogy was another major interest and particular reason for overseas travel. Bronwyn dug deep into Ivor’s Scottish family and showed a touch of information excellence for his 80th birthday gathering. She masterminded the laying of placemats that showed generations of Frasers. An identity parade with a difference. Bronwyn Keighley-Gerardy Police superintendent and inaugural WA information commissioner Born: Maryborough, Queensland, 1946 Died: Perth, aged 78