Of Tragedy and Valor
Ian Charles Rumbelow

Ian Charles (Charlie) Rumbelow was born on 25 May 1946 to parents Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow and Shirley Dawn (nee Heath). 

Charlie attended both Victor Harbor Primary and Victor Harbor High Schools. He was a “reluctant” student, much preferring to be on the beach in front of his home on Franklin Parade at Yilki.  

The lifestyle whilst going up was like being on holidays every day.  The beach, swimming, fishing, boating and many other activities involved in the carefree lifestyle of the 1950’s.

Charlie and his “shark” with Michael Milner assisting. Caught at the waters’ edge in front of home approximately 1950!

Charlie played football with the Encounter Bay Football Club, from 1960 until 1975, accumulating over 200 senior games, as well as representing the Great Southern Football League.  He was a member of the 1965 and 1967 Encounter Bay premiership sides.  

Charlie was awarded Life Membership in 1971 for his contribution to playing for the club, and for his recruiting of players, particularly in a period when the club suffered a dearth of recruits in the mid 1960’s.  He assisted in researching and updating the 'Rummy Football Team" that can be found at this link.

From 1963 until playing retirement, 1975, Charlie was based in Adelaide and travelled each weekend to play at the Bay. 

Charlie and Elizabeth McCawley were married in 1976 and moved to Alberton in 1977. They have a son Adam.

In 1963 Charlie joined the Police Cadet training program at Fort Largs Police Academy. On graduation he posted initially to the City Division and in 1967 to Port Adelaide Police Station.  Charlie remained at the Port Adelaide serving many and varied positions until his retirement in December 1996.

From 1981 to 2002 Charlie was a director of Police Credit Union, and appointed Chairman from 1987 until 1991.  In 1990 PCU Investment Services was established, and Charlie was Chairman from inception until he retired from PCU in 2002.

Another of Charlie’s activities was the founding of Police Legacy SA to assist, in the main, children of deceased members. 

Police Legacy became operational in 1989, and Charlie was Chairman, and remained Chairman until he retired from the police department (December 1996). Charlie is a Life Member.   https://policelegacysa.org.au/ 

“When Police Legacy was introduced (over 30 years ago) serving members could allocate 50 cents per pay via Police Credit Union deductions. Many joined and underpinned the financial foundation of the organisation. Time has moved on and the contribution has increased with inflation. It is still a cheap and effective way to protect your family, and other families within the police profession. As a founding member one wishes to be assured funds provided do make a difference."  Charlie  Rumbelow

https://policelegacysa.org.au/retired-members/ 

Motor Vessel Archie Badenoch

In 1985 the South Australian Police Historical Society began restoring the Motor Vessel Archie Badenoch under direction from the vessel’s former master with the South Australian Police, Senior Constable Ron Newton (retired). 

Charlie assisted in fund raising, getting the entry doors of the ex-police vessel enlarged to accommodate wheelchairs to enable taking disabled children on river cruises.

The Archie Badenoch was built in November 1942 at the General Motor Holden plant at Birkenhead. It was originally constructed as a World War II supply-tender vessel for the Royal Australian Navy. In 1946, the vessel was acquired by the South Australian Police Department and served as the Number 1 Water Police Launch. 

It was renamed to honour Mounted Constable Archibald Badenoch, the first South Australian Police Officer killed in action during World War II at El Alamein on 1 November 1942.

The Archie Badenoch was principal SA police launch 1946 to 1978 playing a role in hundreds of rescues throughout South Australian coastal waters. was the only all-weather deep-sea patrol vessel in local waters,  and after 32 years of loyal service the vessel was retired in 1978.

Charlie’s love of sport continued when he became involved at the Rosewater Football Club when son, Adam, 7 years, was introduced to junior football 1987.  He established the Junior Development Committee and was its President from 1988 until 1996.  He was made a Life Member of the Club for efforts with juniors, and subsequently served the senior committee as Chairman (2003), Secretary (2006), and Treasurer (2012, 2013, 2014).

Charlie’s undertook the voluntary position of Western Suburbs Junior Football League (later Metro West JFL) as the Registrar.  The League was very progressive and introduced many firsts for football, not only juniors.  

• Digitisation of playing lists, providing the lists to the clubs, modified rules, just recently being introduced at AFL level (anti-concussion strategies)

• Recording of a match with videos being provided to the players, many of whom were in Adelaide for their education, and from the Lands in the far north and west of the State. 

• Introduction of “Grasshoppers”, a junior introductory grade for very young players 6 – 9 years, and played, with three games being played simultaneously across the ground.  

For his contribution, Charlie was made a Life Member of the league.

Charlies next challenge was to established a similar league across the southern part of inner Adelaide, Glenelg to Glenunga.  Charlie was the driving force for the formation of Metro South Junior League and was the Secretary from 1997 until 2002. Metro South became a very successful league with 13 clubs and about 50 teams, with additional players involved in Grasshoppers.

Charlie assisted at WTDCC in a capacity as fund raiser and Secretary.  Charlie was successful in attracting significant funds to establish storage sheds and equipment sheds (to over $110K value) for the use by the club.   Charlie was made a Life Member at the Annual General Meeting of 2017 /18.

Charlies son, Adam, was a first-grade cricketer, playing juniors at Port Adelaide Cricket Club. Later Adam took a role of junior coach and senior coach, at West Torrens District Cricket Club and the wicket keeper in the 2006 A Grade Premiership team.  

In retirement, Charlie maintains his community connections with several groups.  

He is co-organiser of a luncheon for retired former Port Adelaide Police Officers which has just celebrated 21 years of gatherings, has an interest in Police Legacy, and the SA Police Historical Society, as well as the MG Car Club of South Australia.  

Charlie nominated (and it was accepted) the Encounter Bay Football Club, to be the luncheon venue for the MGCC’s 2024 Kimber Run (Kimber was the designer manager of MGs from 1924 and an annual car run is held in his honour).  

This saw 178 persons for lunch at the Club (managed by Don and Lesley Rumbelow).  Charlie takes the MG for a run every home game to Encounter Bay where his interest in the club continues.