Thousands gathered at a memorial service this morning to honour the lives of fallen Queensland Police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold who were killed in a deadly siege in rural Queensland last week.
More than 8,000 people, including family members, political leaders and members of the police service travelled from all over the country to attend the event.
Among them was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton and police commissioners from across Australia, who laid floral wreaths and paid their respects.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll posthumously awarded the constables medals, including the Queensland Police Valour Medal — the highest bravery award the Commission of the Queensland Police Service can award.
An impressive guard of honour formed outside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre after the service where a sea of officers in blue stood side by side in a procession spanning more than 1km, complete with horses, police dogs, boats, bag pipes, helicopters and a motorcade.
A private funeral service for family members is being held for the pair after the memorial service, while a private service for neighbour Alan Dare, who was also killed, will be held on Friday in Ipswich.
Look back at how the memorial unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
Live updates
This is where we will leave our live coverage
By Jessica Riga
Thank you for joining us today for our live coverage of the Queensland Police memorial service for fallen constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.
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Both the aerial unit and canine unit included in guard of honour
By Jessica Riga
Capturing the sheer size and scale of this guard of honour
By Jessica Riga
More thoughts from our readers
By Jessica Riga
Now may you both rest in peace, condolences go out to their families and loved ones
- Trevor
Thousands of police form guard of honour for two officers
By Jessica Riga
Water police pay their respects as the procession passes by
By Jessica Riga
The procession snakes around the Boondall Entertainment Centre
By Jessica Riga
A portrait of Constable Matthew Arnold is carried behind his casket
By Jessica Riga
A portrait of Constable Rachel McCrow is carried behind her casket
By Jessica Riga
A huge display of honour
By Phoebe Hosier
An impressive guard of honour spanning about 1.5kms is well underway outside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Bag pipes play as thousands of officers line the street complete with police dogs, officers on horseback, patrol vehicles and motorbikes with lights and sirens.
Choppers fly overhead and police boats wait in nearby waterways.
Salutes as the caskets join the procession ahead of the guard of honour
By Jessica Riga
Watch a recap of the memorial service
By Phoebe Hosier
You can watch a recap of key moments from the powerful memorial service for constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold here.
Talks of lasting tributes in Townsville for officers
By Phoebe Hosier
Reporting by Paula Tapiolas:
Townsville District Officer Acting Chief Superintendent John Hallam said ongoing discussions will be held within the Queensland Police Academy and wider service community about suitable lasting tributes to former Townsville academy graduate Rachel McCrow and her colleague Matthew Arnold.
“I know the police service will do whatever is necessary to make sure their memory will last forever as we have done previously with other fallen officers over the years,” he said.
Chief Superintendent Hallam said police felt reassured they did not stand alone.
“It shows two things: that there is evil in our community. There are people out there who want to commit violence and we need to say no to that.
I take strength from this, knowing that the community stands with us and I think everyone will share the same message that there’s no place for violence in our community and we need to stop it where we can.”
