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Masson left the Northern Territory in 1914 and returned to Melbourne. An Untamed Territory was published a
year later. She became romantically involved with the Polish/Austrian anthropologist Dr Bronislaw Malinowski
during his Melbourne visits on furlough from fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands. Mulvaney and Calaby suggest
that it was Elsie’s attachment to Malinowski that led to a falling out between Malinowski and Spencer, as
Malinowski had been involved with someone else, and in any case, was not considered by Spencer a suitable
partner. Elsie became Elsie Malinowski in 1919 when she married Bronislaw.
The couple travelled to Europe where Bronislaw became, successively, Lecturer, Reader and Professor at
the London School of Economics. Between 1927 and 1942, Malinowski held the Chair of Social Anthropology.
The Malinowskis had three daughters. Elsie died in 1935. Malinowski later remarried.
Australian Archives, Canberra, CRS A3 14/7500; B James, No Man’s Land, 1989; E R Masson, An Untamed Territory, 1915; D J Mulvaney &
J H Calaby, So Much That Is New, 1985; Northern Territory Archives Service, NTRS 226 TS517, interview with R Roney by M Weedon and
J Collins; H Wayne (ed), The Story of a Marriage, 1995.
MICKEY DEWAR, Vol 3.McARTHUR, JOHN: see MacARTHUR, JOHNMcAULAY, (RONALD) PETER (1932–1995), clerk, policeman and Commissioner of Police of the Northern
Territory and Australian Federal Police Forces, was born in Alberton, South Australia on 30 November 1932,
the son of Angus and Daisy McAulay. He was educated at Streaky Bay Primary School, Alberton Primary School,
Woodville High School and the South Australian Police Academy. Police records show that he joined the South
Australia Police as a Junior Constable on 8 January 1951 after having previously been employed as an audit clerk
with the Adelaide Steamship Company and General Motors Holden.
For the next 16 years he served at Port Adelaide, Woomera, Elizabeth and Christies Beach as a uniformed
officer and later as a detective, which designation he received in 1962.
He was promoted to Inspector at age 34 becoming the youngest Inspector in the history of the South Australia
Police Force. In 1968, he was seconded for a year to the Commonwealth Police to serve with the Australian Police
Contingent of the United Nations forces in Cyprus. He was again posted to Cyprus in 1970, on that occasion
as a police adviser to the United Nations. In that capacity, he commanded the multinational police contingent,
comprising Austrians, Danes, Swedes and Australians. He was also appointed Deputy Chairman of the Political
Liaison Committee, which was responsible for settlement of serious intercommunity conflicts and the provision of
advice to the United Nations on Cypriot political, economic and legal matters. He returned to the South Australia
Police in 1972.
He served in the Major Planning and Research Unit until the end of 1977. During this period, he acted as a
consultant to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary for the design of a patrol system manual database for
Port Moresby. In January 1978, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Chief Superintendent and command of
the South Australia Police Criminal Investigation Bureau. Before accepting the position as Commissioner of the
Northern Territory Police, McAulay declined an offer to be appointed as the Chief of Security for United Nations
Headquarters, New York.
He was appointed Commissioner Designate of the Northern Territory Police effective from 14 August 1978
and as Commissioner from 13 October 1978 when former Commissioner McLaren retired. Being the first
Commissioner after self-government Peter McAulay was in a position to make sweeping changes to the Police
Force. Self-government brought a commitment to policing from government and additional funding for the
Police Force. His prior experiences enabled him to direct the funding to areas of greatest need and emerging
requirements.
In the first months of his term as Commissioner, Peter McAulay travelled the Northern Territory extensively.
During this time, he became a strong supporter of the Northern Territory and its population. He saw a need to
rationalise the Force and proposed the closure of some stations and major upgrades at others. His proposals all
received the support of government. He also ensured that the Force was re-equipped and that the structure was
adjusted to meet the increasing demands upon the Force.
The Berrimah Police Centre was built during McAulay’s term as Commissioner. Seeing a need for a new
Headquarters and a centre from which Darwin police patrols could operate, McAulay arranged for land to be
obtained at Berrimah. Purpose built, the headquarters, established on 35 hectares of land in McMillans Road,
was recognised at the time of its official opening as one of Australia’s finest police buildings.
It was during McAulay’s term as Commissioner that the Fire and Emergency Services became an additional
responsibility of the Commissioner of Police. He was the first Chief Executive Officer of the Police, Fire and
Emergency Services. In this capacity, he held the appointment of Northern Territory Controller under the Disasters
Act. This appointment gave him executive powers should a state of disaster have been declared.
One of the more innovative Commissioners in the history of the Northern Territory Police, McAulay was
quick to introduce new ideas. The Police Aide Scheme was one early innovation. This scheme, initially proposed
as a coast watching service, soon grew in scope and size. It rapidly became one in which Aboriginal people were
involved in law enforcement within their own communities. Another Australia first was the School Based Constable
Scheme. Started in 1984, this initiative saw a police officer placed at Casuarina High School. This scheme was so
successful that police officers were soon stationed in each Northern Territory high school.
A major controversy during his time as Commissioner was the Chamberlain case. On 17 August 1980,
baby Azaria Chamberlain disappeared from the family tent at Uluru (Ayers Rock). At the original inquest,