Kate Cocks deserves better
by Shane Sody
Kate Cocks (1875-1954)
Kate Cocks, MBE, was the first female police officer, not just in Adelaide, but in the entire British Commonwealth.
But the Park that is named in her honour is being treated like garbage.
Neither the City of Adelaide nor the State Government are showing any respect to the Park that honours a pioneering South Australian.
This is Kate Cocks Park - a V-shaped portion of Park 27 that includes historic ancient olive trees and also hosts the SA Police "greys" - the horses of SA Police.
Kate Cocks Park, marked in yellow, is wedged in-between Bonython Park, the old Adelaide Gaol, the Thebarton Police barracks, and railway lines.
You can reach Kate Cocks Park from Gaol Road, off Port Road at Thebarton, although you might have some trouble identifying it as a Park. There is little signage, and the City Council is using some of it as a storage compound for assorted hardware.
In January 2022, the former Liberal State Government re-zoned much of Kate Cocks Park as 'Health' - allowing construction of a multi-storey car park and destruction of some of the ancient olive trees.
Planning SA zone changes to Park 27, that came into effect in January 2022.
Why has this Park been neglected, abandoned? Why is it now under attack? What does this say about the City Council and State Government's attitudes towards your Open Green Public Park Lands?
What sort of honour is this for Kate Cocks, MBE?
She deserves better. You deserve better. The world-unique Adelaide Park Lands deserve better.
On 10 April, 2022, APA promised to campaign in this year's City Council elections, to support candidates who would restore Helen Mayo Park. The same applies to any City Council election candidates who would restore Kate Cocks Park.
Kate Cocks deserves to be honoured with a substantial Park regreening and landscaping project.
Read more about Kate Cocks (full name: Fanny Kate Boadicea Cocks) here: https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2017/05/05/time-and-place-the-remarkable-career-of-sas-first-female-officer/
or here: https://adelaidia.history.sa.gov.au/people/kate-cocks-mbe
The sorry state of ADELAIDE’S Parks named for women
There are six Parks within your Adelaide Park Lands that are named for distinguished South Australian women.
Five of the six have been subject to attacks, to reduce their availability as Open Green Public spaces.
Gladys Elphick Park /Narnungga (Park 25) has had large areas covered with bitumen for car parking, and other parts fenced by the SA Cricket Association to keep out the public.
Josie Agius Park / Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) has had a large area cordoned off to become a makeshift area for collecting rapid antigen test kits.
Denise Norton Park / Pardipardinyilla (Park 2) is the site of the Aquatic Centre, and the new State Government is considering building a new Aquatic Centre in the same park, which would involve clearing more native vegetation and increasing car parking spaces.
Helen Mayo Park in Park 27 has been re-zoned as "Entertainment". It was the proposed site for the former State Government's proposed 'Riverbank Arena'. The new Labor State Government has promised to restore its Park Lands zoning but that has not yet occurred, so the Park is still at risk.
Frome Park / Nellie Raminyemmerin Park (Park 11) is destined for total destruction to make way for a third wing of the Botanic High School off Frome Road.
Mary Lee Park (Park 27B) off Park Terrace opposite Bowden is the only park named for a distinguished South Australian woman that has not suffered a recent attack.
Victoria Park/ Pakapakanthi (Park 16) is also named after a woman - Queen Victoria. A large portion has been fenced off for more than two years for COVID-19 testing and later this year will be off-limit for months, as the Adelaide 500 motor racing carnival returns.