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Blue heeler Archibald honours ‘amazing mum’ Rachel McCrow at memorial service

The pet dog of murdered police officer Rachel McCrow has joined thousands of people at her emotional memorial service.

Slain Queensland police officers have been farewelled

The beloved dog of murdered Queensland police officer Rachel McCrow has sat at the front during her public memorial service and walked behind her coffin.

Blue heeler Archibald – who lived with Constable McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, in Tara – was among thousands of mourners at the service on Wednesday.

Blue heeler Archibald was among thousands of mourners at the service. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass
Blue heeler Archibald was among thousands of mourners at the service. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass
Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold were killed in an ambush. Picture: Sky News
Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold were killed in an ambush. Picture: Sky News

The officers were killed by Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth and Gareth’s wife, Stacey, in an ambush on December 12 when they attended a welfare check on a rural property at Wieambilla, in Queensland’s Western Downs.

Archibald arrived at the service in a police car, sitting alone in the back seat with his head poking out of the window.

Constable Rachel McCrow with her dog. Picture: Facebook / The Queensland Police Union of Employees
Constable Rachel McCrow with her dog. Picture: Facebook / The Queensland Police Union of Employees
Rachel McCrow was murdered last week. Picture: Sky News
Rachel McCrow was murdered last week. Picture: Sky News

During the service, he sat quietly at the feet of Constable McCrow’s loved ones.

Senior Constable Melissa Gibson spoke about Constable McCrow’s bond with Archibald during her eulogy.

“She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a colleague and an amazing mum to her beloved four-legged Archibald,” she said.

Rachel McCrow’s dog, Archibald, sat in the front row of the memorial service. Picture: Queensland Police / NCA NewsWire
Rachel McCrow’s dog, Archibald, sat in the front row of the memorial service. Picture: Queensland Police / NCA NewsWire
She was described as an ‘amazing mum’ to Archibald. Picture: Nine News
She was described as an ‘amazing mum’ to Archibald. Picture: Nine News

“Family was everything to Rach and she was everything to them. Rach was simply one of a kind.

“She was the kindest and most positive person I know. She had the purest of souls and the warmest of hearts.”

Archibald was later photographed walking behind Constable McCrow’s casket as it was driven away from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Angie Raphael

Angie Raphael has almost two decades of experience as a journalist. Angie began her career in regional and community newspapers, then worked at the Australian Associated Press for 10 years before joining NCA NewsWire in Perth. Angie has specialised in court reporting, politics and entertainment, as well as covering bushfires, shark attacks and other disasters. Fun fact: Angie has never lost a chocolate eating challenge.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/blue-heeler-archibald-honours-amazing-mum-rachel-mccrow-at-memorial-service/news-story/9864ec383fd1e94b51670252923de2e8