The most moving story you'll read this week: Dying woman who was the first female mounted police officer in the world is granted her final wish

  • Rita Meredith believed to have been the UK's first female mounted police officer
  • Ms Meredith, 75, is in palliative care in Newcastle and not expected to leave
  • Her dying wish to see and smell a horse was granted by NSW Mounted Police 
  • When she met the Queen Mother in 1967, her horse Neville ate the royal's coat  A dying female mounted police officer has had her final wish granted by the NSW Mounted Police - to smell and see a horse one final time.

    Rita Meredith (nee Browning), 75, was overjoyed to spend precious time with NSW Mounted Police horses Hollywood and Don, which were brought by their handlers to meet her at Calvary Mater Newcastle, from their base at Redfern, Sydney.

    Ms Meredith, who is believed to have been the first female mounted police officer in the United Kingdom in her 20s, is not expected to leave the palliative facility.

    Seriously ill former mounted officer Rita Meredith (nee Browning), 75, was overjoyed to spend precious time with NSW Mounted Police horses Hollywood and Don at Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital

    Seriously ill former mounted officer Rita Meredith (nee Browning), 75, was overjoyed to spend precious time with NSW Mounted Police horses Hollywood and Don at Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital

    NSW police officers Graham and Nicole were accompanied by the handsome Don and Hollywood who made Rita's day

    NSW police officers Graham and Nicole were accompanied by the handsome Don and Hollywood who made Rita's day

    'She thought they were absolutely beautiful, and couldn't believe that the police took the time to drive the five hour round trip just to see her,' her son, Robert Parnaby, told Daily Mail Australia. 

    'There were plenty of tears shed and beautiful memories made,' Ms Meredith's daughter-in-law Emily Sykes wrote in a moving Facebook post, which was shared by the NSW Police.

    'Police officers Graham and Nicole were accompanied by the very handsome Hollywood and Don and they sure made Rita's day (and all the staff that were awestruck!)''They were amazingly patient, answered all our questions and let Rita (and the rest of us) pat them and feed them apples.'

    Ms Sykes wrote that her mother-in-law was 'is currently quite unwell and is not expected to return home' from the hospital.

    'She is spending her days at the hospice at Calvary mater in Newcastle being very well looked after. Her main wish before she passed was to smell/see a horse for one more time.'

    Ms Sykes also shared a black and white photo of her mother-in-law, Ms Meredith, on horseback meeting the Queen Mother in 1967.

    'After 2 years of service she decided to try the mounted police. She was the first female mounted police officer in the UK (possibly the world?) - a pretty special feat for a very special lady.' 

    Then Rita Browning (pictured on her horse Neville) meeting The Queen Mother in 1967 in the United Kingdom, when she was one of the world's first female mounted officers

    Then Rita Browning (pictured on her horse Neville) meeting The Queen Mother in 1967 in the United Kingdom, when she was one of the world's first female mounted officers

    Rita Meredith (nee Browning) a former mounted police officer, now 75, meets one of the animals she so loved for probably the last time

    Rita Meredith (nee Browning) a former mounted police officer, now 75, meets one of the animals she so loved for probably the last time

    'She has done plenty of other extraordinary things in her life, but these days are always looked back at fondly and some of the best she recalls.'

    Robert Parnaby told Daily Mail Australia that when Rita met Queen Elizabeth, also known as The Queen Mother, her horse nibbled on her royal coat.

    'When meeting the queen mum her horse Neville tried to eat the fur on the cuff of the Queen mum's coat, the queen mum laughed it off and said how wonderful it is to have a girl in that job.'

    He said the family arrived in Australia in 1991, and she worked tirelessly as a foster carer in this country.

    'Since then she has been a foster carer for children with a disability only giving that up around 10 years ago,' Robert Parnaby told Daily Mail Australia.

    'She had 61 kids through the house over the years.' 

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