The Pettingills were also widely rumoured to have had the protection of corrupt police.

Several investigations into their affairs were thwarted as it became apparent that tip-offs of impending police raids were common-place.

Dennis Allen was seen by many detectives as having a free rein in his 'patch' in inner city Richmond.

One detective had said that Allen and his family had the people and the means to do what ever they wanted.

She went out to see what was going on when she realised that two detectives were in the street, standing over Victor with a gun to his head.

Kath then grabbed a large perfume bottle and ran outside and immediately crunched the detectives skull.

He dropped to the ground with blood gushing from his head while son Lex felled the other policeman.

Kathy's victim got to his feet and stamped viciously on Kath's foot which was injured and bandaged at the time.

He then began pulling wildly at her clothing and screamed, "I'll put you in a morgue you arsehole', as another detective pulled him off.

Some months later Kathy was taken in for questioning about the Great Bookie Robbery, Australia's most celebrated hold-up.

As she was marched into the squad office she spotted the man she'd bashed grinning at her from behind his desk.

'Don't smirk at me you dog,' she yelled, 'You would've been fucking dead if I wanted to kill you.'

As Kathy tells it in 'The Matriarch', the room suddenly went quiet. the next person to speak was the detective leading her in.

'Yeah, believe it,' he said, 'she could have.'

No one argued.

The victim of the perfume bottle later left the police force and in the mid-nineties he had become a prominent figure in legal and sporting circles.

After her son, Victor Peirce, was shot dead in Port Melbourne on May 1, 2002, Kath spoke of revenge on Melbourne talk-back radio.

She spoke passionately with Neil Mitchell saying that if she had a gun she would immediately kill those responsible.

She also threatened to kill 'big-mouth' Mark "Chopper" Read.

On September 1, 2002 the Herald Sun reported that "crime matriarch", Kath Pettingill, has been nominated for a community award for volunteer work.

Kath was given the International Year of the Volunteer Award by locals thankful for her enthusiastic support of the community in her home of Venus Bay.

Pettingill helped run a bingo group whose profits fund street decorations and is an avid supporter of the local community centre.

Locals said she was always willing top put her hand in her pocket to buy folk-art for fundraising.

"She's a good old stick," said one local, who added jokingly, "I wouldn't want to argue with her though."

The certificate was one of 700,000 given to community groups.

Ms Pettingill has lived in Venus Bay for 14 years.

She said on 3AW that she had changed her ways but that did not expect to go to heaven when she died.

"I wouldn't know anyone," she joked.

Dennis Bruce Allen
Dennis grew up in a housing estate in Heidelberg.

He received 10 year jail sentence (minimum 5) for a rape which  occurred in October 1973.

In 1979, Painter and Docker, Victor Allard, a probable heroin dealer, was shot dead in Fitzroy while in the company of Dennis Allen.

He skipped custody while on day release in October 1981.

Dennis built a substantial heroin empire after being released from jail on July 2, 1982.

In May 1983 Dennis' home at Chestnut St Richmond was raided by police.

Victor Gouroff (drug user, former armed robber and close associate - later to vanish) was present.

The police had been following Helen Wagnegg (also a drug user - later dead) when she arrived at Allen's home. 

They observed Gouroff  greet her at the door.

When she arrived home later, Wagnegg was arrested with 1.5g of heroin. 

Allen's house was then raided. Police discovered 30g of heroin, several bags of amphetamines and a cache of guns and ammunition. 

They also discovered explosives that had been buried in the back yard.

Wagnegg, a prostitute, died from an over-dose during a visit to Allen's headquarters.

Allen is believed to have poured Yarra River water into her mouth to simulate drowning before the body was dumped in the river.

Greg Pasche, Kathy's much-loved "adopted" son was murdered by either Dennis or the soon-to-be-dead Victor Gouroff.

Greg's body was found in the Brisbane Ranges, just out of Geelong.

Gouroff disappeared shortly after.

His body was never found.

Police believe Dennis murdered him.

In September 1983, Dennis was arrested for trafficking heroin.

He was the leading distributor of heroin and amphetamines in Melbourne between 1983 and 1987.

Dennis made an estimated minimum $17,500 a week in 1984.

Dennis is believed to have murdered Hell's Angel, Anton Kenny.

He fell out with Dennis and ended up having his legs chainsawed off so his body would fit into a 40-gallon drum. 

The drum was dumped in the Yarra and later discovered after police received a tip-off. It has been rumoured this tip came from Dennis himself in return for favours from police.

In mid-1984, Dennis is said to have shot an associate, Allan Stanhope.

He had visited at Allen's home and a prolonged drinking session with another couple of friends, Dennis shot Stanhope repeatedly.

Dennis emptied the barrels of two shotguns into his head at close range and then slit his throat.

Motive: He fiddled with Allen's stereo system.

This was the only murder Allen was charged with.

Dennis's notoriety in 1984 came not only from his soaring drug empire but also from his reputation as a dealer of guns, particularly to those planning armed robberies. 

Later Rogerson was charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice by allegedly misleading a police inquiry into the source of the $110,000 deposited into false accounts.

Andrew Fraser, a leading Melbourne criminal lawyer before being jailed in 1999 after he was involved in the importation and distribution of over 5kg of cocaine, represented and assisted both Peter and Dennis Allen, and their associate, Walsh Street suspect Anthony Farrell.

Fraser helped Dennis set up 'Mr D Investments' (Allen's nick-name was Mr D - short for death).

Dennis was a good friend of VFA star Fred Cook who in the 80's ran the Station Hotel in Port Melbourne.

Cook and his (de-facto) wife were later jailed for amphetamine possession and trafficking among other offences.

During his life of crime, Dennis Allen also attempted to blow up a Coroner's Court investigating one of his alleged murders and attempted to shoot down a police helicopter.

Dennis died of heart failure due to his once massive amphetamine addiction.

One of the last people to see him alive in hospital was former lawyer Andrew Fraser.

More on Dennis Allen

Peter grew up running with elder brother Dennis and, after being expelled from school at 14, quickly graduated in the criminal world.

Assaults led to fights involving weapons, and armed robbery.

Time spent in a youth training centre was a taste of life to come.

The Allens' exploits ended violently in 1973 when they raped two Sandringham sisters aged 22 and 16 while on a mission to kill a man for $500.

During his jail term Peter Allen managed to escape twice.

In August 1985, at the age of 32, he walked free from jail determined to make big money and live a lavish lifestyle.

He was gambling heavily and police began investigations as Allen's stature grew.

Detectives arrested him in April 1986.

He'd been out only eight months.

In December 1988, he was sentenced to 13 years' jail for trafficking heroin and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

But even in prison, his criminally driven entrepreneurial spirit could not be broken.

As mastermind of an elaborate syndicate involving female couriers, a corrupt prison officer dubbed "The Postie", and brother Victor Peirce, Allen sold drugs to inmates.

But police uncovered the syndicate and in March 1995, Allen was sentenced to another six years.

Victor Peirce was also jailed.

Peter was released from Loddon Prison in July 1999 after serving 13 years for trafficking.

After being paroled, he said that he just wanted to lead a normal life but it was less than three years before he again faced serious charges.

On January 21, 2002, Peter was in court to face 19 charges including armed robbery and burglary.

Sen-Det Andrew Collins told the court Allen broke into a Williamstown home and stole a mantelpiece on January 9.

About a week later he returned and stole a television, rugs and the front door from the same house.

On January 16, Allen, his girlfriend Amber Barry, 19, and others allegedly robbed a man at knifepoint after driving him to a North Caulfield street.

Magistrate Peter Couzens refused bail but told Allen he could make another application later through a lawyer.

He remanded Allen to appear in court on April 2.

Peter Allen ended up being released from custody after successfully applying for bail on April 30, 2002, the day before his brother Victor Peirce was murdered.

Peirce was shot dead in Bay Street, Port Melbourne in an execution style drive-by shooting on May 1, 2002.

On May 7, 2002, Peter Allen spoke to a small media contingent telling them that he could not be held responsible for the actions of his "family" in the wake of Detective Inspector John Noonan's statements after Peirce's death.

Noonan, who headed the investigation into the Walsh Street police murders of which Peirce had been acquitted, said Peirce finally got what he deserved.

"Obviously we don't condone anyone meeting their demise in that way, but I suppose one could argue he's finally been sentenced for all his unlawful activities.

"I don't have any sympathy and certainly no sadness on a personal basis."

Prime suspect as a triggerman in the 1988 Walsh Street police shootings, Peirce was a good friend of fellow armed robber Graeme Jensen shot dead by police the day before.

Jensen had been a regular visitor to the Pettingill's Richmond homes.

Peirce had vast gangland contacts, including Mark Militano, Frank Valastro, Jedd Houghton, and Gary Abdallah, all of whom were armed robbers and killed by police. 

Victor George Pierce, 31, Peter David McEvoy, 34, of Elsternwick, Anthony Leigh Farrell, 21, of Albert Park and Trevor Pettingill were arrested after the Walsh Street shootings and each faced two counts of murder.

Police alleged that Peirce and McEvoy wept when they heard of Jensen's death and vowed that "two police will die tonight".

One of the key witnesses against the Walsh Street four was Peirce's wife Wendy, who was to give key evidence against her husband.

But after entering witness protection scheme at a cost of $2million, she changed sides and refused to implicate Peirce.

Peirce and his three co-accused were eventually acquitted.

Wendy Peirce was later jailed for perjury.

After the acquittal, Peirce and his co-accused lay low, but for Peirce a return to crime was almost a certainty.

In the early 90's he built a heroin business and became one of Melbourne's big traffickers.

Peirce was jailed when arrested for selling heroin to a police operative at Chadstone Shopping Centre.

The transactions were videotaped and shown in court.

Peirce was convicted in April 1993 and sentenced to eight years in jail with a six-year minimum.

He was released on parole in June 1998.

Once free, according to Kath Pettingill, Peirce lived the life of a loving husband and father and worked hard on the docks.

She said he stayed away from his criminal past.

Frank Benvenuto had previously employed Victor Peirce.

He was shot dead in Beaumauris May 2000.

Peirce was murdered on May 1, 2002.

He was sitting in his car in Bay Street, Port Melbourne when another car pulled up along side.

Victor was shot three times.

More on Victor Peirce

Jamie was a friend of Flemington armed robber Gary Abdallah.

Abdallah was later shot dead by police.

Jamie was used by brother Dennis Allen as a strong man in his street dealings.

He always carried a gun and was with Dennis when he shot a bottle shop attendant during a robbery at the United Kingdom Hotel in Clifton Hill on March 5, 1980.

Dennis escaped the scene.

The attendant later died from what was found to be a moving blood clot. Jamie took the rap for the robbery.

Jamie also shot a man whose associate threatened Dennis with a gun in their family home.

He later became addicted to heroin while in prison.

Jamie died May 14, 1985 after a mysterious heroin overdose.

Many, including some police, have suggested that Dennis was responsible.

In Sept 1987, he with mother Kath, pleaded guilty for heroin possession.

He was sentenced to seven months jail.

A known drug user, Trevor had a long criminal history before he was charged with two policemen in Walsh St in 1988.

Trevor was kidnapped on November 29, 1988, during the Walsh Street investigations.

He was taken to a deserted road and bashed by masked men telling him to tell police the truth about the murders.

He was later arrested and charged but acquitted with his three co-accused.

Trevor moved away from Melbourne to the family hideaway at Venus Bay after the acquittal.

Later that year he appeared in Heidelberg Magistrates' Court charged with aggravated burglary. theft and carrying a weapon.

He was granted bail.

The following year he was arrested after a car chase through Northcote. 

The burglary, theft and weapons charges were adjourned along with dangerous and unlicensed driving charges to give Trevor a chance to beat his heroin addiction at Odyssey House.

In 1993, Pettingill was again in court, once on a charge of growing marijuana and, while on bail on that charge, with his mother and 10 others to face further drug charges.

Kath Pettingill was charged with drugs and firearms offences.

Trevor was sentenced to a minimum 45 months jail when the case came to trial and the court was told of his 32 previous convictions.

In 2001 he was in court again charged with street offences after trying to help a man bailed up by railway inspectors.

He told a suspected fare-evader at North Melbourne station that all you had to do to do to ticket inspectors was "whack them one and walk away."

The magistrate fined Pettingill $500 and described him as a "devotee of democratic justice."