Initially, the Retired Police Association of Tasmania (RPAT) was reserved for retired members of the Tasmania Police Force of the rank of Inspector and above. The meetings were only attended by between five to ten members and appeared to be a very informal gathering.

Mr A.P. Canning, who was later to become President, made the recommendation that the membership should be opened up to all police officers of Tasmania Police Force who had resigned or retired after having served at least eight years.

A meeting was conducted on 4 December 1990 at the Police Academy with approximately sixty retired police in attendance. The President at that time, the late George Billing, addressed the meeting on the proposal that the RPAT be formalised by the adoption of the Constitution previously circulated, and was duly ratified by the members present.

The members elected to the committee at that inaugural meeting were President George Billing, Vice Presidents Fred Shepherd and Don Williams, and Secretary/Treasurer Aub Canning, a position he held until the close of 2002 when he was elected President.

The committee members elected at that time were Ken Bradford, Arthur Woods, Lloyd Webster and Dave House.