This weekend bares a different kind of significance to the normal landscape in football circles as the Shepparton Swans and Mooroopna play for the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Shield. These games have been taking place since 2002 and continue to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s message to the Greater Shepparton community.
The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation perpetuates the memory of members of the Victoria Police killed in the line of duty through the support of worthwhile community projects within Victoria.
In total, 159 Victoria Police members have been killed in the line of duty. Of these, 30 have been murdered, which underlines the dangers police members face on a daily basis.
We can do nothing to bring them back but as a grateful community we can take steps to honour their memory and ensure their sacrifice is acknowledged through a range of projects that benefit the wider community.
The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was incorporated in 1998 after several committees, all working to memorialise members of the Victoria Police killed in the line of duty, combined to form one organisation.
The Foundation has volunteer business units that manage and implement all of their fundraising events plus there are 17 regional branches in country Victoria that provide focus and fundraising in their local communities under the Blue Ribbon Foundation's mission statement.
The aims and objectives are to encourage the public of Victoria to remember the sacrifice of officers who have fallen in the line of duty and to show all serving members of Victoria Police that their work and commitment is valued by a caring community.
These aims are achieved through a wide range of projects and activities across Victoria that not only promote awareness but also raises funds for important projects that benefit all Victorians. The foundation provides funding for new and improved emergency facilities in public hospitals named in memory of fallen officers. It's a program that remembers lives by saving others.
All the fundraising from these events go to GV Health Emergency Dept and the department will have rattle tins at the entrance between 10am & 3pm so please give a little something.
Shepparton have a branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation with former Shepparton Swans player Glen Gibson (whose daughter Morgan plays A Grade Netball with Shepparton) as the Secretary with Dean Lloyd (Father of United player James) as the President.
On this very significant day prior to the senior game players and officials of both clubs and local police will have a minutes silence for those killed in the line of duty. After every game of football and netball a medal will be presented to one player from both teams as a best on ground. After the senior football game central umpires and one player from each team will be presented with their medals along with the Plaque to the winning club. The winning club is determined by the club who has the most wins over the 7 games.
On this very significant day prior to the senior game players and officials of both clubs and local police will have a minutes silence for those killed in the line of duty. ??? from ??? will present the medals to the four players after the Under 18 and Reserves games, while Policewoman Thelma Bull will present all the netball medals. ??? from ???? will present the two Senior players and the two central umpires from the Senior game with their medals after the Senior game along with the Plaque to the winning club. The winning club is determined by the club who has the most wins over the 7 games.
If you get an opportunity on this day please say thanks to your local police officer as they put their life on the line each and every day for the benefit of the local community.
For further information on the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation go to www.remember.org.au
Last Modified on 27/09/2016 17:47
