This weekend bears a different kind of significance to the normal landscape in football circles as the Mooroopna and Shepparton Swans 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.
Whilst the feature game will be at Mooroopna all other venues hosting today will have donation tins at the gate so please dig deep and help. All the fundraising from this weekend goes to GV Health Emergency Dept and assist in improvements made throughout the hospital which is great for the region.
Shepparton have a branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation with former Shepparton Swans player Glenn Gibson (whose daughter Morgan plays A Grade Netball with Shepparton) as the Secretary with Dean Lloyd 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. The local police constabulary will also toss the coin prior to this game.
There will be a best on ground/court medal award to each team playing at the Mooroopna v Shepparton Swans games and 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 14:10