Blue Ribbon Foundation

Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Mission Statement

To perpetuate the memory of members of Victoria police killed in the line of duty through the support of worthwhile community projects within Victoria.

The Foundation

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was originally founded in 1988 as the Tynan Eyre Memorial Foundation, after the felonious slaying of Constables Damian Eyre and Steven Tynan on Wednesday 12th October, 1988 outside 222 Walsh Street, South Yarra. The purpose of the Foundation was to perpetuate the memory of Victoria Police Officers, who died in the performance of their duty, by providing resources to worthwhile non-profit Victorian Community Projects and to foster positive interaction between the Victoria Police, and the Community.

On the 11th November 1998 the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was incorporated after several committees, all working to memorialise members of the Victoria Police killed in the line of duty, combined to form one organisation.

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation remembers fallen Police Officers in a way that better recognises their sacrifice while serving their community, by creating Living Memorials that not only perpetuate their memory but also their service to the community of Victoria.

The Victoria Blue Ribbon Foundation is a community based, volunteer organisation, which receives no government funding, is managed by a Board of Management comprising serving and retired members of the Victoria Police, business people who contribute their considerable skill and experience, and the membership of the Foundation which includes over 270 volunteers from all walks of life who want to make a difference in their community. The Head Office is based in Moorabbin, plus there are 14 regional branches including Ararat, Bendigo, Colac, Shepparton, Ballarat/Maryborough, East Gippsland, Geelong, North East, Mildura, Swan Hill, Echuca, Horsham, Westgate and Portland.

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation supports programs that funds new and improved emergency facilities in Victorian Public Hospitals that are then named in memory of fallen police officers. So far more than 23 units in both metropolitan and regional hospitals that treat over 125,000 patients annually have been funded.

Through the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation, the public are able to channel their support and appreciation to the Victoria Police and honour the sacrifice of those who have paid the ultimate price for the preservation of law and order in our community.

Ararat Branch

Since 2002 the Ararat Branch has worked tirelessly and has raised funds in excess of $600,000 towards the purchase of equipment for East Grampians Health Service in memory of Sgt John McNally who was killed on the goldfields at Cathcart via Ararat in 1856.

Funds raised have included:

$ 63,000      John McNally Emergency Department

$150,000     John McNally Emergency Helicopter Landing Pad

$286,000     John McNally Medical Imaging Department (Radiology equipment)

 $45,000       Peri Operative Department (Theatre equipment)

The Ararat Branches current project is to raise $150,000 towards a new CT Scanner for the John McNally Medical Imaging (Radiology) Department.

The Branch which is now 10 years old still has a number of inaugural members including Terry Weeks OAM, Tim Andrew, Rod McKenzie, Peter McIntosh, Stuart Kerr and Dianne Radford.

Ararat Branch Members

·         Terry Weeks OAM (President)

·         Dianne Radford (Hon Secretary)

·         Peter Hawkins (Hon Treasurer)

·         Tim Andrew

·         Peter McIntosh

·         Rod McKenzie

·         Stuart Kerr

·         Chris Emmerson

·         Nick Bush

·         Jodie Holwell

·         Jess Baird