AN epic motorcycle ride began last Friday in honour of fallen police, including a stop in Sale.
The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance saw around 400 serving and retired police travel from the Victoria Police Memorial on St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, to the National Police Memorial in Canberra.
Sale-based retired Detective Sergeant Ian Marr spoke at the car park of the Sale Baptist Church, where hundreds of riders stopped for morning tea and getting to know one another.
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“We got a little rain through Moe, but it’s always a good day when we get here (to Sale) safely,” he said.
“Sale is a convenient place to time out the ride so they’re not fatigued. We’ve stuck with this ride route for many years.
“The idea is we remember the people we’ve lost. Some of us have lost quite a few mates.
“This leads into Police Memorial Week. The ride kicks it off.”
More than 1900 riders from police forces across Australia converged at the conclusion of the 850 kilometre journey. About 400 were from Victoria.
Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Libby Murphy presented a special legacy baton to this year’s legatees.
Thankfully it will not carry any names of Victorian police who have died in the last year.
Nationwide five police are being recognised, three of them historical deaths.
“This event is a profound display of our enduring respect and gratitude to those police who have passed,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Murphy said.
“Be it in the line of duty or through other causes, we honour their contribution in making our community a safer place. The Wall to Wall ride also shines a light on the important work of Victoria Police Legacy in supporting the police community in times of tragedy.
“As a police family, we will always be there for the loved ones who are left behind.”
The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance – now in its 15th year – has raised almost $370,000 for the not-for-profit Victoria Police Legacy since it began in 2009.
Nationally for all police legacies, the event has raised about $1.6m.
Money raised is used to provide support for police members and their families who have lost a loved one.
This year’s ride contingent gathered for a special ceremony at 7.30am before departing at 8am under police escort. They travelled to Sale, Lakes Entrance and Cann River before crossing the border into Eden and staying overnight in Merimbula.
On Saturday, riders made their way to Canberra for the national commemoration with police colleagues from all jurisdictions.
Police Week 2024 has begun across the country, starting Saturday, September 14, with the Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance last Friday leading into it. It will conclude on Friday, September 27, National Police Remembrance Day.
A service marking National Police Remembrance Day will be held at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Sale, on September 27 from 10am.
