The Greater Shepparton branch of the police Blue Ribbon Foundation has been going since the late 1980s, but dwindling numbers are making it hard for it to continue.
The foundation raises money from events, and the local branch donates it to Goulburn Valley Health, in the name of fallen officers.
The foundation was started after constables Damian Eyre and Steven Tynan were killed in Walsh St in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra in 1988.
Constable Eyre was from Shepparton originally, and his family still lived here, with his father, Frank, a member of Shepparton police for many years.
Shepparton was one of the early Blue Ribbon Foundation branches.
Current Greater Shepparton branch president David Doherty said the idea of the foundation was for people to remember fallen police officers “not in death, but in life”.
The Greater Shepparton branch’s fundraising dollars go to GV Health, with the most recent large project seeing $250,000 donated in 2022.
That donation went towards the redevelopment of an isolation room to treat patients with potentially infectious conditions, and an expansion of the short stay unit and emergency department.
The local Blue Ribbon Foundation branch also holds other fundraising events throughout the year, which have included events such as Inside Story, where detectives talk to an audience about cases they have been involved with, from start to finish.
It also holds fundraising barbecues at Bunnings, as well as events at the Shepparton Greyhounds, a Sporting Shooters Association day, and an annual football match between Shepparton Swans and Mooroopna.
Mr Doherty said the Greater Shepparton branch was looking to for more volunteers to help with organising or running events.
“It’s not a huge commitment,” he said.
“It’s monthly meetings and helping with fundraising events.
“The number have dwindled to just a few of us, and we are unable to do the fundraising on our own.”
Mr Doherty said he hoped to even be able to attract another 10 volunteers to the group.
He wants to keep the group running.
“It’s keeping the memory of the volunteers who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice, and remembering them in life,” he said.
“It’s also supporting the hospital with projects.”
Mr Doherty said that he especially wanted to keep the branch running after the fatal shooting of two police officers in Porepunkah in August.
“People ask ‘how can I help?’ after that, and this is one way they can,” he said.
A public meeting to learn more about the work of the local Blue Ribbon Foundation branch, and to join the committee, will be held on January 7 at 7pm in the foyer at The Sanctuary Church, 4 Treacy St, Mooroopna.
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