Vedran Drakulić OAM Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation

In his new role, Mr Drakulić will lead the Foundation’s strategic direction, fundraising activities and stakeholder engagement, supporting the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to enhancing policing resources, hospital facilities and trauma care for the Victorian community.

Mr Drakulić said it was an honour to be appointed CEO of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation.

“The Blue Ribbon Foundation has a proud history of supporting Victoria Police and improving outcomes for victims of trauma,” Mr Drakulić said.
“I look forward to working closely with the Board, donors, volunteers, Victoria Police, the Blue Ribbon branches and our many community partners to build on this significant legacy and ensure the Foundation continues to make a meaningful difference across Victoria.”

Mr Drakulić succeeds Neil Soullier OAM who the Board thanked for his dedication and long-standing contribution to the Foundation.

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation (originally named the Tynan-Eyre Memorial Foundation) was established in 1988 and has since raised millions of dollars to help fund new and upgraded emergency and trauma care equipment and facilities in Victorian public hospitals, each named in memory of police officers who died in the line of duty.

A record contigent of 580 riders and pillions from across Victoria, SA and NSW took part in the 18th annual Grampians “Ride to Remember” on Sunday, February 1st.
With cooler conditions motorcycle enthusiasts came out in force arriving in Ararat from Friday onwards, with many of the 460 plus who had pre registered taking advantage of a weekend in the area, and those who chose to register on the day mostly from across the local region making up the record participation for the 2026 Ride.

Led by Victoria Police Solos and followed by the Victoria Police Forward Command with Acting Snr Sgt Shaun Allen at the helm then Ride Patron Paul Margetts, the Ride travelled out via Tatyoon Road to the rural countryside taking in Maroona, Lake Bolac, Wickliffe before arriving in Willaura for morning tea which was prepared by the Willaura Health Care Auxiliary volunteers with a number of Pomonal supporters coming along to assist after doing the morning tea last year.

After an hour break to rehydrate the Ride took off again and headed via Yarram Gap Road to the Grampians National Park and then south through last year’s fire affected area to Dunkeld. The Ride then started the journey back to Ararat via Glenthompson to Willaura/Moyston Rd, turning into Andrews Lane and back through to Ararat arriving at the Alexandra Gardens ontime with everyone eager to pickup their Ararat Lions Club prepared lunches and rehydrate with plenty of bottled water on offer, in addition to picking up a hot drink from the IC Coffee vans. It is worth noting that the Ararat Lions Club have catered for the Ride for many, many years and again did a great job, this year preparing 600 lunch boxes.

The Show N Shine aspect of the Ride again attracted good entries and longtime sponsor Shannon’s Insurance’s David Waight assisted in the presentations of the six category winner/runner prizes. Together with Horsham Harley Davidson both have supported the continuation of the Show N Shine every year. Ararat Branch President, Dianne Radford said: “ We have had a most successful 2026 Ride which kicked off with a full house at the Welcoming Dinner at the Ararat RSL. It was great to see many familiar riders/pillions attending and the extra activities added to this function makes it more popular each year.
The Ararat RSL team did a great job on the night, then had to regroup for a very early start on the Sunday morning catering for brekkie prior to the Ride taking off.
The Ride itself was conducted safely and was most enjoyable with lots of comments of how spectacular it was travelling through the Grampians National Park and to see the regrowth following the fires of last year.

To everyone involved Blue Ribbon/Ararat puts out a big thank to our Victoria Police, Marshals, Vehicle and Medical Support who did a great job out on the Ride in addition to the Ararat Rural City and the Willaura community for their involvement. Well done to the Ride Sub Committee, Branch members and partners, plus the many communty volunteers who helped out at the Ararat RSL registrations and at the Alexandra Gardens, in addition to those who helped out leading up to the event we certainly could not have done such a big event without you all – a fantastic effort.
Importantly the Ararat Branch acknowledges our major sponsors AME Systems, ACE Radio, Ararat Rural City, TAC, the Ararat RSL and the Ararat Advocate together with the many other supporters who all assisted in making the 2026 Ride the best”.