The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation is delighted to welcome Budget Car and Truck Rental to its family of supporters as the Principal Partner

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation (VPBRF) is proud to announce a significant new five-year partnership with Budget Car and Truck Rental, marking a major milestone in the Foundation’s ongoing work to honour Victoria Police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

This long-term commitment reflects Budget’s strong alignment with the Foundation’s mission and its dedication to supporting the Victorian community. As part of the partnership, Budget will also actively promote the collaboration across its fleet, with VPBRF branding to be featured on trucks and vans, helping to raise awareness of the Foundation’s work across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Chair of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation, Mark Stone AM, welcomed the partnership, noting its importance financially, operationally and symbolically.

“Budget joins us as our Principal Partner, following on from decades of past support. This is a deeply valued relationship for our Foundation. Budget’s multi-year commitment demonstrates a genuine belief in our mission to honour the sacrifice of fallen officers while supporting critical health infrastructure that benefits the entire Victorian community.

“Having our message carried across Victoria through Budget’s vehicle fleet will significantly expand awareness of our work and ensure the legacy of those we honour continues to reach new audiences – as well as helping us to continue to foster strong, supportive and trusted relationship between the community and our Police Force.”

Budget Car and Truck Rental Chair, Paul Wheelton AM CGSJ, said the company was proud to support the Foundation and its enduring impact.

“We are honoured to partner with the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation and to serve as its Principal Partner. This relationship and connection is about more than just financial support – it’s about helping share their story across the communities we serve every day.”

Since its establishment, the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to public health facilities, including the funding of key hospital infrastructure and vital emergency medical equipment that help save lives and support the frontline medical staff.

“This partnership with Budget represents a shared commitment to community, remembrance, and impact – ensuring that the sacrifice of the fallen police officers is remembered, that their service legacy endures, and that it continues to make a meaningful difference for generations to come,” concluded Mr Stone.

The Lions Club of Ararat has donated significant funding to the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch’s fundraising project, a mammography unit for the Blue Ribbon Foundation Wing at East Grampians Health Service.

Members of the Lions Club met with Blue Ribbon Ararat Branch members and EGHS staff to present a cheque for $20,000 towards the project.

The mammography unit project is the largest in the Ararat Branch’s 24-year history. The Ararat Branch has committed to raising $250,000 towards the purchase of the vital equipment, which will cost in total $296,000. Additional funds will be provided by East Grampians Health Service.

Mammography is a specialised breast x-ray imaging technique used for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Having a mammography unit at EGHS will enable the health service to offer an additional service to Ararat and surrounding areas by improving access to the national free screening program, BreastScreen, which can identify early signs of breast cancer in asymptomatic people.

It is estimated that EGHS could screen approximately 700 clients through BreastScreen each year and having a local service will reduce the need for long-distance travel, with Ballarat currently the closest service.

Ararat Branch president Dianne Radford was thrilled to accept the cheque on behalf of members.

“Almost everyone knows someone or has a relation who has been affected by cancer in some way,” she said.

“This donation from Lions is just incredible and I cannot thank them enough.”

Lions Club president Peter McNeil said the members of the club were delighted to support such a worthy cause.

Mrs Radford said the Ararat Branch had already raised $55,000 toward the project, with the Lions donation providing a welcome boost.

The EGHS Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay team is aiming to raise $10,000, which will also go towards the Blue Ribbon Foundation mammography unit project.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation’s next fundraising event for the mammography unit project will be the annual Gala Night, to be held on Friday May 29 at the Ararat Town Hall, with ticket details to be released soon.

Since the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was formed 24 years ago, it has donated more than $1.2 million to East Grampians Health Service.