About Us
Ambassadors
Blue Ribbon Foundation Ambassadors are leading people in our community who lend their voice and support to police remembrance in Victoria.
Policing is a challenging and hazardous occupation. It’s important that those within our police family including those who work in non-operational support roles know that their service is appreciated by the community they serve.
Ambassadors are engaged to connect with other Victorians, especially those in their networks, through social media, websites and other forums. They may also be active participants during National Police Remembrance Day and Blue Ribbon Day by attending and speaking at memorial services, school assemblies and civic functions.
Our Ambassadors
Paul Margetts
Paul Margetts is a Superintendent with more than 40 years of service with Victoria Police. He has worked extensively in metropolitan and regional operations, leading policing and public safety programs.
In 2015, Paul was promoted to Superintendent and appointed as the Divisional Commander for the Grampians, Wimmera and Southern Mallee area. In 2020, Paul was seconded to the Australian Institute of Police Management as a visiting fellow, with responsibility for developing future leaders. In 2021, Paul was appointed as the Police Coordinator for COVID-19 mandatory quarantine accommodation, involving a total of 14 hotels and up to 750 Victoria Police staff.
Paul has supported the Blue Ribbon Foundation in many ways since 2002; in recent years as the Patron of the Ararat Branch, Grampians Ride for Remembrance, and as a branch member at Horsham. In 2019, Paul’s research resulted in re-connecting the family of Constable Edward O’Neill with the Blue Ribbon Foundation and the greater Police family.
Paul is the beneficiary of having a highly supportive family, it is this support that motivates Paul to honour the memory of fallen Police officers as a mark of respect to their families.
Hayleigh Brennan
Hayleigh Brennan is a talented cricketer who has played in the WBBL and WNCL, as well as playing cricket for Middlesex and Shooting Stars in a tour of Sri Lanka.
Hayleigh is a passionate person and is now playing and coaching on the side. She is a diehard Bombers fan in the AFL and a Rabbitohs fan in the NRL. Hayleigh started playing cricket at age 5 and has since won multiple awards in Mens and Womens cricket competitions across Victoria. Play Premier 1st for Melbourne CC as an opening bowler and mid/low order batter.
Hayleigh has friends serving in Victoria Police and wants to do her part in helping the Foundation and hopefully, after cricket join Victoria Police herself.
The Blue Knights is an International Motorcycle Club for past and present Law Enforcement Officers who share a common interest in recreational motorcycle rides. Blue Knights started back in 1974 in the USA, however by 1978 the Blue Knights formed its first Australian Chapter known as Blue Knight Australia. Internationally there are over 636 chapters with in excess of 20,550 members of either active or retired Law Enforcement Officers.
In 2019 the new Victorian/Tasmanian Chapter was created and chartered as the 7th Chapter in Australia, known as Blue Knights Australia VII or BKAUSVII for short. Being a member of the Blue Knights allows members to feel comfortable in sharing a recreational interest with people who have shared working experiences in Law Enforcement which sometimes can be challenging and difficult. Members welfare is a priority and as a club regular day rides are organised, as well as overnight and interstate events that support the Blue Ribbon Foundation and fellow Police Officers who have lost their lives serving the community they love.”
We thank Blue Knights Australia VII and Blue Knights Australia IX for their support.
Community Ambassador – Wes Davidson
Wes Davidson is the Principal and Managing Director of Wes Davidson Real Estate in Western Victoria. Wes and his business are committed supporters of our Horsham Blue Ribbon Foundation Branch.
We are grateful that Wes and his business are Blue Ribbon Foundation Community Ambassadors for the region.
Josh is an established Australian musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has worked prolifically since he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) in 2006.
Josh kicked off his career performing with the International pop opera group The Ten Tenors and he then made his mark as Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story. His other musical theatre credits include Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2016 season of Cats, a role that won him the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical; Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray and most recently Gerry Goffin in the Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
In 2018 his debut self-titled album went to number 1 on both the Aria and iTunes Charts (Classical Crossover) in Australia.
Josh is currently playing the lead in the London production of The Phantom of the Opera.
Harrison Craig is a singer who originally made his mark as The Voice Australia winner and since that time he has achieved two #1 Aria Albums (one of which went platinum), 54-show tour of Australia for his Kings of Vegas Album plus international performances in Canada, Indonesia and the USA.
He has worked with icons of the music and entertainment industry including Seal, David Foster, Baz Luhrmann, Diane Warren, Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton John.
Harrison has also released his first Children’s book titled Harrison’s Song and speaks to students, teachers and parents alike about chasing your dreams.
With such an impressive resume, Harrison is a down-to-earth person who wants to contribute to the community, especially in Victoria and we are honoured that he accepted our invitation to become an Ambassador.
Blue Ribbon Foundation Ambassador – Great Britain
Michael Hallowes is a 30-year veteran of policing London, reaching the rank of Detective Chief Superintendent before being appointed in 2011 as the Emergency Services Commissioner for the State of Victoria.
During his time and service to Victoria, Michael became a devoted contributor to the Blue Ribbon Foundation and was a senior member of the Blue Ribbon Day Council.
During his policing career Michael served with the Metropolitan Police Service in both Specialist Operations and Specialist Crime and worked on some of the most high-profile investigations of the time.
He is the only serving British police officer to have addressed the UN General Assembly in New York (on countering the illicit arms trade).
For thirteen years he was also a hostage negotiator. He holds eighteen policing awards and commendations.
Today, Michael lives in London and works in the voluntary sector. As a Blue Ribbon Foundation Ambassador, Michael is able to share our model with law enforcement agencies and communities in Britain and Europe.
Blue Ribbon Foundation Ambassador – Great Britain
Hamish Clark is a Scottish actor and entertainer. He has performed widely as a supporting actor in a variety of media including motion picture, stage, television and radio.
Clark is well known as the kilt-wearing Duncan McKay in the BBC TV series Monarch of the Glen, which was set entirely in Scotland.
He moved to London in 1995 to pursue his professional acting career and is well-known through a wide range of advertising campaigns, including Australia, where he plays the role of ‘Sarge’ in the Budget Direct insurance commercials.
Hamish is good friends with Michael Hallowes and together they are hoping to see remembrance for police officers more widely recognised in the community, such as it is here in Victoria.
ACE Radio CEO Mark Taylor has spent for than 42 years in commercial radio.
Mark says he “still loves the industry today” as much as he did going on air for the very first time in August 1981 at 5MU Murray Bridge.
Mark’s career started with announcing but quickly progressed to Program Manager and then General Manager of a number of radio stations around Australia.
He has worked at 5MU, 5AD, 5AU, 3TR, 4MK and in 1993 joined Ace Radio as Group Program Director. For Ace, he then managed 3WM and 2AY, then took over the role of CEO in 2015. He also enjoys a very hands-on role in all aspects of the business.
Mark has also supported the Blue Ribbon Foundation for more than 20 years and especially around our Regional Branches in Ararat & Horsham. He has hosted many of the Foundation’s community & fundraising events and we are pleased to have him on board
Gavin Wood is an icon of the Australian broadcasting and music industries with a list of credits across radio and television that could fill several pages.
Many young people grew up listening to Gavin on shows such as Countdown, Hey Hey it’s Saturday, The Price is Right and was host of the Lotto Draws on Chennel 7 for an incredible 13 years.
He has hosted his own radio shows on more than 11 radio stations across Australia and still finds time to be a guest speaker and MC for major events and business conferences.
Gavin was also CEO of his own media company for 25 years and again, we are honoured he has agreed to be one of our Ambassadors.
Thomas Currie is currently performing in Basically Nocturnal, which opened at the Melbourne Cabaret Festival in 2021 and will tour to Wynnum Fringe Festival late 2021. Thomas has been described as “a natural story teller… (with) star quality to spare” (Theatre People) with a “remarkable, beautiful baritone (voice)” (Melbourne Observer).
A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Thomas is the musical director/arranger of Committed Content Confused (Wynnum Fringe Festival 2020) and a performer/arranger for Uplift, a series of concerts in the UK. and performs for corporate events, including The 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final, Police Carols by Candlelight and has appeared on Joy 94.9, Casey Radio 97.7 and 3AW radio. In 2020, Thomas was part of the Green Room Award winning Hope Initiative and will return to the project in 2021. In 2018, he performed in and produced two sold out seasons of The Curtain Rises. Thomas also has family connections to police.
If you require any further information, please contact the Foundation at (03) 9555 8000 or email cassandra@remember.org.au
