The presentation of the Blue Ribbon ‘Spirit of Sport’ Awards at Richardson Oval, Ararat to a ‘fairest and best’ from each of the four participating teams during the year of the Association.

The Victoria Police Golf Club and the National Golf Club made a generous donation today of $6,000 to the Blue Ribbon Foundation before start of play in their special charity Golf Day.

Blue Ribbon Foundation CEO, Neil Soullier travelled down to the famous Cape Schank location to receive the cheque and to thank all those involved for their generosity in making this donation possible. 

This donation will directly benefit the foundation’s work of installing new and improved medical facilities in Victoria’s public hospitals named in memory of Victoria Police members who have died in the line of duty. Remembering lives by savings others.

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch presented a cheque for $40,000 to East Grampians Health Service as part of its commitment to the purchase of a new anaesthetic machine.

The $114,070 anaesthetic machine will be used in the EGHS Jason Bond Perioperative Unit.

The upgrade of the Perioperative Unit was funded by the Ararat Branch in 2015 and included a redesign and refurbishment of the theatre recovery and day procedure unit. It was named in memory of local young man Jason Bond, a police officer in training, who died as a result of a motor vehicle accident in 2011.

The donation, which primarily came from the proceeds of the recent successful Gala Night, is the first instalment in the anaesthetic machine project, with the Branch expecting to make another donation following next year’s Grampians ‘Ride to Remember’ in February.

Ararat Branch president Dianne Radford said the branch was pleased to be able to present the first instalment towards the anaesthetic machine.

“Since the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was formed 22 years ago, we have donated more than $1 million to East Grampians Health Service, of which our volunteer committee is very proud,” Mrs Radford said.

“The anaesthetic machine is a vital piece of equipment for the Perioperative Unit, and we are very pleased to donate this equipment to the unit named in honour of Jason Bond.”

The anaesthetic machine is used for anaesthetic purposes for every patient who has a procedure in theatre. 

The purpose of the anaesthetic machine is for the safe administration of anaesthetic gases, including oxygen, medical air, Nitrous and the actual anaesthetic agents. It also allows for the safe and effective monitoring of the anaesthetised patient at all times throughout their anaesthetic journey.

The anaesthetic machine acts as the lungs for the anaesthetised patient, with the ability to administer the correct amounts of medication required for that patient to have their surgery, in a safe and controlled environment.

EGHS chief executive Nick Bush thanked the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch for the first instalment towards, and generous support of, the anaesthetic machine project.“With the support and dedication of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat branch, partners, businesses, organisations and everyone who annually supports the Ararat Branch’s fundraising efforts, we are able to provide state of the art equipment and facilities for our community,” Mr Bush said.

CEO, Neil Soullier travelled to Maryborough to look over the construction of Maryborough’s new public hospital, which is coming along at a blistering pace. We had an opportunity for a walk through and were particularly interested in the location of the new Urgent Care Centre (UCC), which will continue to be named in memory of Senior Constable Maurice Moore, who was killed in the line of duty at Maryborough in September 1986.

Back in 2016 the Moore family, our Maryborough Branch and dozens of tradespeople and suppliers combined to rebuild the outdated UCC in the current hospital. It truly was an incredible show of community spirit and generosity, so we’re pleased that S/C Moore’s memory will continue to live on for many years to come.

Our tour was arranged with the Victorian Health Building Authority and our thanks to Project Director, Darko Jagic for his support and assistance. We and the Moore family – Heather, Kathryn, Paul & Stephen will be working over coming weeks with the VHBA around designs for the new memorial recognition pieces.

A cheque for $20,000 was recently presented by Blue Ribbon/Ararat to the Pomonal Tennis Club being from your recent generosity to the “Giving Back to the Pomonal Community”.

Following conversations that included Ararat Rural City, Blue Ribbon/Ararat and the Pomonal community it was unanimously agreed that the $20,000 would be donated to the Pomonal Tennis Club who were eager to upgrade the tennis court area which very much needs repair work to be playable again.

The enthusiasm of the Tennis Club members certainly has been heartwarming and with significant financial support confirmed from Ararat Rural City via Mayor Bob Sanders who was in attendance, your contributions plus applying for a funding grant will see when completed an area that will accommodate tennis, netball and pickleball plus perhaps a few enhancing amenities to create an infrastructure community wellbeing space that will benefit the whole of the Pomonal Community and beyond.

The donation will go towards rebuilding infrastructure that was destroyed by the February ’24 bushfires. The precinct, which also includes the cricket ground, hall and Men’s Shed is where we have the Grampians Ride to Remember morning tea.

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Last Sunday (2/6) the Ararat Branch partnered with the Ararat & District 13 Football Association to conduct the Blue Ribbon – Spirit of Sport Awards to a recipient of each of the four teams and though chilly it was a great day, not only for us, the young footballers (mixed) but the involvement of our local police as the umpires for the day did a mighty job in very chilly conditions. Pleasingly the umpires were again led by Sgt Shane Allgood who has led the umpiring team so many years.

Tim Campbell, one of most versatile and much loved entertainers and avid Blue Ribbon supporter is returning to Ararat for our 2024 Gala Night. 

When he’s not Dancing With the Stars or entertaining on Channel 9’s Carols By Candlelight, Tim is performing the classic 70s and 80s dance floor hits with his band from his ARIA top 30 and iTunes top 10 album High School Disco, traveling around the country in concert and at special events. 

Tim is certainly a star of both stage and screen from leading television roles, hosting national prime TV shows and lead roles in stage shows. 

Also appearing, Darrell “Mud” Madex is a local favourite and will be part of the supporting entertainment first up, then later in night will be joined by his talented sons Jake and Mitchell Madex to present the Mudda’s and will have you dancing the night way. 

Location: Ararat Town Hall 
Date: 31 May 2024 
Time: 7pm 

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation – Ararat Branch “Gala Night” is a major fundraising with all proceeds from this year’s event directed towards a new project for East Grampians Health Service (Ararat Hospital).

@Blue Ribbon

A special day on the weekend to honour Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller with the 26th annual Blue Ribbon Cup played between Hawthorn and St Kilda.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended and paid special tribute to Gary and Rodney and the other Police members throughout Australia who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

A special thank you to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton and Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams for presenting the Cup.

Rodney’s son Jimmy Miller and Gary’s nephew Jonathan presented the Best on Ground awards. All players also received a Blue Ribbon medal to mark the occasion. Plus some fans were given ‘Boots’ blue heeler police puppies post game by the winning Hawks players.

Last Sunday we celebrated the 35th running of the Angela Taylor Memorial Run/Walk at Albert Park Lake.

Over 1280 competitors took part in the 5km walk/run or the 10km run. Our largest field ever.

The Craigieburn AfterBurners took out the 5km Angela Taylor Memorial Shield for Police members for the third year in a row. Team Collingwood and AFP Southern Command finished second and third.

The 10km Shield for Police Emergency Services and Health Care Services was won by Team AFP Southern Command for the second year in a row and the third time in four years. Brunswick UNI and Academy Cruisers finished second and third.

BankVic took out the inaugural award for corporate and general public teams in the 5km run.

Academy Cruisers won the largest team award with 122 members, which is a great effort and the highest fundraisers went to Team MACPAC 2.0.

Plenty of four-legged friends took part and they all received a nice treat at the end.

A special thank you to Arthur and Marilyn Taylor for presenting the awards with Chief Commissioner Shane Patton and Blue Ribbon Foundation Chairman David Mann.

A Special thanks to BankVic for their valued support.

Also our volunteers, Vic Road Runners, SES and Blue Knights for helping on the day.