Sergeant John McNally, a local policeman was killed on the goldfields at Mount Ararat on 16th October 1856 and is buried at the local Cathcart cemetery. He was the first member of the Victoria Police Force to be feloniously slain in the line of duty.

The Ararat Branch of Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was established in February 2002 to perpetuate the memory of Sgt McNally and over $1,000,000 has been donated to East Grampians Health Service (Ararat Hospital).

The Black-Tie Gala ‘Night of Nights’ in May and Grampians ‘Ride to Remember’ in February are the annual major fundraisers. Both events are supported by a most generous community and collectively raise close to $80,000.

Donations to the health service for projects completed since 2002 have included the ‘John McNally’ Emergency Department ($63,000), ‘John McNally’ Emergency Helicopter Landing Pad ($150,000), ‘John McNally’ Medical Imaging Department – General and a Portable X Ray Machine ($136,000) an Image Intensifier and Computerized Radiography ($150,000). In addition, in 2014 the Ararat Branch donated $150,000 to match a $200,000 contribution from the East Grampians Health Service ‘Building for the Future’ Foundation for the purchase of a much-needed CT Scanner for the ‘John McNally’ Medical Imaging Department. Also, at the same time $50,000 was donated to the Peri-operative Unit for a new microscope.

In May 2015 the Ararat Branch announced a $150,000 project for the Peri-operative Unit which included the redesign and refurbishment of the Theatre Recovery and Day Procedure. In conjunction with this was the important announcement of new police naming of a local young man, Jason Bond who had only been a member of Victoria Police for a short time, a police officer in training who died as a result of a motor vehicle accident in 2011.

In May 2019 at the 18th annual Gala ‘Nights of Nights’ the Ararat Branch in conjunction with the Blue-Ribbon Foundation announced the future naming of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Wing as part of the forthcoming redevelopment of the Medical Imaging and Pathology Departments. In addition, the Ararat Branch made a commitment of $235,000 to support the purchase of a replacement General X Ray Machine for the area.

Pleasingly in 2022, at the 20th Anniversary Gala ‘Night of Nights’ the Ararat Branch announced that not only had they reached their target of $235,000 in under two years it was with much pleasure to announce over $1,000,000 had been reached, an incredible 20-year milestone to celebrate.

Twenty-twenty-three finally saw the Dedication of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Wing (April) and the Ararat Branch take on another new project for a $135,000 General Ultrasound Machine for the area. Significantly within 12 months, with fantastic community support made the final payment in March 2024, an amazing effort.

At the 2024 Gala Night our new project for a replacement $114,070 Anaesthetic Machine in the Jason Bond Perioperative Unit at the health service was announced with the $40,000 proceeds from the event dedicated towards as the first instalment (August) for this this vital piece of equipment which was very much needed for the two theatres to continue operating. Through the great success of the 2025 Grampians “Ride” (rescheduled to April due to the Grampians bushfires) and the 2025 Gala Night in May the second instalment of $50,000 was handed over in June and the final instalment of $24,070 was presented in August. Remarkably this project was completed in under 12 months, again with the significant support of the Ararat and District community.

* Importantly, Blue Ribbon perpetuates the memory of all Victoria Police who have died in the line of duty.

Ararat Branch: Dianne Radford OAM (President), Acting Snr Sgt Shaun Allen (Vice President), Jess Seres (Hon Secretary), Chris Emmerson (Hon Treasurer), Stuart Kerr, Peter McIntosh, Dean Pinniger, Jodie Holwell, Sgt Sandra Marriner, Nick Bush, Kirsty Millson, Kate Gleeson