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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 in May and Grampians ‘Ride to Remember’ in February are their annual major fundraisers and both are supported by a most generous community.

Donations to the health service for projects completed since 2002 have included $63,000 for the John McNally Urgent Care Centre, $150,000 for the John McNally Emergency Helicopter Landing Pad, $136,000 for the John McNally Medical Imaging Department for a General and a Portable X Ray Machine in addition to $150,000 for an Image Intensifier and Computorised Radiography, and $50,000 for a new Microscope in the Peri-operative Unit. The Ararat Branch also 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 CT Scanner for the John McNally Medical Imaging Department.

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 a 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 Night 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.

Pleasingly in 2022, at the 20th annual Gala Night the Ararat Branch announced that not only had they reached their target of $235,000 it was with much pleasure to announce over $1,000,000 had been reached, an incredible 20 Year milestone.

This year, 2023 we saw the dedication of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Wing in April, a memorable occasion to honour all Victoria Police Officers killed in the line of duty. In conjunction with this was the announcement of a new project for a $135,000 General Ultrasound Machine. This has recently been installed and the Ararat Branch is hopeful of completing this commitment in early 2024.

Today, as in the past the Ararat Branch is indebted to the ongoing generosity of the community and together with the strong partnership with the Emmerson Financial Group, ACE Radio, AME Systems, Ararat Rural City, TAC, Ararat RSL and many others we are committed to supporting East Grampians Health Service to make a difference for all in the community.

* VALE: Sadly, in February 2022 the Ararat Branch inaugural and long-time President, Terry Weeks APM OAM passed away however the Ararat Branch members are fully committed to continue his legacy into the future.

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

2022 East Grampians Health Service dinner acknowledging the support of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch. Current Ararat Branch members, L-R, Jodie Holwell, Shaun Allen, Jess Seres, Stuart Kerr, Dean Pinniger, Nick Bush, Sandra Marriner, Dianne Radford, VPBRF CEO Neil Soullier, and Peter McIntosh (absent Chris Emmerson and Kirsty Millson).