The annual Ararat Branch “Black Tie” Blue Ribbon Gala Night will be held on Friday, 30th May at the Ararat Town Hall.

We would like to again invite you to be one of our supportive Table Captains and assist with hosting a table of 10 or 12 guests – we hope you can join us and ask, if you are keen, that you please confirm by EOD Friday, 21st March (Phone: 0419 316 920).

This will assist in having your table set up in advance on our try-booking site which will open up on Tuesday, 1st April.

We are also excited to announce that the entertainment will be an “Ararat Extravaganza” of local musicians directed by Dave Nicholson … this will bring together an array of the great talent we have in Ararat & District that will have you dancing the night away. 

More details to come when bookings open, it is going to be big! Our Main Auction and Silent Auction looks to be better than ever.

Enjoy a fun evening while at the same time helping to raise funds toward a new Anaesthetic Machine in the Jason Bond Perioperative Unit at East Grampians Health Service (Ararat Hospital).

The Blue Ribbon Foundation and #fightingptsdvicpol are please to announce our second Police Assistance Dog (PAD), Charlie has been allocated to a loving home with retired veteran Julie.

In 2023, The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation in conjunction with the #fightingptsdvicpol campaign commenced the PAD program. During this time, we have raised over $200,000 which is being held in Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundations mental health fund.

Charlie and Julie, who now lives in Queensland, are loving a brand new life and taking journies outside the constraints of a home. From just shopping in a supermarket to jumping on a plane to travel to Victoria, this would never had happened without the support of Charlie Kane.

Julie said that the training of Charlie is amazing. As a past breeder herself, she said Charlie’s ability to understand sensory and emotional changes is just incredible.

Charlie was trained in Queensland with Assistance Dogs Australia and was matched through a 12 month process supported by Blue Ribbon Foundation with the application forms filled in with assistance of good friend Margie Lewis.

Assistance Dogs Australia will continue to support Julie and Charlie forever. 

The #fightingptsdvicpol campaign for nearly 9 years now has been raising awareness for PTSD and Mental Health for our Victoria Police members and Retired Police Veterans.

If any Retired Victoria Police Veteran is interested in making an application please utilise the contact details on our website.

It is life changing.

The new date for the year’s Ride to remember will be Sunday April 6th, this event was originally scheduled for February 2nd but was postponed due to bushfires.

The event is open to all licensed motorcycle enthusiasts. It will be hosted by the Ararat Branch of The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. 

Once confirmed all route info will be available to view via the Trybooking link below:

Tickets and entry to the 2025 Ride can be secured via https://www.trybooking.com/CVEUM

Registration: $50 per rider/pillion which includes your Morning Tea & Picnic Lunch plus your 2025 Commemorative Badge, Bike Sticker, Super Cooling Towel and Bottled Water.

Check out all the details re the Show N Shine (Free Entry), Main Raffle (10 Great Prizes) plus our Merchandising range on offer.

The popular Welcoming Dinner ($15) is also on once again, if you would like to attend the dinner at the Ararat RSL on the Saturday night please book now as this is filling fast with limited seats available.“ Ride to Remember” looks forward to welcoming all participants to Ararat in April and would like to take this opportunity to please, take care and keep safe.

If you do not wish to register online, print registration page Click Here

Raffle 26 is open (December 13)

1

Featuring the perfect combination of sleek style and design with space for the whole family, the Range Rover Velar is ready to be won as part of the $250K First Prize Pack.

With a classic Range Rover look, this car is agile and nimble for all of life’s adventures, fitted out with cutting-edge technology and the flexibility of hybrid driving. Plus, this incredible first prize pack comes with over $86,000 worth of cashable gold bullion, giving you the option to spend, save or invest as you please.

Raffle 26 closes 8pm AEST on Thursday, 20 March 2025 and Winners will be drawn and announced on Friday, 21 March 2025 at playforpurpose.com.au/winners and on our socials.

1

1

The 2025 Grampians “Ride to Remember” will be held on Sunday, 2nd February and will be open to all licensed motorcycle enthusiasts.

The 196km Ride has been endorsed by Victoria Police and will start in Ararat at 9am  and travel the rural countryside including Crowlands, Joel South, through Stawell and onto Pomonal for Morning Tea again this year, then into the Grampians National Park via Halls Gap to Yarram Gap Rd then back to Willaura, Maroona and onto Ararat for a relaxing lunch at the Alexandra Gardens – 2025 Ride route.

Entry is $50 per rider/pillion and will include the 2025 Commemorative Badge, Morning Tea & Picnic Lunch, Bottled Water, etc.

The popular Welcoming Dinner at the Ararat RSL is on the Saturday night (1/2) plus ordering of merchandising will be available with the opening of registrations on 1st November, 2024.In the meantime, take care, keep safe and we look forward to welcoming you to Ararat for an enjoyable Ride in February.

Win TWO cars!

First prize is worth $250k. A BMW X4 and an all-electric Mini Cooper SE plus $60k in gold bullion.Get your tickets now and also receive entry to early bird prize draws for raffle 25.

---

Blue Ribbon Ball sponsors Snowy River Caravans and Blanchard Racing Team kindly donated a few rides in their V8Supercar yesterday at Sandown Raceway.

The lucky recipients were Oscar Broad and Lachlan McKenzie.

Both were recently awarded with a Citizens Commendation by Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.

They stepped in to help a VicPol officer who had fractured his leg in two places after a struggle broke out while trying to arrest three teenagers who were graffitiing a shop in Creswick.While Oscar and Lachlan rode with Jack Perkins, full-time Supercar racer James Courtney was on hand for photos.

MELBOURNE

MARCH & NPRD SERVICE

10.00am, Friday 27 September

We invite all police members (past and present), their families and the Victorian community to join the official march and service for National Police Remembrance Day.

The march (step-off) and parade will start at 10am from Princes Bridge, St Kilda Road.

The parade will move along St Kilda Road to the Victoria Police Memorial, King’s Domain, Melbourne.

A service will follow from 10.20am at the Victoria Police Memorial, Kings Domain.

BOROONDARAH

2.00pm, Friday 27 September

Boroondarah Police Complex

34 Harp Road, Kew East 3102

SUNSHINE

11.00am Thursday 26 September

Club Italia

128-152 Furlong Road, Sunshine

Guests are requested to arrive by 10.45am for the 11.00 start

Refreshments will follow the Service.

BANNOCKBURN

9.00am Saturday 28 September

Bannockburn Police Station (in front of station)

51 High Street, Bannockburn 3331

SPRINGVALE

END OF DAY REFLECTION SERVICE

4pm, Friday 27 September

Springvale Botanical Cemetery

Victoria Police Memorial – Cnr Fifth & Sixth Roads

Outdoor Ceremony followed by refreshments

REGIONAL VICTORIA

ROSEBUD

10.00AM Friday 27 September

Rosebud RSL Club

117 Eastbourne Road, Rosebud

Police Memorial Service followed by light refreshments

ARARAT

11.00am Monday 30 September

Holy Trinity Anglican Church

47 High Street, Ararat

Refreshment after the Service

BALLARAT

11.30am Thursday 26 September

St Pauls Anglican Church

1309 Sturt Street, Ballarat

BENDIGO

Central Victoria Police Remembrance Day Service

10.00am Friday 27 September

St Paul’s Anglican Church

4 Myers Street, Bendigo

Police members & Veterans wishing to march:

March will commence from Williamson/ Myer’s Intersection.

Form up point: 10 Myers Street by 9.45am

March will commence promptly at 10am.

GEELONG

10.30am Monday 30 September

Peter & St Paul Catholic Church

Cnr Mercer & Malone Streets, Geelong

All are welcome.

SHEPPARTON

10.30am Friday 27 September

Monash Park (cnr Fryers Street & Welsford Street)

Refreshments following the Service.

HAMILTON

10.00am Friday 27 September

Hamilton Performing Arts Centre

113 Brown Street, Hamilton

HORSHAM

10.00AM Friday 27 September

St Michael and Johns Catholic Church

10 Roberts Avenue, Horsham

Refreshments following the Service.

MILDURA

11.00am Thursday 26 September

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

259 Eleventh Street, Mildura 3500

MANSFIELD

10.00am Friday 27 September

Front of the Mansfield Police Station

SALE

10.30am Friday 27 September

St Paul’s Cathedral

149 Cunningham Street, Sale

TRARALGON

11.30am Friday 27 September

Traralgon Uniting Church

19 Park Lane, Traralgon

WARRNAMBOOL

11.00 am Friday 27 September

Old Police Station Memorial

Gilles Street, South West Warrnambool

(Behind the TAFE College)

WODONGA

10.30am Friday 27 September

Sacred Heart Church

285 Beechworth Road, Wodonga

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.