MEMBERS of the community gathered outside the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre on Thursday morning for the 2022 National Police Remembrance Day ceremony to pay tribute to officers who have lost their lives. 

This year marked the first public ceremony since the beginning of the pandemic, with people of all ages meeting to honour the lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and were killed in the line of duty.

Police chaplain, Reverend Peter Cook OAM, headed the local service, with Local Area Commander for Southern Grampians, inspector Steve Thompson, welcoming those present and thanking them for supporting the family, friends, and colleagues of fallen officers.

“We haven’t been able to meet like this for the last few years so it’s good to be out there in public and meeting formally and having a ceremony like this,” he said.

“We certainly appreciate it and we acknowledge the hard work of bringing it together.

“And it’s really good to see the CFA, FRV, and SES support here today.”

During the ceremony, sergeant, Tracie Kelly, read the Roll of Honour which listed the names of serving members who lost their lives during the last 12 months, including Victoria Police officers, Protective Services officers, Police Custody officers, public service employees, and police chaplains.

During the Hamilton ceremony, a tribute was also paid to retired police members who have passed away in the last year.

Senior Sergeant, Gerard Kelly, attended the ceremony and said the National Police Remembrance Day remembered the 175 police officers throughout Australasia and the South West Pacific who have lost their lives since the formation of Victoria Police in 1853.

“It’s a time to reflect and honour police members who have died in the line of duty over the last year and also to remember those other police members who have passed away,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for police members, retired police members, and families and friends to come along, pay their respects to those who have died in the line of duty or who have since passed away, and acknowledge the work that they do in the community.”

Rev Cook invited attendees to place a sprig of rosemary on the memorial to accompany the wreath laid by Sgt Kelly, as a sign of honouring the memory of those who have passed.

A number of other services were held across the state on Thursday in areas such as Bairnsdale, Bannockburn, Geelong, Korumburra, Mildura, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Westgate, Wodonga and Melbourne.

National Police Remembrance Day coincides with Blue Ribbon Day, an initiative of the Blue Ribbon Foundation which raises money for new facilities and equipment at emergency departments named in memory of fallen officers in Victoria’s public hospitals.