Victoria Police Legacy

On Thursday 25th September, Patricia (Trish) Koch and Kevin Milne, daughter and son of police legatee, the late Marguerite Milne, had the honour of attending a Victoria Police graduation ceremony at the Victoria Police Academy hosted by VPL Ambassador Police Veteran Peter Bellion APM, and as special guest of Chief Commissioner Mike Bush CNZM. Victoria Police Legacy is deeply grateful for the opportunity to share in these milestone moments. Having Police Legatees attend graduations throughout the year is a powerful reminder of the enduring connection between past, present, and future members of the policing family.

Join us for the 16th instalment of Highball Cars and Coffee, held at Bosch HQ in Clayton, next Sunday 19th October from 8am-12pm. The main front lawn will be exclusively reserved for yellow vehicles only, so bring along your cool, quirky classic or modern vehicle for a unique photo opportunity. Enjoy plenty of food, coffee and great company amongst a relaxed family friendly environment. Please follow and respect the instructions of the HiVis volunteers to help things run smoothly. All proceeds will be donated to Victoria Police Legacy. A huge ‘THANKS’ to Highball Cars and Coffee and Bosch Australia & New Zealand for their ongoing support.

VPL's 2025 Children’s Camp was a great success, with 29 young police legatees, accompanied by VPL leaders, spending their school holidays enjoying a range of activities and building lasting connections at Camp Wyuna at Queenscliff. Among the many exciting activities were a Marine Discovery Tour, a visit from the Water Police and Air Wing, the Yeodene Treetops Adventure, boogie boarding, bike riding, archery, and fishing. Thank you to Victoria Police Members and Protective Service Officers who, through their fortnightly contributions, make these experiences possible.

Victoria Police invite the community to pause and pay tribute on National Police Remembrance Day, observed on Monday 29 September, with a metropolitan march and commemorative service. Regional services will also take place across the state. For information on your local service, please visit https://lnkd.in/fA3S8pi

The Spring edition of CARE magazine is here! In this issue... 🐎 Hooves & Heart: Unforgettable moments at VPL Family Day 💙 National Police Remembrance Day Services - 29 September 🙏 The Strength Behind the Thin Blue Line 🏅National Police Service Medals Click to read: https://lnkd.in/gfPGNYVd

A wonderful group of Police Legatees recently returned from a fantastic Regional Getaway connection event in Hobart. Held over 3 nights, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends and new whilst exploring the stunning surrounds. Thank you to all those members of Victoria Police and supporters of VPL who, through their generous donations, ensure that the policing family never forgets their loved ones.

This morning the annual Wall to Wall Remembrance Ride with over 300+ Police Members, Police Veterans and Community Members on motorbikes left from the Victoria Police Memorial in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, to ride to Canberra to meet up tomorrow with riders from police jurisdictions from across Australia. This annual event, which is now in its 16th year and held in support of Police Legacies throughout Australia, will see over 2000 motorbikes converge on the National Police Memorial for the National Wall to Wall Remembrance Service tomorrow at 4pm. This year, young Victoria Police Legatee Warick Jury, accompanied by his guardian, Anne, will carry the Chief Commissioners Baton and place it at the National Police Memorial in honour and in remembrance of his mother, Gail, and those who have served but who are no longer with us. This year, the baton sadly contains the names of two Victoria Police members, Senior Constable Vadim De Waart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, who died in Porepunkah on Tuesday 26th August. This morning's service also recognised long serving and respected Tasmania Police officer Constable Keith Smith, who was killed in the line of duty on 16 June this year while responding to an incident in the state’s northwest. We will remember. We will remember. Hasten the dawn.

Police Legatees in the Cardinia region enjoyed connecting at a Sausage Sizzle on Tuesday 9th September at Pakenham Police Station. A huge thanks to Police Legatee Jo Boulter for organising the event, and to Acting Sergeant Andrew Mitch and K9 Tracker, Cardina Local Area Commander Inspector Scott Brennan, VPL Ambassadors Inspector Terry Rowlands and Senior Constable Nick Stefaniw for joining the group for a chat and potting of some Michaelmas 'Police Legacy' Daisies for police legatees to take home. What a fantastic day!

We’re honoured to share this beautiful initiative led by Senior Constable Alex Prestney - the Relay to Remember - at Albert Park Lake on Saturday, September 20. Walk, run, donate or simply come along - every step and share makes a difference. 'We’d like to invite you all to a special day down at Albert Park Lake for the Relay to Remember, Saturday September 20th. Having been in a similar situation to the families of our fallen members Vadim and Neal, the community wrapped its arms around us. We are so grateful for those who did this for our family, but it’s not about us, it’s about Vadim, Neal and their nearest and dearest. We’re just here to pay it forward. Come and join in as we cover 71.1km, which is their registered numbers combined, configured as 44.954km and 26.182km across three teams lead by mum Belinda, dad Andrew and myself around Albert Park Lake. Each team will run a total of 23.7km, however you’re free to run as little or as long as you would like. If you’re not up to running, you can come join in for a walk. Our aim is to contribute as much as we can to the donation fund for the de Waart and Thompson families so that they may gain some comfort for the future, with their loved ones no longer with them. Donate via the link ➡️https://lnkd.in/g-VPewsd Please spread this far and wide, along with love and support, to show Vadim and Neal’s families that they are not, and will never be alone💙' - Senior Constable Alex Prestney

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson’s life will be celebrated with full Police honours today, Monday 8 September, at the Victoria Police Academy. We join with Victoria Police and communities across Victoria in mourning the loss of Neal. 'We will remember' Donate to the VPL Remembrance Fund - https://lnkd.in/g-VPewsd