For the unfamiliar, Blue Ribbon Day is an annual initiative designed to acknowledge, support and celebrate our nation’s police force and their families. 

In Australia, first responders are highly skilled men and women who deliver the initial response in emergency situations, interacting with people and the forces of nature in extreme circumstances. Incidents requiring emergency response often involve serious injury or death, or a threat to life, safety and property, and members of this field are commonly referred to as emergency service workers. 

While this group includes a wide range of professions, jobs that are most commonly identified with the emergency services community are firefighters, ambulance officers, and members of the police force. Given the extreme responsibility that this type of work commands, initiatives such as Blue Ribbon Day are vital in returning the support and dedication that police officers show the wider community.

The Impact Of The Blue Ribbon Foundation 

At its core, the Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non for profit community based association comprised of members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who share the same vision:

• To honour and remember our fallen police employees
• To show police that their dedication and challenging work is valued
• To create appropriate memorials to fallen police officers and employees
• To encourage strong and supportive relationships between the community and its Police Force

First formed in 1998 by members of the wider Victoria Police community, the goal of the Blue Ribbon Foundation is to encourage members of the Victorian public to remember – and ultimately, to never forget – the sacrifice made by such officers. In recent years, the Blue Ribbon Foundation also supports relevant community projects as well. 

As a not for profit organisation, the Blue Ribbon Foundation relies heavily on sponsors and partners, with some of the more prominent contributors including Bank Vic, Freemasons Foundation Victoria, and the Crown Resorts Foundation. The contributing partners not only provide financial support, but many also lend their expertise to support major fundraising events, such as Blue Ribbon Day. 

Held on September 29 each year, Blue Ribbon Day provides a formal opportunity for the community to say thank you to those who protect and serve as police officers, and ensure that those who have fallen are never forgotten. In Victoria, Blue Ribbon Day also coincides with National Police Remembrance Day.

After the outpouring of community support in Victoria after the tragic deaths of Senior Constable Rodney Miller and Sergeant Gary Silk on 16 August 1998, the Blue Ribbon Foundation first launched Blue Ribbon Day in 1999. Since then, another 174 Victorian police officers have died in the line of duty, and the work of the Blue Ribbon Foundation has been crucial in providing financial, emotional and physical support to their families in the aftermath. 

As a member of the public, there are many ways to support Blue Ribbon Day. For some, wearing a blue ribbon is a visual symbol that indicates a sign of respect, support and ultimately remembrance. For others, donating physical funds to the Blue Ribbon Day Appeal is the preferred choice, as the money goes towards building new and improved emergency facilities in Victorian hospitals. 

In recent years, a growing number of businesses are showing their support for Blue Ribbon Day by decorating their offices and workplaces, in addition to using the #BlueRibbonDay hashtag online. As someone who is heavily involved in the emergency services community and relies on their support as a part of his business, Emergency Services Property Advisers owner Luke Lawlor has chosen to not only do all of the above, but is taking his fundraising initiative one step further. 

The ESPA Kokoda 2023 Charity Trek Challenge will be limited to twenty attendees, designed to deliver an intimate experience to get to know your fellow trekkers in addition to the locals. With the aim being to raise $96,000 to match the ninety-six kilometre trek, the Blue Ribbon Foundation is one of the charities that has been selected to receive the much needed funds. 

How To Help Raise Funds For The Blue Ribbon Foundation

If you are a current or retired emergency services member that has always wanted to tick the Kokoda Track off your bucket list, there’s never been a more perfect opportunity to do so whilst supporting industry charities that give much more than they ever take back.

Emergency Services Property Advisers provide property advisor services to Police, Fire, Ambulance and S.E.S personnel and their families right across Victoria. If you are looking to get more information about the ESPA Kokoda Charity Trek, or even potentially buy or sell property in the near or distant future, please get in touch with Luke today.