As an imperative resource for our state’s police community, it makes sense to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation in return via the ESPA Kokoda Charity Trek.
Hiking the Kokoda Track in 2016 was a life changing event for Emergency Services Property Advisors founder, Luke Lawlor. Although already armed with over twenty years experience in the real estate industry, getting to know his fellow adventurers while he was completing the track really got the wheels turning, as many of them were in fact emergency service workers themselves.
As such, he founded his business on the back of the emergency services community, as there were no other real estate advisory services operating to cater just for them. With strong ties to the Victorian police force, ambulance service and firefighting sectors, Luke actively ensures that as a business, he contributes both his time and money to ensure that the sector receives the same support that they have provided him with.
In 2023 and with twenty other members of the emergency services sector – both retired, and currently serving – Luke is set to tackle the Kokoda Track once more. However, this time it’s for vastly different reasons, with the end goal being to raise some much needed funds for industry charities such as Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation through donations and sponsorships.
The ESPA 2023 Kokoda Charity Trek Challenge is aiming to raise $96,000 – or $1,000 per kilometre of the Kokoda Track. This new and innovative fundraising effort is a means to support institutions just like the Blue Ribbon Foundation – but who are they, and why are they vital to the Victorian police community?
The Role 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 it’s Police Force
The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was formed in 1998, after several community based committees banded together, with its primary function being to memorialise members of the Victoria Police force who were killed in the line of duty. While it aims to encourage members of the Victorian public to remember – and ultimately, to never forget – the sacrifice made by such officers, they also actively work to support relevant community projects too.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation has volunteer business units that manage and implement all of the foundation’s fundraising events, along with seventeen regional branches that provide support within their local communities under the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s mission statement.
The organisation’s office bearers, staff members and volunteers have sworn to always act in the best interest of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation by abiding to the policies and principles, which include displaying and embodying benevolence, responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect and leadership.
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 Council and other key strategic projects.
When acting on behalf of a client, ESPA receives a fee from the real estate agent. Of this fee, 20% is then donated by the team at ESPA onto an industry charity of their client’s choice. It quickly became apparent to Luke that many of his clients nominated the Blue Ribbon Foundation as the charity of their choice, which made it a no-brainer for him to do the same and focus on the institution as one of the primary recipients from the fundraising efforts linked to the upcoming ESPA Kokoda Charity Trek Challenge in 2023.
“While there are endless notable causes that my clients could select, it goes without saying that the Blue Ribbon Foundation has proven to be particularly close to the hearts of emergency service workers, particularly members of the Victoria Police Force. As Emergency Services Property Advisors, we work very closely with members of The Police Association Victoria, the connection to the police community runs deep. Needless to say, I think that it’s hugely important to see that money flows back into the industry which I serve. I’ve got a long track record of working with the emergency services community for over twenty three years. They’ve always looked after me, so I’m here to look after them.”
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.
