Police officers from the past and present, along with their motorcycle-riding friends and family will be rolling out from an iconic location to celebrate 30 years of supporting police charity organisations.
On Tuesday 10 September around 100 motorcyclists will be leaving the Southern Plaza of Adelaide Oval, to travel across Australia to Canberra with a service being held at the National Police Memorial in Kings Park on Saturday 14 September.
It is 30 years since SA Police Legacy was formed by a group of dedicated SA Police officers who identified a need to support police families during difficult times. Today, SA Police Legacy has grown to become a reputable charity that provides support to over 300 police legatees, over 40 police wards and almost 4000 members.
This year also marks the 10th Anniversary of the National Wall to Wall Memorial Ride for Remembrance. A special police baton will be taken from the SA Police Academy to Adelaide Oval en route to the National Police Memorial.
Over the next three days, the riders, passengers and supporters will travel through regional Victoria, crossing over the Murray River and into New South Wales, including a stop at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn to stop and reflect at their Police Memorial wall.
The ride culminates in Canberra where riders from each State and Territory participate in the National ride on Saturday 14 September.
History of the Wall to Wall Memorial Ride for Remembrance:
The Wall to Wall Ride began as an idea shared between two officers over a beer back in 2009. A few phone calls later, and with the valued support and assistance of the Police Federation of Australia, a group of like-minded police, serving and retired, were brought together to develop Australia’s own memorial ride.
With the National Police Memorial as a focal point, the Ride highlights the positive role that police can play in promoting motorcycle safety and rider awareness.
It has become a much-anticipated annual event, honouring the service and sacrifice of our police, and assisting in raising much-needed funds to support various police charity organisations, including SA Police Legacy.
Each Australian Police Force has a dedicated place of remembrance and reflection, to pay homage to their officers who have died in the line of duty.
From these sites, a very special journey begins with the intention of arriving at the outskirts of our national capital to meet and join with the other contingents of riders from across Australia.
In a final gesture of police solidarity and remembrance, the Ride travels through Canberra to the National Police Memorial for a short but poignant ceremony to commence the week, in honour of our colleagues and mates; their names recorded on the touch stones of the memorial wall.
The Wall to Wall Memorial Ride for Remembrance is promoted through a national organising committee under the auspice of the Police Federation of Australia and the National Police Memorial.
Stringent operational and financial controls are maintained to ensure the charitable status of the event and that funds raised are directly used to support the identified policing legacy organisations and charities.
Fully supported by all the police jurisdictions, every State and Territory is represented. Past rides have been led by Police Commissioners of the Australian Federal Police, Western Australia, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Tasmania, all of whom share the thrills and excitement found only on a motorbike, and who are integral role models in demonstrating the message of motorcycling safety and awareness.
Open to serving and retired members (sworn and unsworn) and all other friends, family and proud supporters of policing, the Ride is not only a wonderful commemoration of service and sacrifice , but a fantastic social event for enthusiastic motorcyclists across Australia in celebration of the police family.
In 2017, in excess of 2,500 riders from all over Australia remembered fallen mates by riding to Canberra. Sadly, another name was added to the wall just last year – Senior Constable Brett Forte of Queensland Police, murdered when responding to a call for help from the public.
For more information on the Ride, visit the Wall to Wall National page- https://walltowallride.com
To learn more about SA Police Legacy, visit their website at https://www.policelegacysa.org.au
