March 2025
Can you believe we are in 2025! The 21st Century is flying by very swiftly. I hope your year has been peaceful so far. Ours has been action packed.
We kicked off in early January with the Hawkesbury Police Area Command Champions running a fundraising sausage sizzle at the local PCYC. Our Police Legacy Champions are in every command. They are police employees hand-selected by the Commander to represent NSW Police Legacy. They pay tribute to our legatee family by promoting NSW Police Legacy events, running fundraisers, holding awareness sessions and, when workload permits, meeting with legatees living within their commands. Last year our Champions held over 60 fundraising events. Their enthusiasm and support of the NSW Police Legacy family is first rate. Their past comrades are never far from their minds and the families of all police are at the forefront of their everyday. Thank you to all Champions.
We presented to the newest class of recruits that started in January. Class 365, like every other class, participated in a Patch Run of 5 kilometres. This is the first run as a group, and they always run in memory of a police officer killed on duty. When they complete the run, they are presented with their student police officer badge and epaulettes. Class 365 ran for Sergeant Cyril Howe who was murdered in 1963 when stationed at Oaklands in the Murray River Police District. As a special tribute, NSW Police Media Champion Senior Constable Ash Bold and a great team created a video in honour of Sergeant Cyril Howe. Sergeant Howe’s daughter Kim was present when the video was played to the new recruits and when they ran. It was a very moving insight into the lives of legatees. The video will be available for viewing online later this year.
From there we flew to Ballina and commenced the January NSW Police Legacy Children’s Camp for 8-18-year-old children. It was wonderful. Being in the company of your children is such a great way for anyone to start their year. We ran all over Movie World, swam all over Wet & Wild, did archery, rocketed down waterslides, rock climbed, hung out with the Parramatta Eels, and were visited by the Richmond Police District and North Region specialist resources. The commander, Superintendent Scott Tanner, and the troops showcased the police resources they work with every day. The kids fingerprinted, played with the Highway Patrol radar, turned on sirens, and jumped on a Marine Rescue craft. Our thanks to police and volunteers involved and the Champion at Richmond Police District, Alyssa Roptel, for helping to organise the day.
Next was Australia Day. NSW Police Legacy and the Police participated in the annual ferry race on Sydney Harbour by being the blue crew on board the renowned Pemulwuy ferry. Being a part of such an iconic event was great fun and very memorable.
It promises to be a great year of great company with you all. The team have planned a magnificent theme for the 23rd Blue Ribbon Ball at Darling Harbour on 29 March which will have you up and dancing the night away. For the fifth year in a row, Liverpool Police Area Command Champion Sergeant Damian Leemon is running the Sydney Metro 1000 at Picton GoKarts on 7 March, where the (Senior Constable) Kelly Foster VA Trophy will be fiercely competed for.
We also have the Inaugural NSW Police Legacy Parents’ Network NSW Police Band Concert at Balmain Town Hall at 10am on the 9 April 2025. At this event parents will have selected a song that best represents the character of their past police officer child from a list of songs played by the NSW Police Band. All are welcome to attend this event and support the Parents’ Network who, as our legatees, journey through great pain with great grace, often supporting others on a similar path.
Be well.
