From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli

NATIONAL Police Remembrance Day is the Nation’s opportunity to take time to ruminate, with profound gratitude, on those courageous men and women of our state police forces whose lives were ended in the line-of-duty.

The annals of law enforcement are brimming with eulogies to those heroic men and women who left their homes for a day of service to the people — never to return. Now they rest in the Pantheon of heroes — their names writ large in gold.

This year, more than ever, in the wake of the murders in Porepunkah of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson — who was days away from his retirement; and the Belgian born, Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart — who died in a town the name of which his French-speaking parents would probably struggle to pronounce, it is appropriate we should pause and pay our respects to the dead.

The officers’ funerals held in the Police Academy’s Memorial Chapel, Mount Waverley, were a tragic reminder of the personal dangers with which our serving officers contend everyday of their working lives. It is incumbent on the community — colour, faith, or race notwithstanding — to join together in committed solidarity; to demonstrate collective appreciation, cohesiveness, and support of the perilous and vital work of our men and women who wear the uniform; and who — under the protection of their patron Saint Michael the Archangel, are sworn to defend our safety — and to keep us safe in our beds. Once a turn-of-phrase it is now, given the increase in home invasions, to be embraced more literally than metaphorically.

Policing is more nuanced; the criminals more cunning; their crimes more daring. Without the pledged support of the community, police are hampered in their efforts to resolve the “wicked problems” which challenge Bendigo, and the Nation. In a zeitgeist, where outrageous conspiracy theories abound, and social media platforms have gifted every rancid bigot and deluded conspirator a megaphone to the world, we must remain ever-vigilant.

Of the 175-police officers killed in the line-of-duty, 33 were murdered. To romanticise Ned Kelly as a folk-hero demonstrates a disrespect. Together with his gang of thieving outlaws they murdered three police officers. It is not phantastical to believe there are dark forces at play. There are those who would do us a mischief — who would wreak havoc in their implacability to undermine our system of government.

The spirit of community has never been more crucial. Debatably, with the disintegration of social mores our reliance upon law enforcement has never been greater — but the police cannot do it alone. If they are expected to confront the challenges; to break the pattern of pervasive lawlessness, then the community must become their eyes-and-ears — a sympathetic source of information on which they can depend. Policing is a communal responsibility.

To Bendigo’s serving police officers, and other surrounding police stations within Division 5, Western Region — and who are avowed to Uphold the Right — thank you — in which ever language is your mother tongue — thank you for keeping us safe.

The public is invited to attend the Bendigo National Police Remembrance Day Service coinciding with Blue Ribbon Day — established in response to the murders of Gary Silk and Rod Millar, 1998.

Monday, September 29th at 10:00 AM — St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, 4 Myers Street, Bendigo.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald radio 3BA — Monday 10.40am. Contact: [email protected]