Tee up for police members taken too soon

REGISTRATIONS for a charity golf day organised by the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Bendigo Regional Branch, taking place on Sunday, remain open to teams of four.

The Ambrose-style hit-out at the Bendigo Golf Club will raise money towards the branch’s latest revenue drive, which will help fund new equipment at Bendigo Health and pay for an annual scholarship for nurses in its emergency department.

Bendigo branch president Margaret Singe, a recently retired Victoria Police officer who served 38 years, said the driving purpose of the Blue Ribbon Foundation (established in 1988) is to recognise colleagues who have fallen in the line of duty.

“We hate the thought that police members are being killed, but it’s great that we can remember them in ways where we save others’ lives by raising funds and donating to Bendigo hospitals,” she said.

“The fundraising we’re doing at the moment, I’d love to do a dedication to Neil Thompson (shot in Porepunkah on 26 August this year) because he was born and bred in Bendigo.

“It’d be nice, so we’re in the process of raising some more funds.”

Ms Singe said she considers herself extremely lucky that after almost 40 years in the force she walked away “pretty much intact”.

“But, there’s a lot of people that don’t do that,” she said.

“Neil in particular, he had a week before retirement.

“That’s just crazy.”

Over the past 35-plus years the Bendigo branch has raised in excess of $300,000, which has paid for projects including providing extended facilities at Bendigo Health’s Tynan-Eyre Accident Emergency Department (Constables Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were murdered in South Yarra in 1988).

It has also helped pay for an intensive care room at the hospital named in memory of Senior Constable Norm Curson, who died at Flinders Street Station in January 1974 after he was randomly attacked from behind.

“(Bendigo Health) relies on donations for upgrading their equipment,” Ms Singe said.

“The hospital itself and the staff are funded, but the equipment in the hospital, if it needs updating, they don’t have anything for that.”

As part of the Bendigo branch’s ongoing efforts, Ms Singe also made a call-out for local residents to come and join its committee.

“(At the moment) the committee is very small,” she said.

“It’s open to anyone and we’re looking for new members to provide some new ideas on how to raise money.”

The Blue Ribbon Golf Day takes place this Sunday 9 November at the Bendigo Golf Club, 33 Golf Course Road, Ascot.

Register a team today or tomorrow, or register interest in joining the committee, by calling Margaret on 0409 707 796.

Otherwise, just turn up at the golf course on Sunday between 10am and 10.30am to enter.

Entry is $200 per group, which is around the same price for four non-members to play 18 holes at the club.