Over 420 Police Officers Embark on 830km Journey for a Noble Cause
Today, over 420 current and retired police officers are commencing an 830-kilometre motorcycle journey to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.
In its 14th year, the Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance will witness this convoy embarking from the Victoria Police Memorial on St Kilda Road and heading towards the National Police Memorial in Canberra.
Tomorrow, more than 2,000 riders from various police forces across Australia will gather for a national commemoration event.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner, Shane Patton, will pass on the legacy baton this year to the sibling legatees, Josh and Sam Paoli, aged 16 and 21. The Paoli siblings are participating in this two-day ride in memory of their father, retired Sergeant Marco Paoli, who passed away in 2021 after a lengthy illness.
Sergeant Paoli, aged 62, had a remarkable 32-year career with Victoria Police. In 1988, he was honoured with the Victoria Police Valour Award for his exceptional bravery when he disarmed a man who had shot a child at Sandringham.
Since its inception in 2009, the Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance has raised over $314,000 for the non-profit organization Victoria Police Legacy. These funds are utilized to support police members and their families who have lost loved ones.
This year’s group of riders assembled for a special ceremony at 7 am before setting out for an overnight stay in the NSW town of Merimbula. The following day, they will proceed to Canberra for the national commemoration, where Josh and Sam will hand over the legacy baton at the National Police Memorial.
If you wish to contribute to the ride or learn more about Victoria Police Legacy, you can visit policelegacyvic.org.au.
In the words of Chief Commissioner Shane Patton:
“The huge turnout for this year’s ride shows that no matter how much time has passed we will never forget those police who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“We honour them, we salute them and we will always be there for those they have left behind.
“The Wall to Wall ride also shines a light on Victoria Police Legacy which does such an extraordinary job supporting the police community in times of tragedy.
“There’s nothing stronger than the bond of the police family and we look forward to uniting with police colleagues from across the nation for this important event.”
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