A record number of motorbike riders will today set off from the Victoria Police memorial as the annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance returns after a three-year hiatus.
More than 400 riders, made up of current and retired police and their family and friends, will set off from the St Kilda Road memorial for the two-day ride to Canberra which honours police who died in the line of duty.
Riders will be dusting off their bikes now pandemic restrictions have eased, with the event last held in 2019.
This year Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam will pass the legacy baton, which features the names of police killed while serving the community, to legatee Brenton Hobden.
Brenton is riding the 800km trek in honour of his father, Senior Constable David Hobden, who died in 2011 due to injuries sustained in a collision while on his police motorbike.
Brenton will ride his father's private motorcycle.
The ride - which sees police from across the country converge at the National Police Memorial in Canberra - raises funds for Victoria Police Legacy and police legacies nationwide to provide support for police members and their families who have lost a loved one.
The contingent will make stops along the Victorian coastline before resting in Merimbula, NSW overnight.
On Saturday they will make their way to Canberra where they will join police colleagues from other jurisdictions, and ride en masse to the National Police Memorial for a joint remembrance service.
Victoria Police Legacy is an independent non-for-profit organisation funded by contributions from serving police, bequests and donations.
Over the past 13 years almost $270,000 has been raised for the organisation through the ride.
To donate to the ride and learn more about Victoria Police Legacy visit policelegacyvic.org.au.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam:
"After three years in between rides it will feel even more special for police from across Australia to unite and honour our fallen heroes.
"By doing so we'll also be able to raise important funds for Victoria Police Legacy which does an incredible job supporting the police community.
"To the families of fallen officers riding with us or joining from afar, we hope this reminds them that they are not alone and will not be forgotten.
"We are a family and once you're part of it, you're part of it forever."
