The Greater Shepparton branch of the Blue Ribbon Foundation has donated $220,000 to Goulburn Valley Health, met with a further $30,000 from the state-wide foundation.
The $250,000 will go towards developments at the Graham St campus of GV Health in memoriam of police officers who have died in the line of duty.
“They all matter, memorials, but at the foundation we thought it would be better to remember our police members for how they lived rather than how they died,” Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation chief executive Neil Soullier said.
“So when we get an opportunity to dedicate these units in hospitals, it’s like putting those members back on duty, doing what they did whilst they were serving Victorians as members of Victoria Police.”
The donation will go towards facilities at the hospital dedicated to fallen police members with a local connection.
These include the redevelopment of an isolation room to treat patients with potentially infectious conditions, named The Blue Ribbon Foundation Isolation Room in memory of two officers from the honour roll, Victor Nelson and Ian Crilly.
Funding has also been allocated to an expansion of the Ray Denman Short Stay Unit and Eyre-Tynan Emergency Department, and a police memorial garden space.
There will also be new dedication plaques, signage, images for police memorials and a memorial board listing the names of police members who have fallen in the Goulburn Valley and north-east areas — to be displayed in the emergency department.
Greater Shepparton Blue Ribbon Foundation member Glenn Gibson said fundraising began in 2013 for the project, all made possible by community support, with many barbecues cooked and a particular highlight being the Inside Story event.
“Whether they were young or old, our volunteers have been out there rain, hail or shine,” Mr Gibson said.
“It’s been fantastic.”
The donation was presented by Greater Shepparton Blue Ribbon Foundation members Mr Gibson and Dean Lloyd and foundation chief executive Mr Soullier to GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp on the morning of Wednesday, August 3.
“These donations will allow us to provide high-quality care for patients in our emergency department, as well as honour and remember the fallen police officers which the facilities are dedicated to,” Mr Sharp said.