TWO men who lived more than a century apart, but shared a common interest were front and centre at Tuesday’s National Police Remembrance Day service in Ararat.
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The event coincided with the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation’s Blue Ribbon Day.
Ararat remembered sergeant John McNally and police recruit Jason Bond.
Leaders including Ararat Branch president Terry Weeks paid tribute to the indelible mark both men left on the community.
Sgt McNally was the first member of the Victoria Police Force to be slain in the line of duty.
He was 29 when he joined the force on June 18, 1855.
He was killed on the goldfields at Mount Ararat on October 16, 1856 and is buried at Cathcart cemetery.
Since 2002 the Emergency Department, Helipad and Medical Imaging Department at East Grampians Health Service have been named in his honour.
A Victoria Police recruit, Ararat’s Jason Bond was just four weeks into his police training when he died from injuries he received in a motor vehicle collision in March 2011.
Jason’s dream was to join his brother (also a serving Victoria Police officer) in serving the community.
In June 2015, the Perioperative Unit at East Grampians Health Service was dedicated as permanent memorial in his honour.
Officiated by Rev Canon Dr Timothy Gaden, the service at Holy Trinity Anglican Church was followed by morning tea.