Wall to Wall is an annual event to raise funds for QLD POLICE LEGACY. This article is to, not only encourage participation, but to seek donations for a most worthwhile cause from those who can't ride or drive to attend.
WALL to WALL RIDE 2020
I have always been a strong supporter of Police Legacy and over the years attended many functions, mostly lawn bowls and golf competitions, to raise funds for that purpose, but more so since our daughter-in-law, Karen Stevens, a former police officer, died 2012 as a result of brain tumours, leaving our Police Officer son with two high school student sons. At the onset of her illness, Karen was a casual employee at a doctor’s surgery, so not only did our son and grandsons lose a wife and mother, but also a third of the family’s income. The boys were attending a private school at the time and the financial assistance provided through Police Legacy was of enormous assistance mentally, was well as financially.
My first association with the WALL to WALL ride was in September 2017, nearly four months after Senior Constable Brett Forte, of the Darling Downs District Tactical Crime Squad, was killed by notorious wanted criminal, Rick Maddinson, north of Helidon on 29 May 2017. I bought a motorcycle so I could take part.
The Queensland contingent for this ride gathered at Picnic Point, Toowoomba, on 13 September. It was a great spectacle on a sad occasion when Commissioner Ian Stewart, in the presence of Brett’s widow, Senior Constable Susan Forte, presented the baton containing Brett’s details and circumstances of his death, to the lead police motorcycle group for escort to the National Police Memorial Wall, Canberra. The gathering was also attended by retired officer, John KV O’Gorman, who instigated this memorial fundraiser in 2010.
The group overnighted in Byron Bay that first night, Port Macquarie on the 2nd night and Sydney on the third night. I attended at The Domain Sydney, at 0800hrs next morning and, although expected, was pleasantly surprised to see so many motorcycles supporting this great event. The attendance had swelled to close to 2,000. Every road through the Domain was covered with motorcycles. The contingent left at 0830hrs and had a slow trip to the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn, for early lunch, then continued on to EPIC (Exposition Park in Canberra), where all riders, now well over 2,000 from all over Australia, were briefed, then assembled four wide on the southbound lanes of the Federal Highway.
Led by all the States Commissioners, we made the half hour ride to the National Wall of Remembrance where an emotional ceremony took place, including the perpetual dedication of Brett Forte, whose name now appears on the Wall.
I again made the ride, with my wife as pillion rider, in 2018. This time the assembly point for Queensland riders was the Oxley Police Academy, on 12 September, with overnights at Ballina, Port Macquarie and Sydney, followed by a familiar routine as per the previous year. By the time we assembled at EPIC there were even more riders than 2017. This dedication is best remembered for the death of Victorian Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk, who was killed at Orbost VIC, during his ride from Melbourne to the Memorial, when a drunk and drugged driver veered onto the incorrect side of the road at high speed. The death was witnessed by his Police officer son, who was riding with him.
I fully intended to do the ride again in 2019, and every year as long as I could competently ride a motorcycle but fate had something else in store for me. On 1 March 2019, I was riding leisurely at 90kp/h, in the right lane along the Warrego Highway near Minden, overtaking a small truck travelling in the left lane, when it suddenly swerved into the right lane to overtake a large truck, clipping my bike catapulting me into the central concrete barrier, writing off the motorcycle and almost writing me off in the process. I was lucky, smashed up, but lucky to survive. Sadly I will not be riding in the Wall to Wall again, but there is no reason why I can’t do the same driving a car.
In the last nine years more than one million dollars has been raised by the Wall to Wall rides. The funds raised have been distributed to the States Police Legacies as selected by the donor when registering.
Registrations for 2020 Wall to Wall Ride for Queenslanders starting 9/9/2020, are now open. Donation $85 per rider and $85 per pillion passenger, or become a sponsor and / or donor.
On 12/09/2020, 63,000 police officers across the country reflect on the job that we do. We are sad and devastated in our hearts for our Police Brothers and Sisters that died during the year, including the four officers killed in Victoria in that tragic accident. Thoughts and prayers for the families, colleagues & friends of our officers. But Police will still be out there on the street, just with a heavy heart.
