Hundreds of police officers from around Australia are dusting off their bikes and hitting the road on a cross-country trip to Canberra to pay tribute to their fallen colleagues.
The annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance has returned after a three-year hiatus, with current and retired police officers, their families and friends set to converge in Canberra on Saturday for a joint remembrance service at the National Police Memorial.
A Victorian record of more than 400 riders left the St Kilda Road memorial in Melbourne on Friday morning on a two-day journey to the national capital.
Victoria Police deputy commissioner Wendy Steendam passed the legacy baton, which features the names of police killed while serving the community, to Brenton Hobden.
Mr Hobden lost his father, Senior Constable David Hobden, in 2011 after he died because of injuries he sustained on his police motorbike.
Brenton will ride his father's private motorcycle for the 800-kilometre trek.
The Victorian contingent will stop along the state's coastline before resting in Merimbula on the NSW Sapphire Coast overnight.
The ride is the first for Victorian police members since four officers died when a truck crashed into them on the side of Melbourne's eastern freeway in 2020.
"After three years in between rides it will feel even more special for police from across Australia to unite and honour our fallen heroes," Ms Steendam said.
"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."
The Wall to Wall Ride raises money for police legacies nationwide, to provide support for police members and families who have lost loved ones in the force.
The Victorian leg has raised $270,000 for Victoria Police Legacy in the past 13 years.
The contingencies from different jurisdictions will link up in Canberra on Saturday and ride en masse to the National Police Memorial.
