Former and current Victoria Police members enjoyed a meal and catch-up at the regional Victoria Police Legacy lunch at the Nicholson Hotel on Tuesday where a special presentation was made.
Guests travelled from near and far, as they do every time the luncheon is conducted, including Shepparton, 180 kilometres north of Melbourne, and Bateman’ s Bay, more than a fiveand-a-half hour drive away up the coast.
Tuesday’s lunch was the 31st to be held in the region, each one coordinated by Ian ‘Salty’ Gilmore.
The lunches are held across the state and allow local police legatees to spend a few hours together to enjoy good food and company as well as meet current members of the police force.
Always special occasions for those who attend, Tuesday’s lunch was even more so.
At its annual general meeting in October, Victoria Police Legacy resolved to honour Salty with life membership for his outstanding service over many decades and he was presented with it at the lunch.
Founded in 1980, Victoria Police Legacy supports members of the police family who have lost a partner who is a serving or retired sworn member of Victoria Police.
“Victoria Police Legacy turns 40 next year and in that time there have only been half a dozen life members,” Salty said proudly.
The regional lunches are important to Salty, as they are to those who attend regularly.
“I enjoy coordinating them, and being involved with Legacy, for the comradery and continuing the friendships that are established while working on the police force,” he said.
Inspector Luke Smeaton has attended a number of the events coordinated by Salty and says the life membership is well deserved.
“As we’ve seen through recent media about police and legatees we see it’s all the more important to support force members and legatees,” Luke said.
“Salty’s commitment is longstanding and he is a great model for support that is needed now and into the future for our police.”
Also among the guests at Tuesday’ s lunch were Salty’ s son, Steven Gilmore, and daughter, Natalie O’ Connor, who are justifiably proud of their father’s accomplishments, both in and outside the Victoria Police Legacy family.
PICTURED: Ian ‘Salty’ Gilmore (centre) is congratulated on his life membership of Victoria Police Legacy by his daughter, Natalie O’Connor, and son, Steven Gilmore.
