2008 Blue Ribbon Dinner

Over 500 guests joined NSW Police Legacy at the sell out 2008 Blue Ribbon Dinner on Friday 19 September to help raise money for Legacy and to mark the lead up to NSW Police Remembrance Day. The Chair of NSW Police Legacy, Sue Waites, welcomed guests and spoke about Legacy's work - keeping grieving families in touch with and a part of the Police family, as well as helping Police Officers to keep the memory of their departed colleagues alive by volunteering with Legacy.

Hosted by the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Scipione APM, honoured guests included the Premier of NSW, the Hon. Nathan Rees MP and the Police Minister, the Hon. Tony Kelly MLC. Music was provided by the full NSW Police Band and Ms Chris Bath of Channel 7 proved to be a charming and very attractive MC, who ensured that guests enjoyed one of the biggest nights on the Police calendar. The Premier and Police Minister's generosity on the night saw Legacy gifted with $10,000 towards Education Grants for the over 250 children supported by Legacy.

Police Legacy Legatees, Ms Kylie McFarland and Ms Mariel Greenwood-Graham addressed the guests and spoke about their experiences with Police Legacy. They highlighted the importance of having strong support networks available after losing a loved one and the opportunities that Legacy had provided for them. The dinner guests rose to give a standing ovation in response to their stories and Mariel's stunning singing voice. Former Legatee Melinda Schneider impressed the audience with her heartfelt songs, while a stirring Elvis floorshow prepared attendees for the auction to come.

Auction items included a shift with PolAir, flights to New Zealand and Vietnam and a DVD Blu Ray Recorder. The silent auction offered the chance to visit different units within the NSW Police, boutique wines, accommodation vouchers, Billy Joel concert tickets, Police memorabilia and framed artworks, to name just a few. For those who liked a surprise, mystery Star Prizes were available for purchase and guests looking for something different were offered quirky caricature portraits. All prizes and auction items on the night were donated to Police Legacy by numerous businesses and private individuals from across NSW. Their generosity helped to ensure the night was a roaring success.

The guests, sponsors and supporters of the 2008 Blue Ribbon Dinner all shared an amazing commitment on Friday 19 September - helping Legacy to remember the families of deceased NSW Police Officers. Chairperson, Sue Waites was delighted that the night was such a success and she thanked all the Blue Ribbon Dinner supporters. She said that their donations helped Police Legacy to raise vital funds and demonstrated just how many lives Police Legacy touches, which is why it was so important that its work continues. Major Sponsors of the night were Acer Arena, Casella Wines, Emirates, Fosters, Mounties, Police Credit Union, Staging Connections and Vietnam Airlines.

It wa s wonderful to see some of the partners and children that make up NSW Police Legacy – the Legatees themselves, remembering their loved ones and celebrating their lives at the Blue Ribbon Dinner .

After such a successful night NSW Police Legacy is already looking forward to the 2009 Blue Ribbon Dinner! Businesses and individuals should make note in their diaries that it will be held on Friday 25 September 2009.

Donors and Supporters of the 2008 Blue Ribbon Dinner

Accor	Hunter Haven B&B	Park Hyatt
AutoNexus	Jet Cruiser	Penrith Panthers
AMP	Ilene Rogoff	Peroni's Restaurant
Avon	Imax Theatre	Peter Warren Ford
Bonnie Doon Golf Club	Impressions Markings	Riverside Theatre
CamelBak	Indulgent Skin & Beauty	Sir Ross Buckland
Captain Cook Cruises	Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park	Swarovski
Cabcharge	Lattouf Hair and Spa	Sydney BridgeClimb
Castle Hill RSL	Lindt	Sydney Intercontinental
City Extra	Luna Park	Sydney Taronga Zoo
Charles Sturt University	Manly Ocean World	Sydney Theatre Company
Commonwealth Bank	MNB Variety Imports	Sydney Tower
Doyles Restaurant	Motorola	Tait Radio
ESS	NRL	Tetsuya's Restaurant
Ettalong Beach Club	Ozbadge	Visage Hair Studio
Fastflowers	Ocean Eyewear	Wendy Harmer
Ford Motor Company of Australia	Panasonic	2UE
Franklins	Pancakes at the Rocks