MEMORIES OF MATES: Phil O’Reilly with Gretel Robertson, Tracey Freeman, Jemma Galea and Rob Wilson start the long walk back to Tamworth today. 240213RCE02
NSW police officers will begin the long walk from the Central Coast to Tamworth today in memory of a fallen mate.
The 370km walk will begin at Tuggerah Lakes and head to Newcastle before making its way up the New England Highway through Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Quirindi before arriving in Tamworth on Friday.
The end date is one day before the one-year anniversary of the death of Senior Constable David Rixon who was gunned down while performing a routine traffic stop in Lorraine St.
Police officers across the state have put their hands up to take part in the walk which will raise money for Police Legacy.
Senior Constable Rixon’s step- daughter Jemma Galea, also a police officer, and his widow Fiona Rixon will also take part in the fundraising journey.
Organising police from Tuggerah Lakes said they were inspired by the Cooee recruitment march, a famous walk that began in Gilgandra in 1915 with 35 men, its ranks swelling to 265 by its end in Sydney, all eager to join the Australian war effort for WWI.
Organisers are hoping that police and community members, inspired by fellow walkers will join them along the way, for one, or as many kilometres as they see fit.
Among those who will walk the whole distance are Inspector Phil O’Reilly and Jemma Galea from Oxley Local Area Command.
“It’ll be difficult with 12-13 hour days of walking,” Inspector O’Reilly said.
“We will work as a team and get through it together.”
Officers from Botany Bay and Fairfield commands will join them in Quirindi for the final leg.
Inspector O’Reilly said they should return to Tamworth’s Longyard Hotel at about 4pm on Friday after walking from Quirindi up the New England Highway.
By the time they reach Tamworth, there should be more than 100 people walking.
Senior Constable Rixon’s wife, children and step-children will also walk the final leg from Quirindi to Tamworth on Friday.
There will be a Police Legacy fundraising dinner on Friday night in the Grand Ballroom at Wests’ Diggers, with tickets still available.
Participating officers and family members are grateful for the support from local businesses and others who have sponsored the walk and the auction at the Tamworth dinner.
Fundraising dinner Friday for Police Legacy
A FUNDRAISING dinner will be held in Tamworth next Friday night to welcome home those participating in a walk from Wyong to Tamworth in remembrance of Senior Constable David Rixon.
The next day will be the 12-month anniversary of the former Tamworth highway patrol officer’s death.
To mark the occasion some Tamworth and Wyong residents will take part in the 370km charity walk with all fundraising money going to NSW Police Legacy.
The walkers are expected to arrive at Tamworth on Friday afternoon before the fundraising dinner begins later that night.
The dinner will be held in the West Diggers grand ballroom on Kable Ave.
All community members have been invited to attend the function, with tickets being sold at $40 each.
The cost covers a two course meal, with local band Acoustic Convention donating their time to entertain.
A charity auction has also been organised and big ticket auction items including a guitar signed and donated by Lee Kernaghan and a solar hotwater system and installation in Tamworth.
Even more items have been donated by local businesses.
Anyone wishing to attend the fundraising event have been urged to contact Tamworth police and to make a deposit for their tickets, payment details for which can be found
Command’s Facebook page.
