Judy Fuller of Buninyong does not need a special day to remember her husband, former police sergeant Roger, but still throws her support behind the national police remembrance day, Blue Ribbon Day. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
Buninyong’s Judy Fuller doesn’t need a special day to remember her husband Roger.
The former Ballarat Police Sergeant’s looks, personality and humour stare back at her every day through their teenage son Kirk.
But Mrs Fuller will use National Police Remembrance Day this week to remember her husband and countless other police members who spent their lives making the community a safer place.
Known as Blue Ribbon Day, National Police Remembrance Day is held across Australia on Saturday, but a Ballarat service will be held on Thursday to avoid clashing with the AFL grand final.
Mrs Fuller said the day had become an important part of her life since Roger’s death in 2009 after a short battle with cancer.
“I’ve met a lot of other police widows and I’ve known their husbands, they were friends of Rogers – and it’s a chance to remember them,” she said.
“You just hope every year the honour roll they read out is smaller and smaller.”
Roger married Judy in February of 1979 and joined the Victoria Police academy four months later.
The couple came to Ballarat with their children Alana and Ryan in 1985 and eight years later, Kirk was born.
Roger became a sergeant at Ballarat, took part in plain-clothed surveillance work, had two stints at the Bacchus Marsh police station and also worked at D24 police communications.
Mrs Fuller said in all of her husband’s roles, he just wanted to be among the action.
“He didn’t mind uniform, as long as he didn’t have to stay in the police station,” she said.
“He liked to get out in the vans and to be part of it,” she said.
She said he never brought the job home, but sometimes the family couldn’t escape it.
“Once we were out having dinner and somebody that he put inside walked into the restaurant,” she said.
“We were there with our kids. It was a very uncomfortable feeling ... I don’t think we ever paid for a meal and left so quickly.”
Mrs Fuller said the day her husband was diagnosed, March 16, 2009, was the first day he ever called in sick.
She said family was his first love, but the police force came a close second.
“He did what he wanted to do, he did what he loved, that’s all that matters,” she said.
“We have a police force, they are good, they are there to help and they should be supported.”
For more information or to donate to the Blue Ribbon Foundation, visit www.remember.org.au
