Harley Willox, National President of Blue Liners Australia and Bill Eyles hosted the Blue Liners Great Grenfell Memorial Ride in honour of former Caragabal/Grenfell Police Officer Ray Robinson who rode to eternal life on January 18, 2021.
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The Blue Liners Grenfell visits instigated by Ray have been happening for more than 30 years.
The group met at the RAAF Base at Richmond and travelled to Bathurst, Orange, Milltorpe, Blayney, Carcoar, Mandurama, Canowindra, Goolagong and onto Grenfell.
Over 70 former police officers, family and friends arrived in Grenfell on Saturday afternoon to remember and celebrate Ray's contribution to the Police Force and the Blue Liners.
Over the years the Grenfell Lions Club have always supported the group by cooking them a hot breakfast; this year was a little different with the Club also providing a dinner on Saturday evening at the Lions Park, where Ray's wife Fay and their daughter Ashley were in attendance.
A presentation of a screen print of Ray and Fay on their bike was made to Fay and Ashley by Bill.
Harley announced the recipients of donations from the group with $2500 to the Country Education Foundation, $1500 to the Hospital Auxilliary and $500 to the Grenfell Lions Club.
As the group was riding from Gooloogong to Grenfell, they met more than 50 participants, walkers all banding together for mental health in the C2G walk and also donated $500 to them for their outstanding efforts.
The "Grenfell Ukestra" provided entertainment.
Recipients of CEF grants assisted with serving meals and CEF members were on hand next morning to assist with breakfast.
A short memorial for the late Ray Robinson was held in the covered complex area at the Lions Park where a plaque was installed above the late Frank Egan's plaque.
Glenys Clarke and Vicki Reid (Hospital Auxilliary) Peter Spedding and Margaret Carey (Grenfell CEF) and Terry Carroll (Grenfell Lions Club) received the donations.
All recipients thanked the Blue Liners for their outstanding donations. Glenys Clarke said their donation would be used for equipment at the hospital.
"We are always overwhelmed by people and organisations beyond our community investing in our young people," Margaret Carey and Peter Spedding said.
Terry Carroll thanked the Blue Liners for their commitment to country organisations before he also thanked the Grenfell community for their outstanding support with donations of produce, cooking and community service hours for the weekend.
Many thanks to Jenny Armstrong who was on hand to take photos on behalf of the Lions Club/CEF.
