It was a solemn service after a wind-blown march but police, past and present, came to remember collegues lost.
The twin towns marked National Police Remembrance Day on Friday afternoon, marching from Goodwin Park to Twin Town Services Club.
They then gathered, serving officers from the locally-based Queensland, NSW and Federal police, for a combined service in the club’s main auditorium.
The gathering included well over 800 officers, serving and retired, as well as the families and friends of those lost in the line of duty.
The group was officially welcomed by Tweed/Byron Local Area Commander Superintendent Stuart Wilkins to the service, which was officiated by Chaplain Columba Macbeth-Green for Queensland and NSW chaplain Colin Batt.
During the service, five candles were lit to signify the five lives lost this year, killed in the line of duty, from the police jurisdictions of Australia and the South West Pacific Region since National Police Remembrance Day 2011. The officers included NSW officer Senior Constable David James Rixon, who served with many of those present, as well as First Constable Elmes Travertz, Senior Inspector Charles Parinjo, Seargeant John Negeripa and Constable Justine Wamahombi of Papua New Guinea.
A service is held each year in the twin towns, with each group taking turns to host.
