VICTORIA Police personnel and residents paused on Friday to remember the lives of those killed in the line of duty.
Kerang hosted a National Police Remembrance Day Service, which honoured the 159 men and women who have died whilst on duty.
Fallen female police officers were given special mention as Victoria Police is celebrating 100 years of women in the police force.
Gannawarra Shire mayor and local officer, Sergeant Brian Gibson spoke about the importance of not forgetting those service people who lost their lives due to battles with mental health.
“There is a consistent number of people who are still struggling with this. There is a feeling of being alone. We have to support each other and be there for each other,” he said.
Sergeant Gibson said that the force had lost another member to mental health just last week.
“People still refuse to talk about it. There is this idea that people will look down on you but we need to change this. We need to do better,” he said.
Victoria Police does have a mental health strategy, but Sergeant Gibson stressed that it needs to be made use of.
