With John Gorman
by Sam Regi
John, fondly nicknamed, Bluey, a former police officer, police union vice president and the driving force behind the creation of the Police Remembrance Day. Inspired by a moment of frustration during a road trip, John's determination led to the establishment of a day dedicated to honoring fallen officers. Join him as he shares the remarkable story of the Wall to Wall Ride, an annual event where thousands of motorcyclists come together to pay tribute and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Experience the powerful sense of camaraderie and respect that permeates this heartfelt gathering, a testament to John's unwavering commitment to honoring the memory of his mates.
Press play to listen to an extract from the conversation with John.
Interview with John - Founder of the Police Remembrance Day Ride
Can you tell us a bit about how your journey with the police began?
I was the Vice President of the Police Union back in '85 or '86—before the Fitzgerald Inquiry. For guys of my generation, our police careers are split into two parts: before and after Fitzgerald. I remember this one significant day when I was driving with my wife and a mate of mine, along with his wife, from here to Adelaide for the Police Federation conference. That’s where all the police unions in Australia and New Zealand meet annually.
It sounds like that trip to Adelaide had a lasting impact on you. Can you explain what happened?
Yes, it did. On the way, we stopped in Wilcannia, which, if it’s not the pimple on the arse of the earth, you can certainly see it from there. We were heading towards Broken Hill through hundreds of kilometers of desert. Everyone in the car was asleep, and I was trying to think of the name of a fellow officer who had been killed a few years earlier. I was so angry with myself because I couldn’t remember his name.
When my mate woke up, I asked him if he remembered. Of course, he did, and it hit me hard—here was a bloke who had been killed in the line of duty, and I couldn't even remember his name. That was unacceptable to me.
Is that when the idea for Remembrance Day started?
Yes. At the Federation conference, I started lobbying everyone about it. I told them what had happened, and I said it was disgraceful that we didn’t have a day dedicated to remembering our fallen officers. After discussing it, the commissioners agreed, and that’s how the idea of a police Remembrance Day began.
How is Remembrance Day marked across the country now?
Each state does it a little differently, but it’s become a national day of remembrance. Here in Queensland, we march from headquarters to a cathedral—usually either St. John’s or St. Stephen’s. Every state has its own memorial wall for officers lost in the line of duty, and there’s a national wall in Canberra where all officers are remembered. In Queensland, I think we have 149 or 150 names, and nationally, there are about 760 on the wall.
What about the ‘Wall to Wall’ ride? Can you tell us how that started?
A bloke from New South Wales who was a woodworker had this idea of making batons—like the wooden police batons—and hollowing them out. Inside each baton, they place a scroll with the names of officers who have passed that year. It’s a symbolic gesture, and we carry these batons to Canberra, where they’re laid at the base of the national wall.
The ride itself has become a big event. All the states participate, and it’s quite a sight. We ride from various points, meeting up along the way. Eventually, we all come together and ride into Canberra as one group.
That must be a powerful experience. What’s the atmosphere like during the ride?
It’s something special. Last year, we had around 1,400 motorbikes on the road at one point. They even sent up a police helicopter to video us from the sky as we rode down the Hume Highway. Along the way, at every place where a police officer has been killed, there’s a tribute—two highway patrol cars with their lights flashing and a large photo of the officer. We all slow down as we pass, paying our respects.
What happens when you arrive in Canberra?
We all meet at the showgrounds, and from there, we ride as one big group to the memorial wall. Last year, there were about 3,000 bikes. The sound of it is incredible, especially with all the Harleys revving up. Once we arrive, we have a short ceremony—five-minute speeches from the police commissioner and the president of the Police Federation. It’s not a lot of fluff. People are there to pay their respects, maybe take a photo of their mate’s name on the wall. It's a brief but deeply meaningful moment.
How do you feel about having started something like this?
I’m pretty proud of it. It’s become an important event not just for police officers but for their families and even other service professionals like paramedics and firefighters. It’s a chance for everyone to come together, remember those we’ve lost, and pay our respects.