As the Victoria Police & Emergency Services Games got underway on Sunday 5 October, there was special meaning for one long-term member participant.

Violet Town resident Robyn Reed, a former police officer and coordinator of the equestrian events for the past 11 years, said 'this will be my last games'.

Robyn has coordinated the two-day event for the Police & Emergency Games for more than a decade and has decided to hang up her stirrups.

“I have now resigned from the Police Force and I feel it is time to pass the reins over to someone else,” she said last week as she was preparing for an extremely busy seven days ahead.

"But I have been a participant in these games for some 15 years now - first as a competitor before taking on the coordination role," Robyn said.

Not only will Robyn be coordinating 62 competitors and five events over two days, but she has taken on the role of supervising the canteen on site.

This event is now being held at Elcho Park, Lara, near Geelong which Robyn said is 'the perfect place for such an event'.

"The arenas are close to each other, the venue is easy to get to, and there is plenty of space for cars, horse floats, and camping needs – everything is easily accessible and not too spread out, and it is the most cost-effective venue,” she said.

“This is a fantastic event and this year we have more competitors than ever before.

“It is very popular and many who come say they just don’t want to miss out.”

The event has previously been held at various venues around the State including Werribee and Elmore, but Robyn said this was the most convenient for competitors, shopping for supplies, and travel.

On top of her role as main coordinator for the equestrian event, Robyn also competes on both days in dressage – and once finishing her event then goes on to be main scorer, allocates the draws, and manages the canteen.

“I started cooking on Sunday before going to Lara a couple of days before to do all the shopping and setting up the canteen," she said.

"We are offering a wide variety of foods to keep all the competitors well fed.

“I have four great helpers for the canteen and hopefully everyone will enjoy the food we are serving.

“I also have two offsiders (both members of Ambulance Victoria) to help with the coordination of the events and with administration all year.

“It is a huge job and takes a lot of time to prepare – much of this is done after hours from duties, and I am often working late into the night to get it done, but I have loved it.

“Now I feel I have done enough, I have seen the event grow in the number of competitors, finding the right venue, setting up the programs – it is time to pass it over to someone else, apart from that having resigned from the police force, I feel confident in handing it over,” she said.

This equestrian event has also attracted some excellent judges including Barry Roycroft, Jodie Juricic, Erin Dunn, Eric Scheatcher, Courtney Allison, and Bronwyn Fyfe all of whom have been involved with Equestrian Australia and all of whom support equestrian sports at grass roots.

Over eight days (finishing on Sunday 12 October), there will be more than 3000 competitors competing in 42 different sports – venues spread across the whole state.

All participants are either members and employees and/or volunteers of affiliated agencies only – Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, and Fire & Rescue.

These games are not open to the general public.