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

Violet Town resident (and previously Mansfield Police Station officer) Robyn Reed, now former police officer and coordinator of the equestrian events for the past 11 years, said, “This will be my last Games.”

Reed has coordinated the two-day event for the Police and Emergency Services Games for more than a decade and has decided this will be her last one.

“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 of her.

“But I have been a participant in these Games for some 15 years now – first as a competitor before taking on the coordination role."

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

The event is now being held at Elcho Park, Lara, near Geelong, which Reed 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 – everything is easily accessible, 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 a very popular Games event 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 Reed 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, Reed 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 set up the canteen. We are offering a wide variety of foods to keep all the competitors well fed,” she said.

“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.

“But 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,” Reed 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 support equestrian sports at the grassroots.

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 – and all participants are members, employees, or volunteers of affiliated agencies only: Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, and Fire Rescue Victoria.

These Games are not open to the general public.