Hawthorn and St Kilda will this weekend run out for the annual Blue Ribbon Cup, honouring the 20^th anniversary of the death of policemen Gary Silk and Rod Miller.

Read: Hawks to contest 19th annual Blue Ribbon Cup

Contested each season since 1999, the annual clash is something Hawthorn board member Lucinda Nolan – former Deputy Commissioner and a member of the Victoria Police for 32 years – says is crucial to raising awareness for the work done by the Blue Ribbon Foundation.

“The Blue Ribbon Cup is another way the community can pay homage and show their respect for police that have made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in the course of duty,” Nolan said.

“The Blue Ribbon Foundation raises a lot of money for hospitals and vital equipment at hospitals and I think, for police, it’s a continuation of the circle of life.”

“You’ve got police officers who are dying in the course of duty, protecting the public and saving lives, and then the fact that the Blue Ribbon Foundation comes in, provides that vital equipment that continues to save lives in their memory is just a beautiful, poetic way of centralising the issue.”

Nolan herself shared a personal connection with former police officer Gary Silk, who was tragically killed along with Rod Miller in 1988, and says that such tragedy reinforces the danger police officers continually put themselves in.

“Both my husband and I knew Gary Silk quite well, so it becomes very, very personal,” Nolan reflects.

“When Gary and Rod were murdered it just continually reinforced the type of job that we were in and how things can happen and happen randomly.”

“It certainly reinforced the danger of the job and that probably took a little bit of peace of mind away from it, given the finality and the brutality of it all.”

The Hawks and Saints have been the two teams to take the field in honour of the cause since the Cup’s inception, honouring Silk and Miller who supported each club.

“Gary Silk was an avid Hawthorn supporter, as is all his family, and Rod Miller was obviously an avid St Kilda football supporter,” Nolan said.

“So it’s beautiful that the two teams have got involved to showcase the game and to then to also pay respects to not only Rod and Gary but to all police who have lost their lives.”