On his bike

By Casey Neill
FORMER sergeant Graeme Moore has helped keep Belgrave and its surrounds safe for more than two decades. Now he’s getting on his bike.
The 60-year-old handed in his badge on 26 February after 36 years in the police force.
“You miss all the friendship and that type of thing, but I won’t miss the work. I’ve had enough of it,” he said.
Mr Moore joined Victoria Police in 1974 after trying his hand at carpentry.
“I went to the (Royal Melbourne) show one day and there was a police stand there,” he said. “I asked a few questions and decided to join up. If you don’t like it you can always get out – but here I still am.”
Mr Moore started his career in the city and spent time in Boronia before landing in Belgrave 22 years ago.
“I sort of get to a place and put the roots down,” he said. “A lot of blokes spend a few years somewhere and move on or join one of the squads, but I was happy just doing what I was doing.”
He was a newly promoted sergeant when a bomb rocked the Russell Street Police Headquarters in 1986, killing Constable Angela Taylor.
Mr Moore was in Const Taylor’s squad.
“I knew her pretty well,” he said.
Const Taylor used to work in the Boronia Just Jeans store when Mr Moore was stationed at Boronia.
“Back in those days we had foot patrols. If you wanted a coffee we’d go into Just Jeans and go out the back,” he said. “She was always asking about the police force because that was her dream.”
Mr Moore was just metres away from the blast that killed her, in the city watch- house.
“I just remember this almighty bang,” he said.
“I thought someone was trying to blow a hole through the watch-house to get someone out.”
Mr Moore faced bushfires, sieges, road accidents and missing persons searches during his time in the hills.
He now plans to spend more time with his wife Pauline, three daughters, and soon to be five grandchildren.
He’ll also hit the road on his retirement present – a new bicycle.
Mr Moore cycled the 14 kilometres from his Scoresby home to Belgrave Police Station, including tackling Upwey’s ‘mad mile’.
He rides with a group each Sunday and now plans to join a racing club.
“Now that I have a bit more time I can do more riding mid-week,” he said.
Mr Moore recently competed in his first Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games in Tasmania and brought home the Road Cycling Race gold medal in the 60-plus age group.
“It was pretty hard too – 68 kilometres of wind, hills and mountains,” he said.
Mr Moore has been cycling for 34 years and has competed in the Victorian Police Games for the past 10 years with much success.
Senior Sergeant Doug Berglund joined Mr Moore at Belgrave Police Station in 1996.
He’s always been amazed at Mr Moore’s ability on the bike.
“He puts people half his age, or even a third of his age to shame,” he said.
“He’s as fit as a mallee bull.”
Sen Sgt Berglund said Mr Moore was “a quiet, unassuming chap who just does his job, and does it to a very high standard”.
“I don’t really want him to go. He’s going to be missed,” he said.
Sen Sgt Berglund said Mr Moore’s interest in people was “just phenomenal”.
“When he’s dealing with the public he goes to the nth degree,” he said.
“He’s just one of those guys you like to have around.”
Mr Moore said saying goodbye to his colleagues wouldn’t be too tough.
“I’ll still be riding up here so I can drop in for a coffee – unless they’re too busy for me,” he said.