Victoria Police from near and far gathered in Belgrave last week with the family of a young police graduate to celebrate one of their own and remember one who they had lost.
A memorial award has been given out for the first time on Friday 23 May in honour of police officer and community member Elias Gerovasilis, who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident at just 22.
A day of mixed emotions for many, the local tragedy spurred on the establishment of the award by Victoria Police to recognise an individual who has shown outstanding effort and involvement in Road Safety within the Yarra Ranges Police Service Area.
First-time winner of the award, Leading Senior Constable James Savin, hugged Elias’ parents Bill and Janine as he received the award.
The family, along with Elias’ older brother, Joaquim, and younger sister, Poppy, are well known in the Tecoma area. In his short time as a police officer at Belgrave, Elias had a big impact and his passing has been felt deeply by family, police and the wider community.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give, Winston Churchill said that,” LSC Savin said.
“Elias is not with us, but he lives on in this project.”
LSC Savin was nominated for the award by his peers and the Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol officer has shown dedication to and enforcement of road safety strategies, whilst also showing initiative in road safety and road trauma.
“I’ve enjoyed the challenge of coming up with new ways to make a difference in road policing, whether it be through different operations, or looking at how the Highway Patrol delivers its service,” LSC Savin said.
LSC Savin said the divisional highway patrol, in cooperation with the State Highway Patrol, conducted an operation over four weekends up in the Yarra Ranges.
“This was focused on regular recreational motorcycle riders – and it was an operation based on pulling in the motorcyclists and having a chat with them and seeing that their gear was all up to scratch, and their helmets were up to scratch, and their motorcycles were in good condition,” he said.
Police handed out pamphlets for safe motorcycle riding and also spoke with motor vehicle drivers about being aware of motorcyclists on the road.
“We spoke to over close to 150 motorcyclists during those four weekends,” LSC Savin said.
“This was well received, especially in the Healesville community.”
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said, whilst it is tremendous to recognise the award in Elias’s memory, it also brings that touch of sadness that no doubt his members here feel every day, as does the family.
“I think the ongoing work and highlighting Elias’ memory in the past by going forward with an award that recognises someone who has committed to providing road safety outcomes in the Yarra Ranges police service area is just such a great synergy,” he said.
“Elias will be honoured for his service and his life.”
Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett reflected on the impact of Elias’s tragedy and the connection between the young police officer and the community.
“The connection was really strong, and so therefore was the trauma, heartache and sorrow,” he said.
Policing in his community for 16 years, LSC Savin was presented with a plaque donated by Malcolm Brownlee from Audio Visual Displays Boronia, with timber sourced from trees in Sherbrooke that fell during the big storm events in June 2021.
A representative from Victoria Police Legacy said on the day that road safety is not just a cause, it’s a calling.
“In support of Elias, we reinforce our shared mission to honour those we’ve lost by preventing future tragedy,” they said.
“This award, which proudly extends across the Yarra Ranges police service area, is more than a plaque, a call to action and a reminder of what one dedicated officer can inspire.”
“We are also incredibly proud to welcome both Bill and Janine as newly embraced friends of Police Legacy.”
A candle was lit in honour of Elias, and Janine and Bill Gerovasilis stood and thanked many of the police officers in attendance who were connected to Elias and who helped to establish the award.
“Thank you to our boy – we love you, miss you, and your legacy is going to continue,” Janine said.
Elias’s family and police came together for a morning tea after the official proceedings.
The Elias Gerovasilis memorial award is peer-nominated and selected, and will now be awarded on 23 May each year.
