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HOME of the Blue Knights Australia             

 

HISTORY OF THE BLUE KNIGHTS AUSTRALIA

FOUNDED 1978
 

 

The Blue Knights® International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles. In the 1974, several law enforcement officers from the Bangor, Maine (USA) area met and formed a small, local motorcycle club. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Blue Knights have more than 636 chapters and 20,550 members in 30 countries..

The Australian story is one of pride and achievement; Australia joined the Blue Knights family back in 1978 and forged a special place in the history of the Blue Knights legend. With the establishment of the Australian membership and with members in Canada and the USA the Blue Knights became a true international law enforcement motorcycling club and started along the road to becoming the largest and most respected law enforcement motorcycling club in the world. 

The Australia membership started its humble beginnings in 1978 in Sydney with Bob Depeau and other members of the New South Wales Police force starting the Australia I chapter. By the beginning of the 1980’s Australia I had been chartered and towards the end of the 1980’s the chapter had in excess of 90 regular members and included Police and Law Enforcement Officers from around Australia. This was also the first Law Enforcement motorcycling club in Australia and set the bar for all others to follow. 

Towards the end of 1993 the Australia I chapter disbanded with some members becoming “members at large”. Then in December 2004, the Australia 1 chapter was reformed. 

 A “National Get Together” was organised  which took place in Broken Hill, New South Wales on May 28, 2005 and interested Law Enforcement Officers from around Australia attended and the Blue Knights Australia 1 Chapter was reorganised. 

Initially, the Australia I chapter was managed from Sydney with Directors in all States and Territories. This group structure allowed for state representation and autonomy of rides with National administration being conducted centrally. After a new Board of Directors was elected in 2008, the National Executive moved to Perth, Western Australia. 

In 2010, due to a significant influx of members,  it was necessary to revert to a more traditional structure of chapters located around the country. This new structure was based on local congregations of members which would service the membership more effectively and also be responsive to the specifics of each state and the Law Enforcement commands within it. 

With the new membership driving growth of the Blue Knights in Australia,  the second chapter, Australia II, was chartered in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Australia II was established to control and support the Eastern states of Australia and its members, and also support the establishment of additional chapters on the eastern side of the country when deemed necessary. Currently there are 69 members in the Australia II Chapter 

Australia I continues to administrate the members in Western Australia and became the first chapter to be state based in its entire membership, and remains located in Perth with over 110 current members. 

Since being chartered Australia II has been growing rapidly and has members in all Eastern states of Australia with large contingents in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and New South Wales.

In August 2011 the Australia III Chapter was Chartered and was formed by members in Queensland and the Northern Territory.  Strong interest in these states have seen membership rise significantly.

Blue Knights Australia has been instrumental in the support of charities and worthy causes, and enjoy getting together with fellow Law Enforcement personnel to simply have a social ride and enjoy the sport we all love. 

The Blue Knights Australia supports the National Police Memorial Wall to Wall ride held in September each year and is always in attendance with members from all chapters with International Blue Knights members as guests. 

In 1987 Harley Davidson produced a limited Blue Knights motorcycle to show its appreciation of the work done by Blue Knights International members. 75 of these motorcycles were produced and one can be seen today in the Harley Davidson Museum.

We are all one Law Enforcement family and so, as we work together we also ride together and lookout for each other and the community. We are the “good guys” and that is why our motto “Ride With Pride” expresses our community Law Enforcement and Policing family spirit.

We currently have members both as serving and retired Law Enforcement Officers spread throughout Australia with the following Agencies represented; 

New South Wales Police  
New South Wales Department of Corrective Services  
United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations  
Department for Correctional Services South Australia  
Western Australia Police  
Public Transport Authority of Western Australia    
Victoria Police Department  
Queensland Police Department  
Australian Federal Police  
South Australia Police  
Kenya Police Force  
Australian Customs & Border Protection Service  
International Criminal Court  
ACT Corrective Services  
City of London Police  
Corrective Services New Zealand  

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the ‘Greatest Fraternal Law Enforcement Organisation’ in the world and more so the ‘Largest Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club’ in the world.

 

    Blue Knights Organisation

West Coast Conference

The Blue Knights organization is composed of chapters. As of  January 1, 2011, we have 620 chapters and almost 20,000 members in 29 countries.

Each chapter is a member of a conference that encompasses a particular area of several states, provinces or countries. Australia is a member of the West Coast Conference.

The West Coast Conference is comprised of the 5 Western Canadian Provinces/Territories (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northwest and Yukon Territories), Northern and Central California, Northern Nevada, the six Northwestern Continental U.S. States (Oregon, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah) as well as Alaska, Hawaii, and Australia/New Zealand and pretty much the entire "Pacific Rim" region, excluding Southern California, Southern Nevada and Mexico.

The WCC currently has 47 chapters in-good-standing. That's 47 chapters with more than 1650 members!
 
 
Patches Worn By the Blue Knights Australia I

International Blue Knights patch Australian Blue Knights patch Australian West Coast Conference Patch
Heaven 1 Patch Single back Patch Southern Cross BKAUS Patch
99% badge Blue Knights Vest Badge Annual Wall to Wall Remembrance Ride

International Headquarters will issue to all paid up first year members one patch, one decal, one pin, and an International Membership Card.  Upon termination of Membership from a Chapter, all such items shall be returned to the Chapter

Insignia (Patches) worn by members of Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Inc’, signify that the person is not only a member of the Largest Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club in the world, but that he or she is an Active Law Enforcement Officer or retired and/or disabled former Law Enforcement Officer.
 
Persons who are not members of Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Inc’, and decide to display a Blue Knights patch either on their person or elsewhere, are fraudulently misrepresenting themselves and the Blue Knights in general.
 
The Blue Knights patch has to be earned by years served in Law Enforcement, and is looked upon with pride by those who are entitled to wear it.
 
Where instances of non Blue Knights members found to be displaying any Blue Knights insignia (patches), the person and/or persons who is/are fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as a member will be contacted and requested to remove the patch immediately.

If they are found to be a member of any other motorcycle club, then the President of that club will be contacted to have their member respect the rights of Blue Knights, and have their member remove the patch forthwith.                                                                 
It is important to remember that by wearing a Blue Knights patch, you are portraying yourself as a member of the Law Enforcement fraternity and you may become a target of unwanted attention from those in the community, that have little or no respect for the law.
 
So please! if you are not entitled to wear our patch, respect our rights and don’t wear it..

MAY 2009

The President of Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Inc of Australia, has written to Commissioners of Police in Australia to advise that in light of recent Outlaw Motorcycle culture  incidents, Blue Knights members throughout Australia have voted to refrain from wearing the traditional International 3 piece back patch denoting club membership.

 

This decision was taken by the general membership, comprising of Law Enforcement men and women with the view to ensure Blue Knights members in Australia are not seen as part of the Outlaw culture.

 

This will also avoid any conflict with proposed legislation to ban 3 piece back patches worn by the Outlaw culture, and any suggestions that Blue Knights members in Australia are receiving preferential treatment by being allowed to wear the patch, when the Outlaw culture are banned from wearing theirs.

 

 

The one piece shield patch (with no rockers) will replace the 3 piece back patch and will be worn by all members of Blue Knights whilst in Australia.

 

The actions of Blue Knights members in Australia should be seen as a responsible and considered response to the difficulties being experienced by Police throughout Australia in dealing with Outlaw culture incidents, and the support of our members to their fellow officers.

 

Although our stance has been reported to Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Inc’ they will continue to wear the traditional International 3 piece back patch.

 

 

 

Blue Knights Australia  Insurance.

 

As of the 1st  December 2009 the Blue Knights Australia members and office bearers are fully insured. The details of the insurance is as follows.

 

ASSOCIATIONS & OFFICIALS LIABILITY

The policy will indemnify the Insured in respect of claims made against any Insured Party jointly or severally arising from any Wrongful Act committed by them in their capacity as Directors, Trustees, Officers, Employees or Committee Members of the Insured.

Limit of Liability: $2,000,000 in the aggregate during the Period of Insurance.

PUBLIC & PRODUCTS LIABILITY

Policy provides indemnity up to the limit of liability against all sums which the Insured becomes legally liable to pay by way of compensation in respect of bodily injury &/or property damage resulting from an occurrence happening in connection with The Business.

Limit of Liability: Public $10,000,000 any one event and Products $10,000,000 in the aggregate any one year
 

 

JULY 2010

 

Blue Knights Australia  II Chapter Formed.


The second Chapter of Blue Knights Australia has been formed and will be know as Blue Knights Australia II.

 

The new chapter will take in the following States of Australia.

All current Australian Blue Knights members resident in these states will transfer to the new chapter.

 

Blue Knights Australia I will encompass the state of Western Australia and all members of Blue Knights Australia resident in that state will remain in the Blue Knights Australia I chapter.

 

AUGUST 2011

 

Blue Knights Australia  III Chapter Formed.


The Third Chapter of Blue Knights Australia has been formed and will be know as Blue Knights Australia III.

 

The new chapter will take in the following States of Australia.

All current Australian Blue Knights members resident in these states will transfer to the new chapter.

 

 







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