Side by side, a ride of respect

25 NOVEMBER 2025

The risks are high, the threat of danger is ever present, and making it back home safely shouldn’t be taken for granted. On the road, every rider knows this. In uniform, every officer lives it. Held in November each year, the Corrective Services NSW Remembrance Day Motorcycle Ride is not just a trip down the highway, it’s a journey in tribute to those who didn’t make it home from work and to colleagues who have passed away after retirement or from illness while still serving. It’s a reminder of the courage it takes to serve.

The Ride began in 2019 with 40 officers riding west to Bathurst to honour fallen colleagues. It has now grown into a powerful tradition. Each year more people join, with correctional officers (serving and former), community corrections officers, case managers, chaplains, admin staff, psychologists – anyone who understands the purpose of the ride and shares the same sense of respect for their colleagues and the organisation.

On the road again

This year, more than 320 riders will start with a commemorative service at the Corrective Services Academy in Eastwood, the training centre for CSNSW staff. From there, they’ll ride together to Goulburn Correctional Centre. The destination changes each year, with riders visiting different correctional centres to share the tribute across the state.

“When the idea came about in 2019, I was invited to assist with the ride committee and I knew it was something special,” said Joshua Hamade.

“This is a chance to connect, to remember and to show solidarity across the service in a powerful and visible way.”

Joshua spent seven years as a Correctional Officer and is now Manager of Work Health Safety at DCJ which supports CSNSW’s Safety Management Systems, but the Ride keeps him bonded to his days in blue.

“But it’s not just a ride,” he says.

“It’s an experience that connects you to the heart of the organisation.”

The emotional legacy

Corrective Services has operated for nearly 180 years, during which time 12 officers have tragically lost their lives while serving. It is incredibly meaningful for today’s custodial and non-custodial staff to carry the loss together and honour the frontline staff who have paid the ultimate price.

“It is such an important day,” said Manager Jennifer Billington.

“It is both powerful and humbling, and a day that means so much to the Corrective Services family.”

For many riders it is the trip itself that strengthens their bonds, from the greenlight corridor along major thoroughfares like Silverwater Road with an escort by NSW Police to the moment they safely reach their destination.

“It’s the road that binds us - that’s where the healing, the reflection and the camaraderie live,” explains Joshua Hamade.

“There’s something powerful about being surrounded by people who understand what service means.”

Scheduling Officer Naomi Bolliger remembers her first ride, and the surprise she felt at seeing the overwhelming support from centre staff when riders arrive, it was an emotional experience and one she has never hesitated to repeat.

“This is definitely an event you want to attend, it’s full of camaraderie throughout the ride including at the academy and destination,” she says.

“It’s incredible! I love watching and being in the pack as we ride out of the academy and along the roads in a massive group, the rumbling sound from all bikes and being alongside many people from so many centres is amazing.”

A journey to remember

As the last rider pulls in and shuts off their engine the purpose of the day remains front of mind.

“We carry the responsibility of representing those who can’t ride or work beside us anymore,” said Joshua.

“Every kilometre is for them, and for their families who continue to feel their absence. Reaching our destination always brings a wave of emotion. It’s humbling and incredibly grounding to be part of something that transcends rank, role, or location.”

This year’s Ride will be led by Correctional Officer Darren Crimston in memory of his wife, Michelle, who passed away last year after a devastating cancer diagnosis in 2022. Michelle and Darren first met while working as Correctional Officers, and many riders are expected to feel strong emotions as they see Darren at the head of the pack, joined by his son Jeromy, Michelle’s brother Scott and his wife Courtney.

“I once did the ride in memory of a fellow officer who took his life. It is a sad day, but it is still a good occasion for us all. The ride gives us a chance to remember people and to catch up with lost friends,” Darren said.

“The day of the ride is emotional, the memories come back and we honour them. I have done the ride with Michelle, and without her when she was sick. This year I am doing it for her.”