Date: Monday, September 23, 2024
Victoria, BC – A new clock in the VicPD Boardroom has a story that spans generations and continents, coming all the way from Victoria, Australia as a memorial to a beloved father and police officer.
Senior Constable Graeme Mulder was always there when called upon. As an officer with Victoria Police in Australia for over 25 years, Senior Constable Mulder was loyal and passionate about helping people.
He loved his family, friends, and coworkers.
Senior Constable Graeme Mulder, and with the Geelong Bike Education Program in the Early 1970’s
But deep down, Senior Constable Mulder harboured a dream: to travel to Victoria, Canada, to visit its police department, sharing a name with the state he loved in Australia.
Stories of Canada’s Victoria from his friends about the stunning scenery and wildlife made him smile. He dreamed of adventure and enjoyed the outdoors.
After retiring in 1987, Senior Constable Mulder’s goal of crossing the Pacific to visit Canada never materialized as he and his wife became ill and were too sick to travel. His family was heartbroken.
When Senior Constable Mulder’s son, Craig Mulder, found his father’s buttons from his old dress uniform in a box, an idea was struck. Craig transformed the buttons into a stunning clock. This clock would be sent to the Victoria Police Department – not the one in Australia, but the one his father had dreamed of visiting in Canada.
Determined to honour his father’s legacy, Craig and his wife Linda decided to deliver the precious clock themselves and made the long journey to Canada. When Craig landed in Victoria, B.C. he instantly felt the fresh, crisp air, and heard the gentle hum of the city. Craig was in awe of Victoria, the place his father had often talked about, but never visited. It was exactly as he imagined it.
On August 30, 2024, Craig delivered the clock made from his father’s dress uniform to Deputy Chief Constable Jamie McRae at VicPD’s headquarters. As the clock’s hands began to move, Craig felt like time itself was celebrating his father’s spirit.
It was a Connection of Continents as Craig Mulder Delivered the Clock to Deputy Chief McRae
Since that late summer day, Senior Constable Mulder has become a cherished part of Victoria, bridging two distant places.
The clock proudly sits in VicPD’s boardroom – a beautiful reminder of Senior Constable Mulder’s legacy. Craig reflects, “Even though my dad is no longer physically here his story lives on, inspiring police officers and visitors. I made the clock out of love and respect for my father and mother.”
With every tick and tock, the clock carries a piece of Australia, symbolizing adventure, friendship and the beauty of chasing dreams, no matter where they may lead.
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Senior Constable Graeme Mulder on his Police Motorcycle in Australia