Dignitaries gather at Carisbrook Cemetery to honour police officer murdered during the gold rush

So much so, Leading Senior Constable Chris Trimble drove through the area, unaware of its significance, for about 37 years.

It was when his partner, Tania Kerr, retired from nursing 18 months ago and started researching the region's policing history that he became aware of Senior Constable Edward Barnett's sacrifice.

The couple's determination to honour the 29-year-old man's service yesterday saw Senior Constable Barnett awarded a Victoria Police Star, more than 161 years after his death.

The year was 1858, and Senior Constable Barnett was responding to a violent crime in the White Hills Goldfield, near Carisbrook.

A restaurateur by the name of Charles Lopez had been shot and killed during a bungled attempted robbery.

The armed assailant, William Brook, was trying to escape.

These were violent times. Leading Senior Constable Trimble told attendees at yesterday's grave rededication and Victoria Police Star presentation there was a murder weekly at the diggings.

Brook fired upon Senior Constable Barnett as he tried to escape arrest.

One of his bullets pierced the police officer's heart, killing him.

But Brook wasn't to live much longer than Senior Constable Barnett. He died later that same day, February 1, from stab wounds he'd received during his struggle with Lopez.

People on the goldfields were fed up with the 'undesirable elements' that preyed on the diggers.

The murders of the police officer and the restaurateur incensed the miners, about 1500 of whom assembled that day and sought vengeance, targeting the 'undesirable elements'.

"Their establishments were destroyed by the angry miners in what was quite a riot," Leading Senior Constable Trimble said.

"Not so famous as the Eureka Stockade on December 3, 1854, but a significant event."

Senior Constable Barnett would have been one of up to 10 police officers working in the area at the time of his murder, according to Inspector Dan Davison.

The police force was then only five years young.

The camp at the White Hills Goldfield, now Havelock, was made of little more than canvas and timber buildings.

That's where Inspector Davison said the area's police officers would have likely been based.

They would have been away from their camp for days and sometimes weeks on end, patrolling on horseback.

"Senior Constable Barnett would have been equipped with a uniform inclusive of a helmet, a baton and a sword. Any firearm he had access to would have been rudimentary in design, most likely black powder in its operation," Inspector Davison said.

"If Edward Barnett was serving today in general duties, he would have undertaken 33 weeks of intensive training. He would be wearing a ballistically-capable operational vest, and he'd be driving a late-model vehicle fitted out specifically for operational duties."

His equipment would include a body-worn camera, a semi-automatic pistol, an OC spray canister and an extendable baton.

"He would, importantly, be in constant contact with a fully-supported communications centre via radio to dispatch him to various calls of public assistance, and to provide him with important backup and support in his time of need," Inspector Davison said.

"Along with the latest equipment, Edward would be operating in an environment where he would have been working with a partner."

It was a blacksmith that arrested Senior Constable Barnett's murderer during the early hours of February 1, 1858.

Leading Senior Constable Trimble said the blacksmith and a number of other diggers presented Brook to police at the camp.

Much has changed in the 161 years since Senior Constable Barnett was murdered, but Acting Chief Commissioner Wendy Steendam said the risks members faced remained the same.

"Police officers place their lives on the line to make our community safer," she said.

She said yesterday's event was an opportunity to stop and thank the force's members for their service and sacrifice.

Ralph Stavely, of the Police Historical Society, said the risks wouldn't have changed one bit even by the 200^th anniversary of Senior Constable Barnett's death.

"We hope it never happens, we pray it never happens, but the chance of accidental death or murder of police members is a risk accepted by every member every time they go out on duty," he said.

Senior Constable Barnett is one of 164 police members that have died in the line of duty.

He was the 17^th police officer to die in Victoria since 1837 and the 10^th since the formation of Victoria Police.

"Edward came to Australia without any family and was a respected member praised by his superiors for his duty and good conduct," Leading Senior Constable Trimble said.

Senior Constable Barnett hailed from the Irish city of Waterford.

With nobody to tend to his funeral, Leading Senior Constable Trimble said the slain police officer's colleagues stepped up.

The tablet at Senior Constable Barnett's grave was erected by the then Chief Commissioner of Police, the officers and constables of the district as a mark of esteem and respect.

The grave has since been visited by three Chief Commissioners, and there have been a number of efforts to maintain its significance throughout the years.

Senior Police Chaplain Jim Jung said the Chief Commissioner in 1929 approved restoration efforts to the tune of 10 pounds.

Further restoration works were undertaken in 1972 and November 2012.

Despite extensive research, Leading Senior Constable Trimble said he and Ms Kerr were unable to track down Senior Constable Barnett's relatives.

Victoria Police was still the only family the couple could find.

"What happened 161 years ago is what we still do today - help our colleagues," Leading Senior Constable Trimble said.

"Nobody looks after us in the most crucial times as good as we do."

Leading Senior Constable Trimble said he was horrified to learn he had been driving through the scene of the murder for 37 years.

"There was no acknowledgement at the site of any of this happening," he said.

He and Ms Kerr became aware of Senior Constable Barnett through the Blue Ribbon Foundation.

Ms Kerr said she had been hoping for an activity that would keep her occupied in retirement when she started the research.

Leading Senior Constable Trimble said it dawned on him that it would be nice to have Senior Constable Barnett's Victoria Police Star mounted in the police station at Maryborough.

The Victoria Police Star is awarded to officers that have been seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.

In instances where it is presented posthumously, the award is generally presented to a family member.

Leading Senior Constable Trimble thanked those who made yesterday's event happen.

"Me and Gary were just going to bang a nail in the wall and hang it and head off down for a pint... a responsible pint," he told attendees.

Senior Victoria Police members, Member for Ripon Louise Staley and senior Central Goldfields Shire figures were among the dignitaries.

Carisbrook Primary School students attended and sang the national anthem.

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