Marches have been held across Australia to honour police who have lost their lives in the line of duty, through illness or other circumstances.

Held annually, Police Remembrance Day is an important day for police in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

The Queensland Police Pipes and Drums performed at the Brisbane memorial service, which also included the Dog Squad and Mounted Unit.

More than 1,000 were expected to attend the Darwin police service, with other Northern Territory services in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs.

In Victoria, the family of a police officer who was murdered by a colleague three decades ago accepted an award honouring his service.

Senior Constable Lindsay Forsythe was killed in the town of Maldon, north-west of Melbourne, in 1983 by Senior Constable Leigh Lawson.

Lawson was sentenced to life in prison for the killing.

Senior Constable Forsythe's family will receive a Victoria Police Star medal, which recognises officers killed or seriously injured while on duty.

Blue Ribbon Foundation chief executive Neil Soullier says the recognition is important.

"He was a policeman, but he was also a husband and a father, and irrespective of circumstances he was the victim of a vicious crime," he said.

"For the children who will be receiving the award, it's recognition and it's also the Victoria Police and the community saying their father's service is still remembered 30 years on."

But on the day where the officers stop and remember those who have lost their lives on duty, a police officer was shot on the Gold Coast.

In the early hours of this morning Sergeant Gary Hamrey was shot in the face at close range during an armed robbery.

Sergeant Hamrey is in a serious but non life-threatening condition in Southport Hospital.

Meanwhile, the pair found guilty of murdering Queensland detective Damien Leeding were expected to be handed their sentence today, but after hearing submissions from defence lawyers, Justice James Douglas adjourned the sentencing.