Charlie Stevens was “no angel”, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens informed a whole lot of mourning family members at Adelaide Oval’s William Magarey Room final night time, however he was a “good boy”, with a “big personality, a big heart and a good soul”.
From the opening chords of a music written by Charlie’s brother to the inserting of flowers on his coffin one-by-one by family and friends, these gathered heard how deeply Charlie was cherished.
“He genuinely cared about people,” Grant mentioned, tightly gripping spouse Emma’s shoulder.
“Everybody knew Charlie. He was known for his big heart and his big smile.”
He mentioned Charlie was distinctive, intense and single-minded with a “cheeky ratbag streak”, who “probably got away with more” than his 4 older siblings mixed.
Brother Tom described him as “my best friend, my biggest rival, my number one fan, my little brother”, who was “an entertaining little fella” and “knew how to push every single one of my buttons”.
His pals paid rousing tribute to a loyal mate who was at all times fast to chortle and welcome others.
Whether it was yelling out “bang” in a crowded cinema throughout a very tense second in Mission Impossible or straight-up mendacity to his dad and mom that he’d purchased one other sausage canine whereas they have been away in Bali, he was at all times smiling.
The footy-loving surfer, skater and downhill bike rider was “destined to be a tradie” proper from the sooner years.
Friends raised eyebrows when Charlie, then three, acquired an actual hammer and an actual cordless drill for Christmas, his dad mentioned.
“But we were sensible. He had to settle for a toy circular saw instead of a real one, much to his disgust,” Grant mentioned.
Charlie might have thanked them however the freshly disassembled cubby home, out of doors furnishings and stepladder did not.
It was the outpouring of emotion and assist from his pals that first threatened to get one of the best of the resolute police commissioner as he farewelled his son.
His voice cracked as he pressured how essential they have been for Charlie and thanked them for “being in our home” and “emptying the beer fridge”.
When all of the jokes have been gone, what was left on stage was two grief-stricken dad and mom, attempting to come back to phrases with the sudden and surprising lack of their teenage son.
“Charlie, your mum and I love you and we are devastated that you were taken from us so soon,” the commissioner mentioned.
“We said you were a force of nature. Full of energy, unstoppable, unforgettable. We are heartbroken now.”
As he sniffed again tears, Emma urged him to complete the hardest job a mum or dad can do, saying “you’ve got one more line”.
“We can’t think of you without smiling,” Grant mentioned, earlier than he planted a kiss on his son’s coffin and Emma buried her face in a bouquet of flowers as they walked again to their seats.
“We have missed you every day since we said goodbye and we will always miss you.
“We will love you perpetually Charlie boy.”
The state government yesterday donated $100,000 to Operation Flinders Foundation in his memory.
The commissioner and his family encouraged the public to donate to the charity in lieu of flowers.
Charlie was killed at Goolwa during an end-of-school celebration when he was struck by a car at 9pm on November 17.
Dhirren Randhawa, 18, faces four charges, including causing death by dangerous driving, over the death of Stevens.
He is accused of driving away after hitting Stevens and is due back in court in March.
Victorian Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lineham will briefly grow to be an SA Police particular constable to make sure the investigation stays unbiased.
Source: www.9news.com.au
