Nearly a thousand mourners gathered at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night to remember Charlie Stevens, the son of South Australia’s top cop, whose sudden death in an alleged hit-and-run crash reverberated around the nation.
In an affecting service, Charlie’s father Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, mother Emma and siblings Dylan, Tom, Josh and Sophie paid tribute to the 18-year-old larrikin who was loved by so many.
Addressing his son directly, Mr Stevens said: “Charlie, your mum and I love you. We are devastated that you were taken from us so soon.
“We said you were a force of nature, full of energy, unstoppable. Unforgettable.”
Commissioner Stevens’ voice broke when he looked to Charlie’s friends and thanked them for being with the family in their time of grief and pain.
“It’s meant the world to us that Charlie’s mates have spent so much time with us since we lost him,” he said.
“It warmed our hearts to have that group of boys just being in our home.”
Charlie died after he was struck by a car while out with friends celebrating schoolies at Goolwa Beach on November 17. He died a day later in hospital, becoming SA’s 101st road victim for the year.
Charlie’s tearful mates remembered their friend, with Charlie’s loyalty, larger-than-life personality and devotion to friendship shining through in the speeches.
“What truly inspired me about you was your ability to live in the present … You were always smiling, always dancing,” one friend said.
Another said “Charlie loved people and people loved Charlie.”
One friend promised to live a life Charlie would be proud of.
The service started with Youth Group’s Forever Young sounding out through a packed William Magarey Room at the Oval.
Dylan, Josh, Tom and Sophie wrapped their arms around one another as they farewelled their brother.
“Our hearts are shattering more and more, day by day,” sister Sophie said as she held back tears.
“You annoyed the absolute s**t out of me on numerous occasions, but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.”
Brother Dylan described his brother as “charming” and “free spirited”, and someone who lived life to the fullest.
“I’ll always cherish the endless hours spent in the backyard playing either cricket, footy, basketball or tennis until the sun went down,” he said.
“But this usually ended up with Charlie cracking the shits and chasing one of us away with a bat,” he added laughing.
Brother Tom, whose song Great Big Sun opened the service, told the crowd he and his brother were “cut from the same cloth”.
“I was so proud of the young man Links (Charlie) had grown into, leaving school and finding a passion for his new life on the tools,” he said.
The crowd laughed loudly at stories from Charlie’s life and tears flowed for the great loss.
Towards the end of the service, the crowd stood for a minutes’ silence to reflect on what Charlie had meant to them.
Tom Rehn, a close family friend, closed the night with: “Charlie, we are so glad you lived.
“We cherish the time we spent with you. And may your spirit live on through our memories.”
Before the service, the Stevens family expressed their gratitude asked the public to donate to Operation Flinders in lieu of flowers with their statement and also asked people to consider organ donation.
“Sincerely thank you to everyone who has contacted us in some way. If we have not responded yet we will endeavour to do so as best we can and when we can.
“Now is the time for us to regroup as a family and focus on how we move forward without our very special Charlie.
“Thank you once again to everyone for all your kind support and love.”