101 individuals have misplaced their lives on the South Australia roads this yr. #101 was Charlie Stevens, son of SA’s Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Much more heartbreaking is that Charlie grew to become one in every of our ever-growing highway fatality statistics, one thing his dad has been relentlessly campaigning for many of this yr as South Australia’s highway toll soared to its highest degree in additional than a decade.
Charlie Boy. Chaz. An avid footy fan and grasp of the air fryer. Simply 18 years previous. Vibrant. Cheeky. Type. Charlie was beloved by so many – his household, his buddies, and his two sausage canines.
Charlie is the youngest son of Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his spouse Emma. Final Friday, he was with buddies ready for a shuttle bus to go to Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when he was allegedly struck by an 18-year-old native man. Charlie suffered extreme accidents and was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Shortly after, docs declared that he had suffered ‘irreversible mind harm’ and was placed on life help. Sadly, he died 22 hours later.
Charlie Stevens: 101
Charie’s dad, Grant sat down in his bed room and penned this letter. We love that he’s given us an perception (and tribute) to his son as a result of slightly than simply be remembered as a ‘statistic’ and highway sufferer #101, he shared insights into who he was and the unimaginable affect he had on his household and people round him.
I’m certain you’ll agree that no mother or father ever goals they’ll should say goodbye to their little one, and Grant has actually hit the nail on the top concerning the significance of not taking a look at our rising highway toll as ‘one other quantity’ and take into consideration the affect it has on the households, the group and our state as an entire.
Grant and Emma then shared the letter through the South Australia Police Fb web page, portray a vivid portrait of his son, Charlie, and celebrating the wonderful younger man he had turn out to be.
Learn Commissioner Grant Stevens’ letter in full:
I’m penning this sitting in a bed room with soiled garments on the ground, an unmade mattress, six dinking glasses lined up on the bedside desk, an empty KFC field subsequent to the glasses, wardrobe doorways left open and a row of skateboards leaning on the wall – it’s a mess and it’s excellent. That is the place 101 lived.
101 arrived on the twenty eighth of April 2005 and altered our Iives endlessly. The final of 5 – he was completely different. Cheeky, intense and humorous – a loveable ratbag from the second he might discuss. He was as irritating as hell however he was additionally the child who would take care of others, befriend the lonely, and assist those that have been struggling.
Depth shone via as 101 dedicated to every new ardour – Lego, BBL, scooters, footy, cricket, basketball, browsing, downhilling, Fortnite and his skateboard – it was all or nothing and it was at all times all. 101 hated cheese as a result of his brother did. He was a grasp of the airfryer, the nutribullet and the steamer. He beloved his mum’s curried sausages however he didn’t know the place the dishwasher was…
His favorite pastime was pushing mum’s buttons – though a unique title is on his delivery certificates, “f*** off Charlie” was what you’ll hear most in our home, adopted carefully by “put a shirt on” and “take your hat off on the desk”.
101 beloved footy. He beloved the Cats, he performed 100 video games for the Mitcham Hawks, then the Jets, the Goody Saints, the Camels and Westies, he simply wished to play and be part of the staff. It was 101 who taught us you possibly can’t bathe until you’ve got your bluetooth speaker absolutely cranked so mum and pop can’t hear themselves discuss within the kitchen. 101 by no means wished for cleaning soap, shampoo or shavers – another person in the home at all times has it – even a used towel.
His enthusiasm for varsity noticed no bounds – besides begin time and college work. However his enthusiasm for his household and his mates was actual. 101 had a circle of buddies the remainder of us might solely dream about. He beloved his mates they usually beloved him. His buddies dad and mom’ appreciated having 101 of their properties. He was mates together with his brother’s mates. Dwelling with him meant waking up on weekends to 4 or 5 further our bodies in spare beds and on couches. It meant the household storage being remodeled into a person cave the place issues dad and mom didn’t learn about (or most likely allow) might occur.
The one time we noticed 101 really offended was when he was pressured to chop his treasured hair for his sister’s marriage ceremony in 2021. He by no means went again to a hairdresser once more.
Being 101’s alarm clock was a job his mum and I took up when he left college and began his apprenticeship. “Stand up mate”, “stand up mate”, “mate, stand up’”, “are you not gong to work as we speak”, adopted by “drive safely and don’t velocity” changing into the morning mantra.
101 thrived at work, he beloved working, beloved his job and he idolised his boss. It meant he had cash for TA Tuesdays and Wednesday wings on the Feathers. 101 was adored by the sausage canines Grace and Zoe, who would sneak into his mattress at night time.
On an excellent day we might be fortunate to see 101 for half an hour between getting house from work and heading out together with his mates, however it was sufficient.
101 is Charlie Hinchliffe Stevens – Charlie, Charlie Boy, Chas, Hyperlinks, Steve. You lived life and gave a lot to so many. You have been a power of nature and we are going to always remember your lovely, cheeky, disarming smile.
Son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, pal, workmate, staff mate. A lot greater than only a quantity on a tragic tally.”
A well timed reminder on the significance of organ donation
In honour of Charlie’s reminiscence and the 101 lives misplaced on South Australia’s roads this yr, the Stevens household has urged everybody to contemplate the importance of organ and tissue donation.
They encourage readers to interact in conversations about this very important subject with their household and buddies, emphasising the potential to avoid wasting lives via the beneficiant act of organ donation.
Registering for organ donation is simple too. Merely go to www.donatelife.gov.au.
Tributes pour in for Charlie
Folks have flocked to the Fb submit to share their condolences and tales of Charlie Stevens. Many have additionally thanked the commissioner for writing such a touching letter that not solely honours Charlie however all the others we’ve misplaced on our roads.
Charlie is 101 this yr alone. And simply in South Australia. There are numerous, many extra.
Charlie was allegedly killed by successful and run by Encounter Bay man Dhirren Randhawa, additionally 18. He was granted bail in court docket yesterday after the crash and has been charged with inflicting dying by harmful driving, aggravated driving with out due care, leaving the scene of a crash after inflicting dying and failing to actually reply questions. He has had his licence reface court docket once more in March.
Our ideas are with Grant Stevens and his household as they course of the lack of Charlie.
What to learn subsequent
