After a year of heartbreak, one of Australia’s best police officers has been nominated for a prestigious national award.
South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens is in the running for the 2025 Australian of the Year title.
It comes as he and his family continue to mourn the loss of their son Charlie, 18, who was killed in a collision while celebrating Schoolies. at Goolwa Beach, south of Adelaide, in November last year.
Mr Stevens joked that he had to clarify on Friday whether his nomination for Australian of the Year was real.
“I just had to check to see if it was someone who had a loan from me… one of my employees trying to be funny,” he said.
“It turned out to be a real phone call.”
Mr Steven’s son, Charlie, suffered significant brain damage in the crash and died the next day at Flinders Medical Center surrounded by family and friends.
Despite the devastating loss of their son, the Stevens family has courageously advocated for organ donation and road safety.
South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has been nominated for Australian of the Year
Despite the devastating loss of their son Charlie, Mr Stevens and his wife Emma (both pictured) have courageously advocated for organ donation and road safety
“It’s no longer just words on a piece of paper when you stand up and talk about the consequences of people dying on the road,” Mr Stevens said.
“I wish I didn’t have that perspective.”
Mr Stevens said his wife deserves as much praise as he does.
“She’s the stronger of the two of us,” he said.
‘She’s the one who really pushed some of the things we’ve been trying to achieve in terms of consciousness… that’s all about Emma, so she deserves as much recognition as I do, I think. ‘
Mr Stevens is one of four people nominated for SA’s Australian of the Year.
He said that given the caliber of his fellow nominees, he is definitely not getting ahead of himself.
Charlie Stevens tragically died in a collision on November 17 last year. He is in the photo with his father
“I have been nominated along with a professor, a rocket scientist and a doctor who does cancer research,” he said.
“That’s a pretty high-end company.”
The South Australian of the Year winner will be announced on November 7.
The young driver who fatally hit Charlie was given a suspended sentence on Tuesday.
Dhirren Singh Randhawa, 19, was given a suspended sentence of one year, one month and seven days in prison when he appeared in the SA District Court.
The suspension is for two years and is secured by a $1,000 good behavior bond.
He was also banned from driving for ten years.
After the sentencing, Mr Stevens said he was grateful the legal process was over.
“We are grateful that this part of the whole process is over,” he said.
“Each trial that occurred was difficult, stressful and emotional for our family, but we are grateful that Dhirren chose to plead guilty as this part of it was brought to a conclusion much more quickly.
‘It’s not like we’re moving on now, we’re learning to live without Charlie. We are always reminded of his absence and we are grateful that Dhirren has taken responsibility for his actions.”