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 award.
It comes as he and his family are still mourning the loss of his son Charlie, 18, who died in a hit-and-run while celebrating Schoolies. at Goolwa Beach, south of Adelaide, in November last year.
Stevens joked that he had to clarify whether his Australian of the Year nomination was genuine on Friday.
“I had to check that it was someone lending me…one of my employees trying to be funny,” he said.
“Turns out it was a genuine phone call.”
Steven’s son Charlie suffered significant brain damage in the accident and died at Flinders Medical Center the following day, surrounded by family and friends.
Despite the crushing loss of their son, the Stevens family has bravely advocated for organ donation and road safety.
South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has been nominated for Australian of the Year
Despite the crushing loss of his son Charlie, Mr Stevens and his wife Emma (both pictured) have been bravely advocating for organ donation and road safety.
“It’s no longer just words on paper when you stand up and talk about the consequences of people losing their lives on the road,” Mr Stevens said.
“I wish I didn’t have that perspective.”
Stevens said his wife deserves any praise as much 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 awareness… that’s all about Emma, so I think she deserves as much recognition as I do.”
Stevens is one of four people nominated for South Africa’s Australian of the Year award.
He said that with the caliber of his fellow nominees, he definitely won’t get ahead of himself.
Charlie Stevens was tragically killed in a hit-and-run on November 17 of last year. He appears in the photo with his father.
“I have been nominated along with a professor, a rocket scientist and a doctor who researches cancer,” he said.
“That’s a pretty high-level company.”
The South Australian of the Year Award winner will be announced on November 7.
The young driver who fatally hit Charlie received a suspended sentence on Tuesday.
Dhirren Singh Randhawa, 19, received a suspended sentence of one year, one month and seven days in jail when he appeared in the South African District Court.
The suspension lasts for two years, secured by a $1,000 good conduct bond.
He was also banned from driving for 10 years.
Following the sentencing decision, Stevens said he was grateful the court process was over.
“We’re grateful that this part of the whole process is over,” he said.
‘Every court date has been difficult, stressful and emotional for our family, but we are grateful that Dhirren decided to plead guilty to the crime because it brought this part to a much quicker conclusion.
‘It’s not that we’re moving on now, we’re learning to live life without Charlie. “We always remember his absence and are grateful that Dhirren has taken responsibility for his actions.”