Private Investiture for Mr Stephan William Gollschewski (AO) APM

Mr Steve William Gollschewski AO APM; your wife, Rebecca, family, friends and colleagues, and Mater staff.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Thank you for welcoming me here today to preside over this Investiture Ceremony, dedicated to the accomplishments of one of our state’s most dedicated and respected police officers —and, to those who know him best, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and colleague.

Ordinarily, Investitures take place at Government House. Steve, today it is my privilege to bring Government House to you, so that this recognition may be conferred in the company of those closest to you.  

The Order of Australia recognises outstanding service and achievement, with appointment as an Officer recognising a contribution that is distinguished and of a high degree.  

The achievements of your remarkable career have already been outlined in the citation read earlier; however, no citation can fully capture the respect you have earned, the lives you have touched, or the lasting impact of your service to Queensland.  

That we are here today, and in these circumstances, is itself a powerful tribute to your lifetime of service.  

More than four decades ago, Steve took a solemn oath to “protect life and property” and “preserve peace and good order”, going on to become one of the longest-serving officers in our state’s history, serving 46 years with the Queensland Police Service.

Once joining the force, you rose through the ranks leading some of our state’s most significant operational policing responses, from natural disasters and major security operations to organisational reform and the COVID-19 pandemic, which is when I personally got to know Steve and quickly developed a deep admiration for his integrity and work ethic.  

Following your tenure as Queensland’s longest serving State Disaster Coordinator, you were appointed Queensland’s 21st Police Commissioner in April 2024.  

As Police Commissioner, you focused on strengthening the Service for the future by supporting the wellbeing and capability of its people, restoring confidence and morale, and refocusing policing efforts on community safety and crime prevention. Under your leadership, the QPS welcomed more than 2,100 new officers, strengthened professional standards, expanded wellbeing initiatives and embraced innovation — including the QLiTE system, replacing the old notepad and pen.

A longtime colleague has described you as a no-nonsense leader whom “everyone relied on”, who calmly communicated, with precision, and never lost sight of the values that mattered. You had a knack for distilling complex problems into solvable parts, and for thinking on your feet — sometimes quite literally, heading to the gym to work through ambiguity and formulate a response in a crisis.

Integrity and fairness were central to the way you approached your work, but so too were compassion and ‘kindness’. You invested in people, particularly young people, and was generous with your advice and encouragement. Your sense of humour not only brought levity to serious work, but made you someone people wanted to work alongside. Perhaps most tellingly, your colleague recalls that you were “very humble” about any plaudits, never one to seek the spotlight.

You demonstrated extraordinary personal resilience in returning to work following your cancer diagnosis, continuing to serve Queensland with characteristic determination and a sense of duty. When you retired as Commissioner in 2026, you brought to a close a distinguished career in public service that strengthened both the Queensland Police Service and the safety of the Queensland community.

The offices you have held and the honours you have earned speak to a remarkable career. Yet they tell only part of the story.

While your professional achievements are considerable, by your own admission one of your most important decisions was recognising when it was time to place family and health first.

Following your cancer diagnosis, you spoke with characteristic honesty about the importance of putting those closest to you at the centre of that journey.   

In doing so, you reminded us that behind every uniform, every title and every achievement is a husband, father, family member and friend – sustained throughout that remarkable journey by the steadfast love of family and those closest to you.

Steve, on behalf of Queenslanders, I offer my warmest congratulations on this well-deserved honour, and my sincere gratitude for the extraordinary contribution you have made to our state.