More than 750 people gathered at Brisbane City Hall to farewell former Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski, who died aged 67 after an 18-month battle with cancer.
Family, friends, serving and retired officers and senior public figures attended the service on Monday, alongside Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, Governor Dr Jeannette Young, Police Minister Dan Purdie and Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing.
Gollschewski died on September 4, surrounded by his family, after what relatives described as “a sudden and cruel complication” in his cancer journey.
He was diagnosed with stage four cancer in early 2025 and briefly stepped aside from the commissioner’s role while undergoing treatment. He returned in September before announcing his retirement five months later, in February 2026.
A four-decade career in Queensland policing
Queensland’s 21st police commissioner, Gollschewski served in the force for more than four decades after following his father and brother into policing in 1980.
He became widely known across the state during nine years as State Disaster Coordinator, overseeing responses to the 2011 Lockyer Valley and Brisbane floods and the Covid-19 pandemic.
His career also included responsibility for security during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and leadership of complex whole-of-government responses during some of Queensland’s most challenging periods.
Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing said Gollschewski had been “a visionary and contemporary leader”, with an exceptional command of detail and an ability to make sense of complexity.
“He was driven by a desire to leave the organisation stronger and to ensure frontline police had the support, capability and leadership they needed to serve and protect the community,” Mr Pointing said.
Chief Superintendent Colin Briggs said that, despite reaching the highest rank in the Queensland Police Service, Gollschewski had never been motivated by status and had described himself as the “accidental Commissioner”.
Family remembers the man behind the uniform
At the service, relatives spoke of a devoted husband, father and grandfather whose greatest role was within his family. Gollschewski was a father of six and had been looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his four grandchildren.
His daughter Amy said he had often told his children that he wanted them to be “happy healthy and lawful”, adding that if they were those things, he would have done his job as a father and policeman.
His wife, Rebecca, recalled the demands of his work during the pandemic. “We often joked we saw more of Steve on TV than we did at home particularly during Covid,” she said.
In his final weeks, Gollschewski received an Order of Australia while in hospital, presented by the Governor in recognition of his contribution to the community.
His daughter Kirsten said the family felt “robbed” of the years they should have had together, but described her father as “a real life superman” and said he would always be her hero.
A guard of honour more than 300 metres long, formed by serving and retired officers, accompanied the funeral procession through Brisbane after the service.
A family spokesperson said the ceremony had honoured the many parts of Gollschewski’s life that had made him so deeply loved, adding that his death had been felt by his family, friends, colleagues and the wider community.
