Queensland Farewells Beloved Former Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski

Queensland's former police commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, was farewelled at Brisbane City Hall today, with friends, family, and colleagues gathering to remember his extraordinary career and his love for his family.

Mr. Gollschewski, who was the state's most experienced officer when he retired in early 2026, died this month aged 67, after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

A Life of Service

Mr. Gollschewski joined the Queensland Police Force in 1980 and went on to serve for nearly five decades. His daughter Kirsten remembered him as a devoted family man, saying, "In my heart of hearts, I genuinely believed that he would overcome it," she said. "My father’s accomplishments throughout his career in the police service are extraordinary, but they pale in comparison to the love he had for his family."

Tributes from Family and Colleagues

Mr. Gollschewski's wife Rebecca, whom he met in 2000, said they were "opposites in lots of ways" but shared a deep connection. "Most people knew him as Mr Gollschewski, boss, sir, Mr Fix-it, the COVID guy, or the guy who seems to be on TV a lot every time there’s a natural disaster," she said. "To his family and friends, he was Steve, Golly, Gorby, Dad, Pa and Opa."

Rebecca also recalled how her husband never lost sight of why he joined the police - to keep the community safe. "In senior management roles, he was still pulling cars over for speeding or erratic driving, regardless of whether he was in uniform or not, in his work vehicle or ours. By himself, or with us."

A Legacy of Service

Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young, who got to know Mr. Gollschewski during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the ceremony was "an opportunity for Queensland to say thank you". "Steve mentioned to me afterwards that it was a fitting way to mark what he summed up as 'a great life,'" she said.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams also paid tribute to Mr. Gollschewski, saying, "Golly possessed an impressive combination of qualities. He was intelligent, he was confident, driven and results-focused."

"Equally he was a strategic thinker, who never lost sight of the people behind the organisation and the communities they served," she added.

Last month, Mr. Gollschewski was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his nearly five decades of service.