The sudden and tragic loss of Mia, our firstborn flower, has left us profoundly traumatised, devastated and utterly bereft. We are lost without her. The pain we feel as a family is incomprehensible, and there simply are no words that can adequately express the depth of the sorrow we all feel.
Mia was deeply loved and adored by her siblings, her parents, her partner Dan, and her entire family. She was tragically taken from us far too young.
Mia dedicated herself to serving and protecting others through the NSW Police Force. She was a strong-willed, determined, loving, focused, vibrant, spontaneous and beautiful young woman who touched the lives of so many people.
She had a fiery spirit and a fiercely independent nature, and beneath that was a heart full of kindness and unconditional love. As the eldest of five children, Mia was a role model to her younger siblings. They looked up to her, and she was always someone they could turn to.
Mia was fit and sporty and loved being active. She had a beautiful love for animals, especially her beloved blue cattle cross kelpie, Millie. She was incredibly creative and found joy in painting flowers and baking.
Mia loved Dan deeply, and he was her soulmate. They were inseparable. They dreamed of getting married and having children together and building a life of their own. Mia brought fun, energy and spontaneity wherever she went. She lived life on her own terms and embraced it fully.
Mia had a fiercely competitive side, which she carried with her into her career. She loved being a police officer. She loved being part of a team, serving her community and the camaraderie she shared with her colleagues, both at work and socially.
Mia would always tell us about her day at work. She shared her thoughts, her experiences and her feelings about being a police officer with us. We could see the excitement in her when she spoke about her work and how much it meant to her. She was proud to serve, and we were incredibly proud of her.
We would like to sincerely thank Premier Chris Minns, Police Minister Yasmin Catley, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Acting Commissioner David Hudson, local MPs Michael Daley and Matt Thistlewaite, and Randwick Councillor Noel D’Souza, who each visited or reached out to our family during this unimaginable time, along with the countless members of the NSW Police family who were there for us from the very beginning. There are too many to mention, but their support and kindness have meant so much to us.
We know that time may eventually soften the sharpness of our pain, but nothing can ever bring Mia back to us. We will carry this loss for the rest of our lives. Our lives will never be the same without her.
Mia’s life may have been taken from her far too soon, but her spirit, her kindness, her laughter, her love and the memories she gave us will live on forever.
Please remember Mia for her kindness, her happiness and her beautiful, feisty and spirited personality. Remember her for the joy she brought to those around her, for the love she gave so freely, and for the extraordinary person she was inside and out.
Mia was stunningly beautiful, but her true beauty was in her heart, her courage, her compassion and the way she loved the people and animals around her.
Above all, we want Mia to be remembered for the life she lived, the people she loved, and the service she so proudly gave to others. She made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty while serving our state.
She deserves to be remembered.
She deserves to be spoken about.
And she deserves never to be forgotten.
We love you, Mia. More than words could ever say.
