Hello, this is Stuart Watts’ wife Katy. You may or may not know that Thursday 15th February is Stuart’s last day of service after being medically discharged from the NSW Police Force. It’s a very bittersweet end to a 14 year career; a career he loved and was kinda good at, that he thought he’d see through to retirement.. although you’d think with the salt and pepper beard he was already there.

 

Stu's career was filled with many highs, some great wins, a few impressive foot pursuits, epic arrests, unforgettable laughs and too many house moves. Unfortunately he also experienced a myriad of lows, and has been battling acute PTSD since late 2021 after he attended a fatal MVA involving children. The trauma of witnessing this unfathomable scene has resulted in not only the end of his career, but the crippling, relentless symptoms of PTSD that he battles every single day whilst trying to raise our three young kids. 

For his last day of service we had booked skydiving for the momentous day, but the universe had other plans. After a recent attempt to end his pain and suffering and the subsequent relapse of his condition, he spent his last day of service in the good hands of St John of God Hospital as an inpatient; his fourth 3 week inpatient stay to date with his last stay being only in December 2023, away from his family and three boys for Christmas. Suffice to say it's been a rough few months after a tough few years for old mate who really only ever wanted to do a good job.

I am extending a non-obligatory invitation to send through any note, letter, photo, message, joke, quote, or anecdote that he might appreciate as a reminder for Stu to remember the good times he had over the years, the many incredible people he worked with, and act as a tribute for all of the good he did in the communities in which he worked. 

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He won’t have any kind of send off as he so deserves, nor did he have a craft beer-fuelled shindig when he celebrated his 40th last month. Please post your chosen message below, which can be published as a public comment, or if you've got some war stories you'd rather not be posted online, use the form at the bottom for it to be sent privately. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might want to take part; the link is www.46325.net

Life is full of chaos and honestly there’s absolutely no hard feelings if you don’t want to or don’t get around to it. We completely get it. Thank you so much for stopping by and please look after yourselves. This life, as we have learnt, can be so cruel and unfair; but it’s important to find the joy where you can in the world and the people around you. Reach out if you need help; you'd be surprised how many people can relate and are in your corner to help.

 

Thank you to everyone who has been there for us, we appreciate it so bloody much. So many of you have given us both the most amazing memories and were a part of the good times, and continue to be incredible support to us and our family. Hopefully this will give Stu something to smile about and help him know that his hard work, sacrifice and suffering, similar to the stories of so many others, wasn't all for nothing.

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Keep fighting the good fight, and if those demons come to take you on fuck them right off and don't give up.

 

Please drop us a line if you're ever up around Central Coast/Lake Macquarie. Our door is always open for a cuppa, a beer, or just a good old chin wag. 
 

Cheers and take care

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The Watts'