Balin Stewart funeral: Large crowd gathers at stadium to say final goodbyes
The family and friends of Balin Stewart have paid an emotional tribute to the popular teen in front of a 900-strong crowd at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Watch the video:
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The father of much-loved teen killed in an alleged stabbing has told hundreds of mourners at his funeral he hopes his son’s death was not in vain and wished “no parent has to go through this again”.
There were emotional scenes as about 900 people, all dressed in white tops, gathered at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Thursday to farewell Balin Stewart, 16, who touched so many.
His father Michael could be seen kissing the white coffin that carried his son as it was pushed into the hearse while his mother Kerri-Lyn collapsed during the long procession around the sports ground – so big was the pain to say goodbye for the last time to her youngest child.
Mr Stewart used the funeral to urge all to put an end to the knife culture among youths.
“I could talk about our beautiful boy all day, as he had so many amazing qualities but I‘ll end with the obvious one,” he said.
“Our Balin’s presence touched so many. For all the love and support you have shown Balin, and we will repay you for not letting this death be in vain. Bin the blade for Balin will in time become a catchphrase, it will become a movement and every teen will come to know so no parent will have to go through something like this again.”
Ms Stewart, who took to the stage with her husband, spoke of how Balin had a “rocky start to life” having been born with complications but they were “blessed with a happy and healthy” child who loved life.
She told the crowd how her son was an “active child” who just had a go at everything.
Balin’s sister Rebekah Devietti said she was always “obsessed” with her baby brother since he was born and how she loved him for being like a big brother to her own children.
“It hurts my heart he will never be able to treat his own children the way he treated ours” she said.
Ms Devietti said she didn’t have a “bad memory” about her baby brother and he was the “most easy going, loveable person” anyone knew.
Friends paid tribute to Balin by singing an acoustics version of a cover of Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton, having recorded the song at Point Cartwright to play at the funeral.
Family members and friends took to the stage one by one to speak about Balin in front of a large graffiti poster carrying his name as tears flowed on stage and in the crowd.
“He was so pure and so kind,” a school friend said on Thursday.
“We are all so lucky to have had him in our life.”
Another friend said Balin was the boy who would always make people laugh and was “such a funny kid”.
Mourners formed a long line along the sports ground as the hearse did a lap of honour to farewell the boy for the last time.
Balin died on January 20.
Police claim a fight outside Balin’s Iluka Ave, Buddina home took a tragic turn just after 11pm when he was allegedly stabbed to death.
Family, neighbours and paramedics tried desperately to save the popular Sunshine Coast Grammar School Year 11 student’s life but he died at the scene.
A 17-year-old boy charged with his murder has been granted Supreme Court bail.
The alleged stabber – who was known to Balin – rang the police and ambulance immediately after the alleged incident.
Balin’s father Michael told Sunshine Coast Daily in the days after his death his son will be missed but he holds “no malice” towards the boy accused of killing his son.
The family has started the #binthebladesforbalin campaign in a bid to rid today’s youth of its knife culture.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help fund the initiative as the Sunshine Coast community continues to grieve the death of the Buddina teen.
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