Balin Stewart’s parents claim request for Buddina memorial denied

After hearing gruelling details of their son’s death during his killer’s trial, Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart say they’re now fighting for approval of their son’s memorial.

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart want a memorial stone that will be set into the ground next to a chair dedicated to their son Balin Stewart and the Sunshine Coast Council has so far denied them their request. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Grieving parents who last week had to sit through harrowing details of their son’s death during his killer’s manslaughter trial say they’ve now been denied permission for a public memorial of his life.

Balin Stewart, 16, died outside his family’s Buddina home after he was stabbed on January 20, 2022.

Balin’s parents Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart endured a trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court that ended on June 9 after a jury found an 18-year-old, who cannot be named, guilty of manslaughter.

He is yet to be sentenced.

In June 2022, Mr and Mrs Stewart unveiled a chair for their son, Balin, in one of his favourite spots to watch the surf.

Michael Stewart at his son Balin Stewart’s memorial seat at Buddina beach. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Stewart said he had since learnt the Sunshine Coast Council would not allow him to place a 30cm x 40cm sandstone memorial stone next to the seat near beach access 215 on Pacific Boulevard in Buddina.

The grieving father said the stone, once installed in the ground so as not to be a trip hazard, would help community members understand how old Balin was when he died and would act as a conversation starter about the prevention of knife crime.

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart talk to the media outside the Brisbane Supreme Court after the trial into Balin’s manslaughter ended on June 9.Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said council officers met with Michael Stewart on May 18, 2023, to discuss his latest memorial application.

“Mr Stewart has applied to install a commemorative plaque on a small sandstone plinth base to be installed on the ground in front the park bench seat at Buddina,” she said.

“It was outlined during the discussion with Mr Stewart that it was difficult to approve the application as it fell outside the standard memorial process.”

The council spokeswoman said a decision regarding the application remained pending and, out of respect for the family, the council did not proceed with any further discussions with the family during the court case.

Balin Stewart, in trademark white T-shirt, holding the sun.

Since the seat’s installation, community members unknown to Mr Stewart have turfed the area around the seat and planted white flowers to signify Balin and his favoured white shirts.

The seat was built through community donations.

Mr Stewart said the council had told him his request did not fit the criteria for a public memorial because Balin had not made a contribution to his community.

“He’s given the ultimate price by dying and starting a movement,” he said.

Mr Stewart said it was the Balin Stewart Foundation that was applying for the stone and the seat was of great significance to the organisation.

“We got home from court and the first thing we did was drop our bags and walk up to the chair,” he said.

Unknown community members have turfed the area near the seat, and planted white flowers signifying Balin, since the seat’s installation last year. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said the foundation had, to date, given more than 40 presentations on knife crime in schools across the Sunshine Coast and continued to present regularly at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital too.

More than 3600 people have signed an online petition supporting Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart’s request for a memorial stone near a chair dedicated to their son Balin. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The council spokeswoman said the council officers acknowledged the significant community benefit associated with the Balin Stewart Foundation.

“Officers have agreed to consider the application outside the scope of the commemorative memorial policy,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the council’s commemorative memorial policy was under review.

“While the review is under way the community can continue to use the information on council’s website if they are considering requesting a memorial,” she said.

The spokeswoman said council encouraged community members to use “our beautiful cemetery spaces” to memorialise their family and loved ones in the first instance.

“Council acknowledges that there are times when a public memorial is important for the community and the policy provides guidance around how council may consider these applications,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the council approved and arranged installation of a park bench seat and a commemorative memorial tree to memorialise Balin Stewart at Buddina.

Mr Stewart has started an online petition to show community support for the memorial stone, which has so far attracted more than 3600 signatures.

“I’m not going to stop until this happens,” Mr Stewart said.