Chris Buss-Charlie Stevens Memorial Trophy football game to raise awareness for organ donation

Charlie Stevens’ mum Emma has revealed two gestures that moved their family after his tragic death, and why a game of footy this weekend means so much more than the result.

A football trophy named after a young PHOS Camden player killed in a car accident on his way to training 21 years ago, has been renamed in honour of Charlie Stevens.

The Chris Buss-Charlie Stevens Memorial Trophy will be presented to the winning Men’s Division 2 coach of either PHOS Camden or the Goodwood Saints on Saturday, by Charlie’s parents, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and wife Emma.

The clubs have partnered with DonateLife, to raise awareness about organ donation.

Charlie Stevens, 18, who played for the Goodwood Saints Under 17.5 side, was killed in an alleged hit-run at Goolwa in November last year.

Seven of his organs were donated to recipients in need. Another was donated for research into juvenile diabetes.

Charlie Stevens was killed in an alleged hit-run at Goolwa in November 2023. Picture: Supplied

Chris Buss, 17, was killed in a car crash on Tapleys Hill Rd in July, 2003.

Charlie’s mum Emma says organ donation is hard to get your head around when you’ve lost a loved one.

“Our family are so proud that Charlie chose to be a donor,” Emma says.

“We, as a family, hope that by Charlie doing this we can help other families avoid what we have been through, and our Charlie still lives on.

“We were very moved by two recipients who have written to us expressing their gratitude for Charlie’s gift.”

Chris Buss, a talented 17-year-old PHOS Camden A-grade player, was killed in a road accident on Tapleys Hill Road on July 17, 2003.

Goodwood Saints and PHOS Camden will play for the Chris Buss-Charlie Stevens Memorial Trophy in their Division 2 Adelaide Footy League game on Saturday.

Chris wearing his medal after winning the 2002 Best and Fairest in the Under 17s at Glenelg.

Chris was on his way to training with Glenelg’s Under-18s side when he realised he’d forgotten his footy boots. He drove home to get them, but never made it.

His father Greg says while they weren’t able to donate Chris’s organs because he died at the scene, his family is proud to see his name on an award that supports the cause.

They’ll join the Stevens family on Saturday for the presentation of the trophy.

“It’s going to be a hard day for everyone,” Greg says.

“But I think it’s a priority, I’ve read statistics recently on the amount of organ donations and we’re not doing enough.”

Glenelg under-17 footballers observe a minute's silence in memory of Chris Buss during a match at Elizabeth after his death in July, 2003.

DonateLife SA state medical director Dr Stewart Moodie says while three quarters of Australians support organ donation for transplantation, only a third are registered.

South Australia has the highest organ donation rate in the country, mostly because we’re the only state that uses a driver’s license to indicate we’re happy to give organs.

Around 70 per cent of South Australians are registered to donate.

Dr Moody says it’s critical to tell family members if you want to donate your organs.

“It’s an altruistic act to somebody you’ll never meet but you’re willing to think about helping other people when you’re in the midst of the most terrible tragedy which is obviously what happened to Charlie,” Dr Moodie said.

“It’s important to recognise that Charlie and his family chose organ donation in the most tragic of circumstances.

“It represents the best of our community when you can help others at the worst possible time.”

Charlie and Grant Stevens. Picture: Supplied

Goodwood Saints Football Club president Jordan Dodd says educating players in the lead up to the award was an opportunity too important to miss.

“Our club was absolutely devastated with the loss of Charlie last year,” she said.

“We saw this not only as an opportunity to remember Charlie but to promote the importance of organ donation.

“We were thrilled that PHOS Camden were gracious enough to allow us to rename the trophy to include a dedication to Charlie Stevens.

“It’s something that’s really important – we all recognise that even in death you can improve the lives of others.”

The last time the Chris Buss Memorial Trophy was presented was in 2004, one year after Chris died.

The Goodwood Saints won the match but chose not to sing the club song out of respect for the Buss family.

Goodwood Saints and PHOS Camden have been in different divisions ever since, so haven’t gone to head to head, until now.

The game kicks off at Goodwood Oval on Saturday at 2.15pm.

To register for organ donation go to www.donatelife.gov.au

Originally published as Chris Buss-Charlie Stevens Memorial Trophy football game to raise awareness for organ donation