Funeral service for Constable Josh Prestney held at Xavier College
A gentle kiss on the casket of young Constable Josh Prestney marked the fallen officer’s final farewell today, with his devastated family gathering for a private ceremony at Xavier College.
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The lyrics to a Foo Fighters classic echoed through the grounds of Xavier College yesterday as Constable Josh Prestney was farewelled by devastated family and friends.
As the service began at 10am, a light rain broke out and the song My Hero boomed from the chapel, with the poignant passage “there goes my hero, watch him as he goes”.
After the service Josh’s brother, First Constable Alex Prestney, broke down in tears and rested his head on the casket, which was draped in an Australian flag and Collingwood jumper.
The young officer wept as he stood at the rear of his brother’s hearse with parents Andrew and Belinda at his side.
Belinda placed a gentle kiss on her eldest son’s casket in a tragic final farewell.
She then wrapped her arms around Stacey – the love of her son’s life.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and a senior chaplain led the hearse from the chapel as a lone piper played Amazing Grace.
A police helicopter hovered above as the hearse was escorted from the grounds by three officers on motorbikes.
Dozens of friends lined the street outside the chapel, farewelling Constable Prestney as he left the college for a final time.
Outside the school ribbons, candles and Collingwood memorabilia were laid out in honour of the fallen officer, who graduated from the school in 2009.
Belinda, also a teacher at the school, gave a eulogy and police colleagues also paid tribute to their fallen brother in blue.
One officer said Constable Prestney was extremely “methodical and cluey” and would have made a brilliant detective.
A road policing colleague said: “He was way smarter than a lot of people in his position at his level.”
“The first shift I had with him we were going to a job and I remember asking what we should do and out of nowhere Josh was giving us the legislation.
“I thought, this one has got it. He knows a lot more than I do.”
Constable Prestney was killed on his second day stationed at Nunawading Highway Patrol when he was hit by a truck on the Eastern Freeway last month.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Glen Humphris also lost their lives and were farewelled last week at the force’s police academy.
In a wreath laying ceremony nearby at Victoria Police’s Airlie College in South Yarra, Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said: “I was privileged to be the reviewing officer at (his) graduating ceremony.
“And I was present, standing there, when Josh’s brother, First Constable Alex Prestney, handed him his police badge. I was as proud as his parents at that moment.’’
Mr Nugent said he spoke to Josh about his dreams, his ambitions and his career.
He said Constable Prestney had wanted to serve the community and protect it.
“And that’s what he was doing when he was tragically killed in Kew. A career cut short. A life cut short.
“Josh will be forever remembered. He will forever be part of the Victoria Police family. And he will always, always, to us, be a hero.’’
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