Hundreds gather to farewell Queensland Police Inspector Jay Notaro after he went missing in surf
Hundreds of family, friends and police have gathered to farewell Queensland Police Inspector Jay Notaro at a memorial paying tribute to his life and career, weeks after he vanished at Byron Bay.
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Hundreds of police have gathered to farewell Queensland Police Inspector Jay Notaro at a memorial, weeks after he vanished in Northern New South Wales.
Premier David Crisafulli, Police Minister Dan Purdie, Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and the officer’s friends and family have filled Brisbane’s Sleeman Sports Complex for the memorial.
Jay, a distinguished police officer and role model to many, disappeared in March, the day after his 45th birthday, after apparently going surfing at Broken Head, just south of Byron.
His surfboard was found on the beach and his car was parked nearby.
The search began after he failed to report for duty at Ipswich police station.
An air, sea and land search was involving both NSW and Queensland police as well as surf lifesavers, SES personnel and volunteers was called on Friday amid deteriorating conditions.
However he was not found.
Jay’s younger sister Hayley Tunny told the memorial on Friday that it was heartbreaking to say goodbye to her brother.
“Not now, not ever. It doesn’t feel real. But here I am, I really hope I make him proud today,” she said.
“Jay, our brother Troy and I have always been super close and I love the bond the three of us shared.
“We could always count on each other. We loved and supported each other through all of life’s challenges and celebrated each other’s wins and accomplishments.
“Most importantly, we weren’t just siblings, we were best friends.”
Ms Tunny said her brother was born on March 24, 1980. The siblings were raised in a low income household, primarily with their mother in housing commission.
Jay had a love for rugby league from a young age, often coming home with stitches or black eyes.
“At around 12 years old he came home from a footy game with a sore leg,” Ms Tunny said.
“Mum told him to suck it up. After three weeks of complaining mum finally took him to the GP, to discover that Jay had a broken leg. Mum felt terrible.
“That toughness stayed with him. He continued to love and play footy for many years, later playing police footy.
“Footy was a big part of his life and he followed the NRL very closely.”
Jay’s first job was at Target, then Reece Plumbing before he later joined the police service, sworn in as a police constable on 30 July in 2003. He climbed the ranks while working in Townsville, Brisbane, Moranbah, Gold Coast and Ipswich.
“He was so good with children and it’s just such a shame he didn’t get to be a father, because he would have made a wonderful dad,” Ms Tunny said.
Ms Tunny said she wished Jay could have met her newly born son, named Mars Jay Phoenix, who was born two weeks ago.
“We chose the name Jay for obvious reasons and Phoenix represents rebirth,” she said.
“He will always be part of us and my little boy. Jay was super excited to meet his nephew and I feel heartbroken that my baby boy won’t get to meet his incredible uncle. But I will do my best to keep his name alive, talk about him often, share stories show him videos and tell him how much his uncle Jay would have loved him.”
“Jay didn’t like a fuss. He hated the idea of being a burden, which he never ever was. He gave so much of his time and asked for so little in return. And now Jay we are all here today making a fuss. Making a fuss over you because we miss you. That laugh, that wink, that shaky leg, that cheeky smile.
“You weren’t just my brother, you were my hero.”
Jay’s friend Claire Campbell said he was “truly one in a trillion” and her favourite memories were laughter with her family.
“To us he was always Jay. We knew him before the uniform and he never changed,” she said.
“Our favourite memories happened out of the uniform. In our homes, in laughter, in the most genuine of moments.”
Ms Campbell said Jay was godfather to their boys and shared a heartbreaking story with people attending the memorial about the last conversation she and her husband Mal had with the officer.
“On Monday 24th of March, 2025, Jay’s 45th birthday, shortly after Troy’s second phone call to Jay that day, to sing Happy Birthday, as only a loving brother would, I called Jay at 8.12pm and I also sang him Happy Birthday.
“A family tradition that Jay shared with others. Mal and I asked about Jay’s day, his weekend, what he was up to.
“And as always he was humble, brief and grateful.
“We laughed too. And QPS maybe block your ears, Mal proudly told Jay how he had tracked down a car trailer that had been stolen from his shed a few months earlier and how he had saved them a job and just stolen it back.
“Off duty Jay thought it was pretty funny,” Ms Campbell said.
“We also talked about our boys playing touch football that afternoon. And as always Jay said ‘send me photos and videos please’. And I did right after we hung up.
“The last videos that I sent of our boys - they are only 5 and 7 so it’s very cute and uncoordinated - but they were running full pelt to score their amazing tries.
“And Jay’s last ever text message in response to those clips was just one world: FLYING!!
“The next day we learnt that Jay too was flying, sky-high, heaven-bound to rest in peace for ever more.
“And just as we said to Jay at the end of that birthday call, the last call that he ever answered, today we say bye Jay we love you. We miss you.”
Wade Osborne - a friend since grade 5 - said Jay didn’t like a fuss but would be quietly proud at how many lives he had touched.
Mr Osborne said his friend was always “steady, loyal and humble and the kind of mate you could count on”.
“Some of my fondest memories of Jay are our surf trips,” he said.
“Fiji, WA, Moreton, DI, Yamba and most recently the Sydney wave pool with Jason and Mitch.
“We even had a trip booked to the Telos in September this year. It will be tough without him but the waves we shared will stay with me.
“Surfing with Jay wasn’t just about surf. It was about the banter, the ‘you must goes’, the stories, and the relentless piss-taking. That more than anything I will miss.
“Jay leaves behind a hole that cannot be filled. But he also leaves behind decades of laughter, stories, lessons and love. And for that I’m forever grateful.”
Friend and police colleague detective sergeant Jason Orman met Jay when they were both in the same intake squad at the police academy.
He described Jay, who also became a detective, as the hardest worker in the room when they were both junior investigators.
“He was a man who would sledge you to your face,” Sgt Orman said of his friend.
“But he was also the guy who would fiercely defend you in rooms you weren’t in.
“And I’ve definitely benefited from that plenty of times through the years.
“It’s fair to say Jay grew into the job. He was 21 when he joined and his policing style and leadership skills evolved almost over 23 years of service to the people of Queensland.”
Sgt Orman joked about Jay’s promotion when he landed the role as detective sergeant officer-in-charge of Moranbah CIB in 2012.
“He applied for the job, and won it fair and square,” he said.
“He was literally the only applicant, they had to give it to him.”
Sgt Orman said his mate “earned his stripes” including help solve a complicated DV homicide.
He said he lived by the values of honesty, loyalty and respect.
“Some say you are just a number in the QPS,” Sgt Orman said.
“Well Jay’s number may have been 16874. But there is only one Jay Notaro, a once in a lifetime friend. Rest in peace mate.”
Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy said Jay served with integrity professionalism and pride.
In 2018, Jay was promoted to senior sergeant of officer-in-charge of Gold Coast Water Police, later becoming the officer-in-charge of Coomera Police Station in 2022.
He was promoted to inspector in 2024 and worked in the southern patrol group in Ipswich District.
During his career he received numerous citations and medals for his service.
“Jay left us all too soon and regrettably before he could receive the Queensland Police meritorious service medal, which recognises members who provide a continued substantial contribution in multiple areas of the Queensland Police Service over an extended period of time,” Mr Chelepy said.
“And it gives me great honour to be able to present this award to his parents Deborah and Blair today.”
Mr Chelepy said Jay strived to be the ultimate professional.
“A man of humility, and above all else a man of integrity,” he said.
Originally published as Hundreds gather to farewell Queensland Police Inspector Jay Notaro after he went missing in surf
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