I stand before you today, a representative of a family in grief. Not one family, but many. Families defined by love, blood, sport, connection and courage. Families united by our love, admiration and respect for one man: Brett Andrew Forte.

Brett was a lovable larrikin in the true Australian tradition. He was a son, a brother, a friend, an uncle, a team-mate, a colleague, a father, a husband.

And in each of these relationships he was selfless and considerate. He was giving. He was loving.

The common thread that is delicately woven through the fabric of all Brett's relationships though is humour. And it is this humour that connects many of us to this wonderful human being.

Speak to his school friends like Bryce, his sports colleagues like Brett or Mark, his police colleagues and his family, and they will each have similar stories to share about Brett's sense of humour.

He was bawdy. He was self-deprecating. He was sarcastic. And, as we were reminded on the drive over here, he was bloody funny.

But he also had a serious side. A side that was committed to serving and protecting the people of Queensland.

I've known Brett since he was born. I watched him grow from a child into a young man. I watched as he worked hard to become a cop. Something that he had wanted since he was a boy.

His grandfather was a cop. His father was a cop. His uncle was a cop. It was a family that he was destined - and determined - to join.

Family meant everything to Brett. And if you were fortunate to be part of his family - in any context - then you considered yourself blessed.

His parents, Heather and Stu, are amazing people. They raised three equally beautiful, caring and loving boys - and they have each raised equally beautiful families.

As much as he loved his family, his friends and the job though, Brett found his true purpose with Susie. And here, in Toowoomba, he found a home.

When his brothers, Chris and Luke, and parents Heather and Stu, speak about Brett, the thing they say most often is how much he loved Susie - and how absolutely devoted he was to Emma, Brodie and Sam. We cannot begin to understand that loss.

And if it is loss that teaches us about the worth of things, then we can clearly see from today how valuable Brett Forte was to our community.

To Susie, Emma, Brodie and Sam, on behalf of your blood family, your blue family and your extended family, we make a solemn pledge: We will be there to hold you, to help you, to support you. Whenever you need us. Because that's what families do.

I'd like to finish with the last verse of St Michael's Prayer for Police:

"And when we lay down our night sticks, enrol us in your heavenly force, where we will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of all the people."