Name for Brett

MY WIFE has been friends with Stuart and Heather Forte for 41 years, I have known them 21 years after meeting Carol.

Carol’s kids, my step children, have known the Fortes all their lives through school and hockey which they all excelled.

The loss of Brett was a shock to me, I had heard that a police officer was shot down the Range and my first thoughts were that Brett and Susie would be safe as they were in the Toowoomba station.

When I walked in the door Carol told me it was Brett and that Heather had rung to let us know as she didn’t want us to hear it on the news that night. It must have been such a hard thing for a mother to do, but that is the Fortes, they think of their friends.

The shock hit me harder than the loss of my father last year as the loss of Brett was so sudden and in such a tragic way.

What I am writing about is that they are talking about the new Range crossing being named after Brett Forte and I want to know if there is a way to push for this up there.

Brett was into hockey and we are going to get petitions signed at all the clubs including the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Toowoomba and all the other places we as parents had to sit through winter freezing watching these kids play.

I am sure we can get a lot of numbers to have it happen.

I would hope the police up there will be behind us as we try to make this happen for Susie, the kids and his mum and dad whom I regard as close friends and to their other sons Chris and Luke and their families. They are doing it very tough at the moment, we were honoured to be asked to the grave site serve and it hurt to see their pain.

I not usually into writing to the papers but this is something I will be trying to get to happen for them.

There is currently an e petition on the governments site www.parliament.qld.gov. au/work-of-assembly/ petitions/e-petition? PetNum=2766.

We have more than 2000, but need 10,000 to even get it put before parliament. — KERRY MAYNARD, Burpengary