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‘I’m so proud of you for the courage you displayed in your final moments’: Rachel McCrow remembered

Constable Melissa Gibson pays tribute to Rachel McCrow, her voice cracking as she delivers her eulogy.

Gibson remembers McCrow for her kindness as well as her larrikin spirit.

I stand here today as a representative of multiple families in grief. Rach and Matty’s immediate family, their family in blue and a community both in shock and in mourning. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Mel, and it is both a privilege and an honour to be able to stand here today and tell you about my mate, Rachel.

Rach was so much more than the uniform she so proudly wore. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a colleague and an amazing mum to her beloved four-legged Archibald.

Family was everything to Rach and she was everything to them. Rach was simply one of a kind. She could literally light up any room on the darkest of days with her beautiful, infectious smile and those pearly white teeth.

She was the kindest and most positive person I know. She had the purest of souls and the warmest of hearts. Rach was the very essence of compassion and selflessness, which are two of the characteristics that made her such an incredible police officer and an even better friend.

Behind all of that was this cheeky larrikin, who loved a laugh, loved a good prank and loved a good meme, often at our expense. There will never be enough words to truly express how amazing she was or how lucky we all were to have crossed paths with her.

To Rachel’s brothers and sisters in blue, who showed an enormous amount of courage to go in and bring her out, thank you for not leaving our sister behind. To Rachel’s remaining brothers and sisters in blue, I know she would be proud of you for continuing to kit up and show up to protect the community in your efforts to make the world a better place.

For every bit of evil in this world, Rach, more than anyone, would be reminding us that there are still good people who need our help. Rach – I’m so proud of you for the courage you displayed in your final moments, and for being the fighter that you are.

I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most. That is something that will forever haunt me. Thank you for coming in to my life and impacting it in such a beautiful and positive way. I’m a better person for having known you and I hope that you knew how much I loved you.

I take comfort in knowing you’ll continue to have my back up there and I’ll see you and those pearly white teeth again one day. How lucky are we to have had someone that makes saying goodbye so hard. Heaven has truly gained an angel. Fly high, beautiful girl.

With honour and courage you served.