Born in Frankston, Victoria 5 March 1992 but was actually due to arrive 29 Feb 92 (a leap year) First Born of Zoe Pamela Bratby and Craig McGavin weighing 3620g or 8 pounds. A 23 hour labour with fetal distress and heart monitors. Forceps delivery. It seems Stuart did fight and didnt want to come into this world in the beginning! Older brother to Courtney Pamela Bratby (1994), Isabell Jade McGavin (2007) and Benjamin James Bratby (2009)

Stuart lived his short life to the fullest! He was a legend to his peers. He was a strong, brave soul, not scared by anything. He was a leader, always guiding friends to new exciting adventures. Stuart had so many inspiring ideas. He made his idea's always come to life.. He could pull apart motors and put back together again no worries! Fantastic with his hands, with no training necessary. A fighter, a worker, a dare-devil. He climbed the highest tree, the highest pole the highest buildings and parts there of, just to write his name and just for the sake of it! He hated school (or should I say school hated him) with over 30 suspensions in one year until he was finally never allowed to go back there again. Most of the teachers despised Stuart, except for a few that actually did care and took the time to understand him! He worked earning big bucks as a sandblaster/spray-painter at Phoenix Corrision Control and Phillips Engineering. Bosses so proud of employing this fit young quick worker, they could not believe Stuart's speed and ability to get the jobs finished with perfect results each time! (That's My Boy).... proud mum..

Stuart had amazing strengths, a very strong soul. This was seen by many of the adults at Judo who tried wrestling with him. Stuart won 2nd place in the State Championship final, after only a few months of actually starting Judo. He was very clever in lots of other ways and could do many tricks like placing a ladder in the uprite position, without it resting on anything, climb to the top and jump off before the ladder fell over! He once threw a backflip from the garden bed and amazed us all by landing on his feet! He was just so amazing, as was everything about him. From cubby-house making 10 feet up in a tree to building motorbikes, home made whipper-snippers, motorised carts, flying foxes, rope swings, home made tattoo guns, spud guns, fixing wet mobile phones and broken electrics to wiring up speakers and all the parts. He was so tallented and he did so much more. My favourite of all is the wooden seat he made for me with "MUM" engraved into it and a wooden cabinet for a t.v What did'nt he do?? He didnt get married and have children, but he accomplished everything else and he got to meet his baby brother whom he loved and adored so much. One thing was certain about Stuart, he always showed his love for his family. Don't get me wrong, he was a little shit too, there was always something for me to worry about, a phone call, a knock at the door! He was so loving and would place sweet kisses and give his big big bear hugs no matter where or who was around. He was always there as his sisters protector, doing his big brother duties. He was always there helping out and doing his chores without being asked.
His music, The INSANE CLOWN POSSE, otherwise known as ICP was his lifeline. He absolutely loved this music and listened to it all day every day. Great music and great beats but always singing about death, depression, and murder, most of these songs I can relate to, especially the depression and suicide songs. After Stuart passed and I was mucking around with his pc, a song started to play by it's self. The song was called "I'm Alright" by Twiztid. I bleieve this was a message from him, after he passed. The lyrics touched my heart and mad me sob but at the same time I was very thankful I'd heard it. The first line goes...."If you're reading this then I finally did it. I'm sorry I didnt say goodbye there was no time" WOW SO TRUE!

He drank and smoked and partied like there was no tomorrow. He had so many great mates that just loved to hang with him just as I did. He was the life of the party, mostly laughing and having fun, doing random acts of spunout stuff haha. I don't think Stuart realised just how many people did care about him, neither did I or my family until we saw the turnout at his funeral, there were hundreds. His closest mates came with their faces painted in his Honour to his favourite ICP music, it was beautiful and so was his service, the best part releasing 17 black balloons and watching them fly high in the sky until he could quite possibly grab them from Heaven. Stuart was the first family member to pass at the young age of 17 years and 8 months.

Prescribed A.D.D medications at the age of 6, then later led to anit-depressant medication when he was only just 15. Stuart always appeared to be a troubled soul right from the time he was about 2 years of age, I thought it was the terrible two's, then three's, then four's etc. Numerous hospital visits from self harm was very scary for all but also lots of injuries from work and motocross over the years. Psychologists, specialists, doctors, councellors, psychiactrics, anger management programmes, honestly the list does go on lol..

Concerning LOVE...Stuart had lots of girlfriends over the years but met his one and only and was in a steady relationship for over two years, both madly inlove and had a proper adult relationship which I am so thankful for. Her parents treated Stuart like a son and welcomed him into their home with open arms, just as I did to her! I thank her from the bottom of my heart. She saved my boy and gave me at least a couple of more years with him.

Stuart was loved by his grandparents, Aunties, Uncles, cousins brother and sister and especially by me (mum).
I knew that something would happen.... eventually... not long before Stuart passed, he said to me "Mum how do people live till their 80? 17 years is too long" I replied "Life Is What You Make It" It wasnt just this one sign, there were lots of signs, especially the way he would talk when angry and say to me he would throw himself infront of a car on the highway!! SCARY!

I tried so hard to understand the way he felt but I couldnt see why he could hurt so bad. He knew I (his mumma) loved him so very much. I was always there for my boy as a mum should be but even I couldnt save him from his sorrows. He did'nt say goodbye, he just left this world and finally found his peace. We didnt find him until the morning, and I don't want to say but there he was already gone, already slipped away..That was the beginning of my nightmare for the rest of my life, then 5 months later, double nightmare, my 45 year old brother Glen suicided the same way which was deeply disturbing considering what we were all still going through. Loved and cherished, missed and yearned for, so many tears are shed.

Stuart was my son, soulmate, my best friend. I loved him so much, I miss him like crazy, especially does his little sister Courtney who plays and listens to his music and so does baby brother Benjamin, always pointing at his photos. All his mates are really missing him and I love to read what they write about him on his facebook page. Especially our/his family, it;s been such a terrible struggle to deal with our losses everyday, and it only gets harder because we hav'nt seen them. I was always there for my son Stuart, I did everything I possibly could to help him get through his life and to try and make it, I have no regrets, I would do it all over again in an instant!