A bench seat overlooking Soldiers Beach with a memorial plaque for Aaron Dalla Costa will forever be a place for people to sit and remember him in one of his favourite spots.
It also will be acknowledgement for his extensive charity work and contribution to the community, including his service as an officer in the Tuggerah Lakes Police District based at Wyong police station.
Senior Constable Aaron Dalla Costa tragically passed away on August 7, 2022, in an accident on the M1.
He was 38 years old.
He had spent family holidays at The Entrance since he was three years old and as a teenager Soldiers Beach at Norah Head was his favourite beach where he learnt to surf.
By the time he was 23 Dalla Costa had joined the police force where he met his wife and they married in 2016.
They both transferred to Tuggerah Lakes Police District and set up their family home at Hamlyn Terrace after the birth of their first son in 2018; their second son came along in 2020.
Throughout his life Dalla Costa was accomplished in a variety of sports and in high school he started middle distance running and steeplechase, ranking 14th fastest runner in Australian and New Zealand when he was 15 years old.
He played soccer for NSW Police in the New York Police and Fire Games in 2011, played for his church teams and more recently was in the men’s over-35s team at Kanwal Warnervale Rovers Football Club.
He also represented the police force over multiple years in the annual Sydney City to Surf races, holding the record for the most victories in their 150-strong running team.
The central focus of their entry was raising funds for NSW Policy Legacy.
Dalla Costa spent many hours personally fundraising for the organisation and in other activities to support Legacy families.
Over the years he also spent time with his church charities and the Diamond Women charity through his participation in the Blackmores Marathon which is part of the Sydney Running Festival, as well as activities connected to Beyond Blue.
Sue Murray