The grieving family, friends and colleagues of an esteemed policeman who vanished in Byron Bay have farewelled the talented cop during a moving service.
Detective Inspector Jay Notaro, 45, disappeared on March 25 after he was seen going for a surf at Broken Head in northeastern New South Wales.
Search crews discovered his surfboard – with the leg rope attached – undamaged on the sand, while officers found his car and keys in a carpark about 500metres away.
His body has never been found.
About 1,500 of Insp Notaro’s loved ones gathered at Sleeman Sports Complex in southeast Brisbane for a memorial hosted by Queensland Police on Friday.
The family requested that his favourite song, the Foo Fighter’s My Hero be played and floral tributes were laid by the family beside photos and one of his surfboards.
Insp Notaro’s sister Hayley read the eulogy, taking a nervous breath and expressing her tumultuous emotions after having a baby a fortnight ago.
‘I’m doing something I never thought I would have to do: reading my big brother’s eulogy. Not now, not ever. It doesn’t feel real,’ she said tearfully.
She paid tribute to her punctual, book-loving, cheeky brother and said his charisma had defined him throughout his life.
Ms Notaro said she was heartbroken her ‘baby boy wouldn’t be able to meet his incredible uncle’. Her son’s middle name is Jay in tribute to her brother.
‘We miss you. That laugh, that wink, that cheeky smile. You weren’t just my brother, you were my hero,’ she said.
‘You will be in our hearts forever. And until we meet again, I’ll see you in my dreams.’
The 45-year-old had been staying in the Byron Bay for several days ahead of his 45th birthday. He was reportedly due to attend a birthday celebration dinner with his friends but pulled out with complaints he was feeling unwell.
Concerns about his disappearance were sparked at 12.40pm on March 26 after he failed to report for duty at Ipswich Police Station, west of Brisbane.
An extensive water, land and aerial search was launched but, after three days, NSW Police announced the rough weather conditions hindered efforts to locate him.
Insp Notaro was part of an inner circle of surfing mates which included Hollywood A-Lister Chris Hemsworth – who was pictured speaking to a search crew in Byron Bay.
Friends said he frequented Broken Head and often drove down from his Gold Coast home to surf with Hemsworth and former pro surfer Luke Munro.
During the multi-agency search, Hemsworth was seen speaking with police in the parking lot of Broken Head Reserve just 9km south of his hometown Byron Bay.
Queensland Police Chaplain Jeff Baills, who hosted the memorial, addressed the unknown cause of Insp Notaro’s death but told those gathered to focus on who he was.
‘While he may be absent physically, Jay is present in our souls.’
Insp Notaro’s friend Jason Osman, who met Jay at police academy in 2003, told the memorial that his ‘best mate’ loved surfing and the opportunity it gave him to travel.
‘He was in the prime of his life.’
Insp Notaro quickly rose through the ranks as a homicide investigator after first joining Queensland police in Townsville in 2003.
He was instrumental in solving major cases including the bikie-linked slaying of Gold Coast victim Greg Dufty.
Insp Notaro received a ‘compassion in policing’ award by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group for support he offered Mr Dufty’s partner and family.
He then served in roles including officer in charge of the Gold Coast water police and Coomera police station.
Insp Notaro recently transferred to Ipswich after being promoted to inspector in 2024.
Sergeant Osman said his best friend ‘found his passion, he got to look after his people’, telling the thousand people gathered in Brisbane that he was ‘literally loved by the entire district’.
After the memorial on Friday, family and close friends have been invited to attend Easts Leagues Club.