Andrew Symonds is being farewelled at a public memorial service at Riverway Stadium in Townsville in front of hundreds of fans – many adorned in cricket shirts and with lips plastered in Symonds’ trademark white zinc.
Around 250 friends, family, and sporting legends from Australia and across the glove travelled to North Queensland for a private service on Friday morning. Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist described the private funeral as ‘simply beautiful’ and a fitting tribute to his former teammate, who died at 46 in a tragic car crash earlier this month.
“The service was just simply beautiful. In its entirety, it was full of sadness, but just such wonderful beautiful memories of a guy that just gave so much of himself to so many people unconditionally,” Gilchrist told media after the service.
Now legends and friends are speaking about Symonds in the public service that is being streamed live on Kayo.
In the afternoon’s public service, Cricket Australia director Greg Rowell, a former Queensland Bulls teammate, spoke about Symonds’ ‘moral courage’, saying: “Roy had that in spades.”
“Courage in the all the dimensions was something that was never far away with Roy, and that’s something that endeared him to us all.”
Rowell said: “He was one of us. He made us proud to be Australians… His struggles resonated with us, his triumphs inspired us. Always entertaining, charismatic. At once incomplete and flawed, while at the same time unique and flawless.”
He concluded his speech by labelling Symonds: “An example of all that is best about our game in a cricket-loving nation.”
Ex-wicketkeeper Ian Healy is the MC at the public event. “The memories of Roy are fond, he had impact, and a lot of mates,” Healy said.
Former coach Darren Lehmann said: “He was the best player I ever coached… He was the best because he put the team first.”
But he laughed as he joked about one of Roy’s trademark gags: “I’m certainly not going to miss him calling me ‘Darrel’ every time instead of ‘Darren’.”
GILCHRIST PRAISES ‘PURE HEART’ ROY
The private service included speeches from Symond’s mother, Barbara, his sister Louise, and children, Chloe and Will. Both children arrived at the service carrying Akubras so beloved by Symonds – and Gilchrist told reporters about a touching moment he shared with young Will.
“I just bumped into Will and he said to me ‘I’m a wicketkeeper now’. Sorry Roy,” Gilchrist laughed and looked up to the sky.
“We’ve all spoken so much about Roy, shared so many stories, and there’s been barely a mention of the cricketing exploits,” Gilchrist added.
“He was just a pure heart, found his way into trouble as well as anyone… (and) loyal beyond belief.”
At the private memorial, a cricket bat, fishing rod, crab pot, and a number of hats – from a baggy green to local and state club hats dating all the way back to junior cricket, as well as an Akubra – were placed alongside Symonds’ timber coffin.
Close friend and teammate Matthew Hayden sent an emotional tribute from India, a song he wrote and performed on guitar.
According to the Courier Mail’s Robbert Craddock, a touching poem which Andrew Symonds first heard on voicemail in a dressing room was also recited.
Iconic Queensland Bulls ex-captain Jimmy Maher delivered the eulogy.
Matthew Mott, a close friend and coach, told media afterwards: “The thing I take out of this is the amount of fishing trips that were knocked back because we all got too busy and stuff like that… (I’d) love that opportunity to go back out there and do that again.”
“It’s a sad moment, but I think it was a great service and celebrated what was a life well lived.”
Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting arrived alongside his wife Rianna Cantor and legendary wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
Queensland rugby league icon Darren Lockyer was also in attendance, as was Gorden Tallis and Paul Green.
Other former teammates and Australian cricket stars Shane Watson, Ian Healy, Glen McGrath, Michael Kasprowicz and Mitchell Johnson all travelled to North Queensland to farewell Symonds, who died in a single-vehicle crash outside Townsville.
“This is a way we can say thank you and goodbye,” Townsville Major Jenny Hill said.
“An event like this provides many people closure around Andrew‘s life and what happened.
“It‘s an absolute tragedy that it happened, and we’ve lost a true ambassador for the North and a true larrikin.”
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