INTERNATIONAL: Australians remembered late cricket icon Shane Warne in a televised memorial service at his home stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday 30th March, with nearly 50,000 people attending.
The memorial started with those gathered calling out "Warney, Warney," as cricketer Donald Bradman's granddaughter and soprano Greta Bradman sang the Australian national anthem.
Warne's father and children made heartfelt tributes, as other cricketing legends remembered Warne as a "genius”, “entertainer” and “king".
Shane Warne's Father, Keith Warne, SaID
"His generosity and loyalty which knew no bounds and the joy he brought to so many people along the way it will forever bring us comfort. In Shane's typical humble manner, Shane the Aussie boy from Black Rock said of himself 'I smoked, I drank and I played a little cricket.' Mate, your mother and I cannot imagine a life without you, you have been taken too soon and our hearts are broken. Thank you for all you did for us, you have been such a loving and caring son, rest in peace mate, love you, Mum and Dad"
Former Australian Cricket Captain, Allan Border, Asked To Describe Warne In One Word:
"Genius"
Former Australian Cricket Captain, Mark Taylor, Said:
"I'd say genuine"
Former Australian Cricket Captain, Merv Hughes, Said:
"Bogan. Dead set bogan"
Host:
“Dead set bogan. That’s two or three words but I like it.”
Former England Cricketer, Nasser Hussain, Said:
"Well, he nicked genius, I'll go entertainer, he entertained us."
Cricketer Brian Lara:
"I’ll definitely say, the King."
SHANE WARNE'S BROTHER, JASON WARNE, Said:
"The bonds created through sport last a lifetime, the bond of brothers lasts a lifetime. I'm very fortunate to have shared both of these bonds with him. Whilst we will all have to learn to live without Shane in our lives, he'll leave a massive hole in mine that will never be filled. I'll always love him; I'll always miss my big brother. Rest in Peace, mate."
SHANE WARNE'S DAUGHTER, SUMMER WARNE:
"I never thought one's voice could bring such comfort until I can no longer hear it. I've had to come to terms with the fact that you won't be able to walk down the aisle on my special day and be by my side. You're not going to meet your grandchildren you're going to have one day but instead you're going to be someone that I tell my kids to about and how much of an amazing father you were to me and will always be in my heart. How good of a grandpa you would have made and how they would have loved and adored you just like I do. You lived 100 lives Dad, you never took anything for granted and you made sure that you lived every day to the absolute fullest."
SHANE WARNE'S SON, JACKSON WARNE:
"Although I didn't go down the cricket path, you didn't mind. You just wanted the best for me. You taught me manners are free and to always say please and thank you."
SHANE WARNE'S DAUGHTER, BROOKE WARNE:
"Dad was our shining star in life and now he's shining down on all of us. We will do you so proud Dad and we are so proud of everything you.
Have achieved we are going to do what you always told us, try our best and we will try our best to live in a world without you."
Many were seated in the southern grandstand, which was renamed as the ‘Shane Warne Stand’, unveiled by his three children, in the wake of his death at age 52.
