Family and friends pay tribute to ‘Superman’ Shane Warne in private funeral

Mar 21, 2022
Shane Warne private funeral St Kilda Football Ball Club Moorabbin. Source: David Caird/Getty Images

Family and friends gathered together at a private funeral to lay cricket legend, Shane Warne, to rest on Sunday, March 20.

The invitation-only event was attended by many cricketing greats such as Merv Hughes, ex-captain Mark Taylor and batter Mark Waugh.

Michael Clarke, Brendon Julian and Glenn McGrath joined over 100 notable appearances, including many TV and media personalities as well as members of the St Kilda football club to bid farewell to the cricketing great.

Australian TV presenter Eddie McGuire hosted the ceremony, telling mourners that Warne “brought together so many things”, as reported by The Herald Sun.

“The reason why he was so loved is because he was fallible, he was Superman,” he said.

“You threw the ball to Warne, you sat in that Southern Stand and he did the things you dreamt of doing as a kid.

“He had the hat trick, took 700 wickets, the Gatting ball, he did everything.

“He did the things like wow, I wonder what it would be like to be a playboy in London society.

“The magic part about Shane Warne was that he sprinkled his gold dust everywhere he went.

“He didn’t become a hermit, he brought his friends into everything in life.”

Warne’s coffin, covered in St Kilda scarves, was carried to a hearse by his brother Jason, father Keith and son Jackson before the King-of-Spin was honoured with a touching lap around Moorabbin Oval – St Kilda’s home.

Speaking with Today, McGuire said high-profile musicians including Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay’s Chris Martin were unable to attend but paid tribute virtually.

“One of the most poignant moments of the day was Chris Martin from Coldplay,” McGuire said.

“On Friday night he sent over a special piece that he had written, an instrumental called ‘The Eulogy’ it was beautiful.

“Then he sent through a stream on stage, where he just quietly set up candles with his fellow musicians and the camera crew and shot a piece that the kids hadn’t seen.

“His connection was real, he was far away in Costa Rica but the connection was spiritually there. It was a beautiful moment.”

Actress Elizabeth Hurley, took to Instagram to pay tribute to her former partner, telling fans that her “heart aches” over missing the funeral.

“I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there. These pictures were taken in Sri Lanka to celebrate our engagement – we had all our children with us and it was the happiest time,” she said.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone. It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever. RIP Lionheart, with love, your Luna.”

 

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Warne died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 52, on March 4, while holidaying on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand.
Warne’s state funeral will be held on March 30, 2022, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), soon to rename their Great Southern Stand after the cricket star.
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