Tributes for the late cricketing icon Andrew Symonds continue to pour in from near and far, but a unique campaign is encouraging Australians to honour the popular all-rounder with two of his “great passions”.
Symonds passed away on Saturday, May 14 following a single vehicle car accident outside of Townsville, he was 46 years old.
Queensland Police revealed in a statement that “emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries”.
“Early information indicates, shortly after 11pm the car was being driven on Hervey Range Road, near Alice River Bridge when it left the roadway and rolled,” the statement read.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Forensic Crash Unit.
Tributes quickly flowed in for the late cricket icon from fans and former teammates alike, following the news of his passing. But the Fishing Rods for Roy campaign launched by the North Queensland Cricket Association is offering fans across the country the opportunity to pay tribute to the 46 year old.
The campaign encourages fans to leave fishing rods and cricket balls in honour of Symonds who was known to be a keen fisherman.
“Today we lost an NQ cricket icon, in Andrew “Roy” Symonds. To show our support to Roy’s grieving wife Laura and children Will and Chloe, we’re putting fishing rods and cricket balls out front of our houses (two of Roy’s great passions),” the North Queensland Cricket Association said in a statement.
“It’d be amazing if everyone in the NQ cricket community could join in to show the family they are in our thoughts.”
North Queensland Cricket Association President, Peter Busch told ABC News that “Roy did so much for the community across so many sports”.
“Despite being a cricketing legend and superstar there was so much more to the man and we just want to remember him for the great guy he was,” he said.
Symonds’ wife, Laura, recently delivered an emotional tribute to her late husband, revealing the family is “still in shock”.
Laura told the Courier Mail that she is “just thinking of the two kids”.
“He was such a big person and there is just so much of him in his kids,” she said.
Laura commended her late husband’s character, claiming “he always had time for everyone”.
“He was the most laid back person. Nothing stressed him out. He was an extremely chilled operator. So practical,” Laura added.
The death of the popular all-rounder is yet another tragic blow for Australian cricket after Shane Warne and Rod Marsh passed away earlier this year.
Symonds played a major role in Australia’s World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007. He played 26 test matches and 198 One Day Internationals.
Symonds is survived by his wife Laura and two children Chloe and Billy.