Sharron Brown remembered after dying from Covid complications

Eight ball players from around the world have paid tribute to former Australian women’s team captain Sharron Lee Brown following her unexpected death.

TFormer world champion eight ball player Sharron Lee Brown has been remembered as a friend to many and a legend of the sport after she died as a result of Covid complications earlier this month.

Former world champion eight ball player Sharron Lee Brown has been remembered as a friend to many and a legend of the sport after she died as a result of Covid complications earlier this month at the age of 54.

Sharron died of pneumonia the day after Christmas after unknowingly contracting Covid, her grieving father George Brown said this week.

Mr Brown described his daughter as “very positive, able to solve anything, loved life, and a larrikin” who “lived for eight ball”.

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Among her high achievements was captaining the Australian women’s team in eight ball, which won the world championship in 2007 at Blackpool in England.

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World Champion Team 2007

A Facebook post from Ready’s 8 Ball Cue Sports, signed from Vanessa and Brent and your Global 8 Ball Family, described “Sharron/Shags/Shazza Brown” as the “Ladies Legend of Pool”.

“It was evident that you are loved by many,” it said.

“Your accolades are second to none and you should be so proud. You deserve to be recognised for them as the true champion you are.”

Sharron was the 2017 Australian Eight Ball Federation Hall of Fame inductee, and competed in Australian eight ball championships almost every year after the inception of women’s teams in 1992.

The Australian Eight Ball Federation lists among her many achievements multiple state, national and international titles.

Trophies, shirts and achievements from Sharron Brown's Eight Ball career.

A memorial service for Sharron, organised by the Ipswich Eight Ball Association, was live-streamed from Ipswich Showgrounds on Saturday, January 7, and tributes flowed from around the world.

“If you look at the Facebook page, you’ll get an insight into how many people really cared for her. There are messages from all over the world, Scotland, England and all the trophies she won,” said Mr Brown.

“It’s incredible the amount of people she reached. All the kids coming through eight ball. She reached people all over the Australia, every state, every capital city.”

Sharron Brown has been remembered as a world champion eight ball player, friend, competitor and daughter.

Born on August 26, 1968, Sharron went to Wilsonton Primary and Harristown State High in Toowoomba. It was in Toowoomba that she fell in love with eight ball, watching her father play.

“She just loved the challenge. She was a very positive thinker. She didn’t fret and always tried to do better,” Mr Brown said.

A Facebook post from Ipswich 8 Ball Association said:

“Shaz was always eager to share her wisdom to our juniors and members throughout our association. She will be sadly missed as she was a great asset to any association she joined.

“With her wealth of knowledge, she always helped me believe in myself and gave me that push when I needed it.”

Mr Brown described Sharron’s time with the eight ball community as a family she lived for, and she travelled all over Australia and the world for it.

Following her untimely death, that community rallied together to raise to raise more than $8000 “out of the blue” for her funeral costs.

Trophies, shirts and achievements from Sharron Brown's eight ball career.

“She left too early. She was only 54.”

Mr Brown said his daughter thought she had the flu and told him she would just lie down and look after herself at home.

Unfortunately, she had Covid and passed away due to complications.

Her death is a tragedy and has been a shock to her family, friends and the eight ball community, from local sports members to around the world.

“Fierce competitor on the table, good friend off the table,” described Lyndall Vine on a Facebook tribute post.

Sharron’s funeral will take place on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Wondai Cemetery.