Farewelled fallen jockey Desiree Gill as generous in death as she was in life

FALLEN jockey Desiree Gill farewelled and was as generous in death as she was in life, saving five people by organ donation.

Desiree Gill is farewell by a large crowd in Gympie. Picture: Glenn Barnes

GYMPIE jockey Desiree Gill was as generous in death as she was in life, saving five people through organ donation.

The champion country rider, farewelled on Monday by a who's who of Queensland racing, would not have had it any other way.

Her trainer husband Barry said that five people - four females and a male - had received the ultimate gift from his "Desy'', who died after a race fall at Caloundra on November 9. She was 45.

He said her heart, lungs and liver had been donated to those awaiting life-saving surgery and two kidneys had gone to separate patients.

"We had talked about it for years and donation was something she was passionate about,'' he said.

"Her feeling was why take something with you that could benefit others ... that was Desy all over.

"But I pity the lady that got her heart because she will want to get up at 3am and do trackwork,'' Mr Gill joked.

"We feel so proud. She loved helping others and her happiest moments were helping apprentices. Desy was amazing.''

A guard of honour for fallen jockey Desiree Gill. Picture: Glenn Barnes

Hundreds gathered at the Gympie Showgrounds Pavilion next to the sand track where Gill ruled as queen, winning several premierships and the past two Gympie Cups.

The racing fraternity arrived in busloads to pay respects to an inspirational jockey who led the way with her determination, dedication and willingness to mentor the next crop of young track stars.

Some of the name riders attending were Chris Munce, Larry Cassidy, Jim Byrne, Michael Cahill and Damian Browne who joined a guard of honour.

Tears flowed as the Daryl Braithwaite hit The Horses was played and memories were rekindled.

Close friend Matthew Brennan told of the remarkable bond between Gill and husband Barry.

"Her love for the racing industry is unmatched, but Des's relationship with Baz was her biggest achievement.

"Both had been open about the risks and she has left a list for Baz to help him keep achieving.

"They lived together, worked together and socialised together and were always mates … soul mates.''

Another long-time friend, Merv Welch, described Gill as Gympie's "queen of the turf, or in our case queen of the desert as we race on sand''.

Desiree Gill is farewell by a large crowd in Gympie. Picture: Glenn Barnes

He said she had an incredible worth ethic and her legacy would be the values she passed on to many young riders.

"She was a bush champion … a fierce competitor, tough and someone who always gave 100 per cent.''

Mr Welch said a terrible accident in 2004, which left her with a crushed leg, had left her sidelined for four and a half years.

"It was only freakish determination and an obsession with race riding that saw her return,'' he said.

Spencer Slater of the Gympie Turf Club said Gill was the town's "face of racing''.

"Her loss will leave a huge hole in racing,'' he said.

A letter of support from Premier Campbell Newman was read at the funeral.

Gill, devoted mother of Peter and Ryan, previously had worked for Racing Queensland in the training department.

She had been enjoying the most successful stage of her career, having ridden the first four winners at Bundaberg on Melbourne Cup day and a treble at Gympie on October 26, including the Gympie Cup for the second year running.

More than 500 jockeys have lost their lives in Australian race falls.