Shane Warne: Simone Callahan’s touching tribute

Shane Warne’s ex wife has posted a touching tribute with new pictures of him and their children, as plans for the cricket legend’s funeral and public memorial are revealed.

Simone Callahan has paid an emotional tribute to Shane Warne, saying eternal love remains for her ex-husband.

Warne and Callahan share three children with Callahan posting a video with a collection of memories to the Frank Sinatra song, My Way.

“Shane’s greatest Love, Our children Brooke, Jackson & Summer,” she wrote.

“Shane was taken too soon from their young lives.

“Eternal love remains & will never leave.”

With love hearts, Callahan ended the post: “Vale Shane.”

Simone Callahan has shared new pictures of Shane Warne and their children to her Instagram account. Picture: Instagram

The family pictures have not been seen in public before.Picture: Instagram

Cricket great Warne was married to Callahan, now a yoga instructor, for a decade before splitting in 2005.

Meanwhile, funeral details have emerged, with Warne’s family to hold a private funeral before a public memorial at the MCG.

Ms Callahan’s post also included a tribute to her former husband. Picture: Instagram

An image of Shane Warne shared by Ms Callahan. Picture: Instagram

Plans were being drawn up for the public memorial, with a meeting expected today.

News Corp has confirmed Warne’s family will have their own service first, with the MCG event likely to be within two or three weeks.

That timeline means that it will coincide with the start of the AFL season, but it’s understood the MCG will make all necessary arrangements to accommodate the service.

A public memorial will be held for Shane Warne at the MCG. Picture: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

Up to 100,000 people would be expected to say farewell at the ground where Warne took his hat trick in 1994.

An autopsy on Warne’s body was being conducted at the Surat Thani Hospital on the Thai mainland, 640km south of Bangkok, on Monday.

The hospital is three hours, including a ferry ride, from the luxury villas where Warne was staying when he died on Friday.

People continue to place flowers and other items at the Shane Warne statue at the MCG days after his death in Thailand. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling.

A charter flight was being considered for Warne’s final journey to Australia after his shock death of a heart attack.

There is an international airport at Surat Thani, which would allow a private jet, or an official Australian Government aircraft to land there to bring Warne home.

Up to 100,000 people would be expected to say farewell at the MCG to Shane Warne. Picture: Getty

A travel agent confirmed there were no direct flights from Surat Thani to Melbourne.

There was a direct Jetstar flight to Melbourne from Bangkok, but there were no seats available until later this week.

Some international flights go from Phuket, about four hours drive from Surat Thani, but they would transit via Singapore.

A source confirmed that all plans for Warne’s return and his funeral were still being mapped out.

“A private charter has been considered but that decision has not been made,” the source said.

“The family will have a private funeral as soon as possible. It will be two to three weeks before they have a State Funeral. It hasn’t been decided yet but it’s likely to be the MCG.”

New details have also emerged about Warne’s final days.

He arrived in Thailand on Thursday last week following a flight from Melbourne.

Warne, and his poker playing friends went straight to the luxury Samujana Villas.

All tourists into Thailand must have a negative COVID-19 test before arrival and then get another PCR upon landing.

They were quarantining until they had the results of the latest tests.

All tests were negative – Warne had Covid-19 in London last year.

Originally published as Shane Warne: Simone Callahan’s touching tribute