Shane Warne memorial: Summer Warne hails her hero dad for saving her from her own demons
Summer Warne fought back tears as she delivered a powerful and emotional tribute to her father Shane Warne in front of 55,000 at the MCG. Read her and her sibling’s speeches in full.
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Fighting back tears, Summer Warne paid an incredible tribute to her father at his MCG memorial thanking him for “saving her from her own demons.”
Standing alongside her siblings Jackson and Brooke, Summer got through an incredible tribute which was greeted by applause from a 55,000-strong crowd.
“You were such a selfless man,” Summer said. “You would reassure me that everything was going to be OK. When I was struggling, and I didn’t know how to go on with life because I was dealing with my own demons, you showed me how I could fall in love with life again.
“You told me that I could either live with these demons or fight with them and come out stronger at the end. You saved me, Dad. You truly did.
“I really am going to miss you Dad. It has been exactly 26 days since you went to heaven and I miss you more than anything in the whole world. I would do anything just to have one more you have your cuddles and to hear your voice tell me how proud of me you were and how much you loved me.
As Summer and her siblings walked to the stage, Bruan Adams ‘Summer of ‘69’ was playing.
Summer explained that the choice of song was because it was what she and her dad had played shortly before he departed for Thailand.
“That song, Summer of ‘69, played on Wednesday, March 2, two days before your passing. And the last time I saw my dad. You were coming to pick up your bag you needed for Thailand. And as I opened the door you came inside and had your car door wide open blaring that song.
“You started dancing and singing with true happiness all around you.
“With the smile that lit up the whole room. We both started dancing with room. We both started dancing with not a care in the world, and couldn’t stop laughing with each other.
“Looking back on that memory now, and it is so incredibly special as you, as the year you were born was 1969 and a verse in that song is, “When I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever. And if I had a choice I’d always want to be there. Those were the best days of my life.”
“You will always be with us, Dad, just not in the way we had hoped.
“An icon and a legend. There is comfort in knowing how loved around the world he was and still is.
“His infectious smile and laugh is something I’m going to forever miss. He was an inspiration. ... The kindness he forever showed, the reassurance you needed if you were down on yourself.”
SUMMER’S SPEECH IN FULL
That song, Summer of ‘69, played on Wednesday, March 2, two days before your passing. And the last time I saw my dad. You were coming to pick up your bag you needed for Thailand. And as I opened the door you came inside and had your car door wide open blaring that song. You started dancing and singing with true happiness all around you. With the smile that lit up the whole room. We both started dancing with room.
We both started dancing with not a care in the world, and couldn’t stop laughing with each other. Looking back on that memory now, and it is so incredibly special as you, as the year you were born was 1969 and a verse in that song is,
“When I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever. And if I had a choice I’d always want to be there. Those were the best days of my life.”
You will always be with us, Dad, just not in the way we had hoped. I would like to thank each and every one of you for being here today, whether that’s to show your support, you’re a true cricket fan, you looked up to him just like I did or you simply loved him because he was Warnie. An icon and a legend.
There is comfort in knowing how loved around the world he was and still is. How he inspired so many of you to play cricket and bowl leg spin. He touched so many people’s lives and always wanted to help and support people in any way he could.
When dad would walk into a room, the whole room would light up. He could make you crack a smile even if you didn’t feel like smiling that day.
He made you feel appreciated and so loved. His infectious smile and laugh is something I’m going to forever miss.
He was an inspiration. ... The kindness he forever showed, the reassurance you needed if you were down on yourself... The humour he had without even trying to be funny and most of all, he was so thoughtful and one of the happiest people I ever knew.
The happiness you dreamt about having one day, even if you were struggling or sad about something dad, you wouldn’t show it.
You didn’t want anyone to worry. He put everyone first before yourself because you were such a selfless man.
You would reassure me that everything was going to be OK. When I was struggling, and I didn’t know how to go on with life because I was dealing with my own demons, you showed me how I could fall in love with life again.
You told me that I could either live with these demons or fight with them and come out stronger at the end. You saved me, Dad. You truly did.
I watched you take pride and joy in your career and how you worked so hard on everything you did. You gave it everything you could got.
Touching words from Summer Warne. â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/xP9ZWZMiJG
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) March 30, 2022
Even if it was just a photo-shoot where you had to smile with your pearly whites at the camera. Choosing a new scent for your fragrance or signing an autograph. You wanted everything to be perfect and was done with 110% effort. Which is one out of the million things I loved about you Dad. Your constant determination and never giving up and what you wanted to do next in your life.
You always wanted to be around us and that is something I took for granted. Thinking that you were always going to be around... I really am going to miss you Dad.
It has been exactly 26 days since you went to heaven and I miss you more than anything in the whole world. I would do anything just to have one more you have your cuddles and to hear your voice tell me how proud of me you were and how much you loved me. I never thought one’s voice to bring such comfort until I can no longer hear it.
I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that you won’t be able to walk down the aisle on my special day.
You’re never going to meet your grandchildren, but instead you will be someone I will tell my kids about and how much of an amazing father you were to me.
How good of a you would have made and how they would have loved and adored you just like I do.
You lived 100 lives, Dad. You never took anything for granted and you made sure you lived every day to the fullest.
All the times I would come home from school and you would be waiting behind the kitchen table to show me you booked your ... favourite bolognaise. I would do anything to go back to that.
Even when you were asleep on the couch. And the whole street could hear you snoring from a mile away.
I know you will be forever watching me and be by my side the whole time. I will cherish the 20 years of memories we have and I’m reunited with you again. I want to say thank you Dad. Thank you for all the kind gestures you did for me.
They never went unnoticed. You drew memories in my mind I will never erase and you painted colours in my heart I will never replace. You will always live forever inside my heart Dad, and I will continue your legacy.
Forever my Dad, no matter where you are. May you now rest in eternal paradise, I love you so unconditionally much.
JACKSON WARNE SPEECH IN FULL
Dear Dad,
You were the best dad anyone could have asked for and you were mine, and my best friend.
Time with you went way too fast, it just feels like yesterday that we were looking at each other’s cards playing poker, eating pizza and cheering on a multi while watching the Saints.
I’m never going to forget how much fun we had doing just simple things, grocery shopping, watching a movie or going for walks during lockdown.
We didn’t have to do much for us to be happy together, life was easy and peaceful with you. You never pressured me into playing cricket and all you ever wanted for me was to be happy. You watched me for hours and hours building lego, you would play super smash with me even though it was impossible for you to win.
We would play Monopoly and you would do deals with me just to give me a chance to win. We were both so happy. In one of the first games of cricket I ever played you told me, just go out there and have fun, because when you’re happy, good things will happen. That was the mindset I had for that game and I ended up taking a hat-trick and it was a moment I would never forget - you were so proud of me. Although I didn’t go down the cricket path, you didn’t mind. You just wanted the best for me.
You taught me manners were free and to always say please and thank you. Being your caddy at the Dunkeld and walking around with you on the golf course brought me so much joy. Don’t worry I’ll keep up those lessons and make sure I catch up to your handicap, which was seven today, eight yesterday, and possibly nine depending on who you were versing. I loved watching you do what you do, bowling, playing golf, making eggs and bacon or commentating. You did everything with so much passion, I looked up to you as my hero and I admired how hard you worked. I was so proud of everything you do.
I was so proud that you were my dad, you were so full of life and always made everyone around you smile. You would walk into a room and everyone would just be happy to be in your presence. I feel like I have been robbed as you were taken away too soon but I won’t forget the feeling of just being around you and how loved you always made me feel and how safe I was when I was with you.
There’s not a day that will go by where I will not be thinking of you. I’m so happy that I got to spend 22 years of my life with you as my father, I love you so much. I wish it could have been more, but it is what it is. I promise I’m going to look after Brooke and Summer for the rest of my life. I’m going to continue to try my hardest to make you proud because I know you’re watching over me. I miss you so much dad. I love you up to the sky and back and I will see you soon. Thank you.”
BROOKE WARNE
My dad was always the person that wanted to make sure everyone was ok before him.
He wanted to be sure that everyone was happy before him, he wanted the best for everyone, especially us, his kids.
My Dad taught me resilience and strength in so many ways, to always stand up for ourselves and what we believe in, to always try our hardest at everything we do. He would always tell us since we were little to be polite. Manners are free, they cost nothing and they will always leave such an impact. Little things over the years I will forever be so grateful for. It doesn’t seem right that I won’t be able to hear you say, “Just do it Brookster, tell them how you feel, darling. Do what makes you happy and give it your all, try harder Brookster.”
Dad and I got on each other’s nerves but it was because we were so similar, we were so passionate about everything and cared so deeply. We most of all, always had to be right. We were both so stubborn and never wanted to back down. We had our differences but at the end of the day, we just wanted to love each other. And we did so much, I wanted the best for Dad and he wanted the best for me. My dad just wanted to be the best dad he could be. He would always want to play games, take us to parks, watch movies and chill around the house. At the end of the day, he just wanted to be our Dad. He wanted to be a part of our lives in every possible way. We were so lucky, on holidays I would always want to try new foods and new restaurants and dad wasn’t very experimental so I would be the only one who would end up eating. If he knew we were going out for dinner somewhere he wouldn’t eat anything he would order room service beforehand and pretend he wasn’t hungry at dinner. That’s just how he was. I can’t believe there will never be another stupid argument around the dinner table or a disgareeement, Dad telling me to get to the point because my story was taking too long.
Originally published as Shane Warne memorial: Summer Warne hails her hero dad for saving her from her own demons
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