Andrew Symonds memorial service held in Townsville on Friday
Aussie cricket legend Adam Gilchrist has fought back tears as he paid homage to his beloved “mischievous” mate Andrew Symonds. Follow our live blog.
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CLOSING with a touching poem by friend and poet Rupert McCall, Andrew Symonds’ memorial service has concluded.
Mr McCall recalled times where Roy would call him, sitting around a fire with his mates, asking for him to recite Australian poetry.
It was one of his great loves, and Me McCall said he wished he’d be getting one of those phone calls tonight.
He recited a touching poem for his friend, speaking about his love for fishing and great sporting moments intertwined in a beautiful string of words.
A video montage was then played to close the service.
Sporting greats reflect on Roy’s incredible achievements
AFTER losing two of his best mates, Ricky Ponting reflected on the past few months of tragedy, and how Roy was looking over him to make sure he was home from India for the service.
Ponting was joined by Adam Gilchrist and Darren Lehman in a panel interview run by Ian Healy at the public service where he spoke about how Roy’s presence was felt after his death.
In order to make it back to Australia to attend the service, Ponting’s IPL team had to lose their game to prevent them from moving forward. He said Roy might have been responsible for the bad luck.
An unwell Ponting also said before getting up on stage he had to lay down, but heard Roy’s voice in his head.
“I heard these words ringing in my head, ‘get up, get down there, what you got a sore belly do you?,” he laughed.
He spoke of Roy’s dedication to the team, and a time where he tore his bicep but wanted to keep playing.
“Talk about the work ethic around him there… some of the work he did to get part of that world cup in 2007.”
Gilchrist spoke about the first time he laid eyes on Roy as a teenager who was already in the sights of scouts.
“I was about 19 and he was 16, and he was already on the radar of all the talent spotters,” Gilchrist said.
“It wasn’t an easy ride, because his reputation was so large about the talent of this bloke.
“It was a tough journey for him… simply because he was so talented.”
Gilchrist also spoke about a funny moment where Roy tried to speak French in a bar while touring in France, only to be met by a confused bartender.
Lehman simply said he was the best player he’d ever coached, and the best crab-tier going.
“He taught me how to tie a mud crab… from being down south that’s scary s--- to me
“That was a serious experience in my life, catching mud crabs with Roy. That was heaven to him.”
Fond memories of Roy’s immeasurable impact
DONNING cricket shirts, wide brim hats and Andrew Symonds’s signature zinced lip, hundreds of people flooded into Townsville’s Riverway Stadium to say goodbye to Roy.
People of all ages started lining up long before the gates to the Thuringowa stadium opened, with a sense of sadness in the air.
The public service kicked off at 2.30pm, with cricket legends and famous faces sitting in the front rows near a tribute to Symonds.
A touching video set the tone of the afternoon, showing highlights from his career, interviews about his greatest career moments, including the infamous streaker tackle.
Photos of him with his beloved children and family followed.
The public service will be MC’d by Ian Healy, and include interviews with Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann.
Healy relived some moments with his teammate, who “didn’t find first class cricket incredibly easy”.
“The memories of Roy are fond, he had impact, and a lot of mates,” Healy said.
“To family, we really thank you for allowing us to be together, and deciding that this might be a thing that Roy would really want. None of us are quite sure whether Roy would like this or not.”
Cricket Australia director Greg Rowell opened the speeches by saying Roy would have laughed at his formal attire.
“I found myself torn whether or not to wear a suit and tie today,” he said.
“Roy would have loved that I’m the only person here in a suit and tie, and he would have given me a hard time.”
Mr Rowell spoke of how Roy’s talent blew him away.
“In the rush to acknowledge his talent, I think we miss something… and that was his work ethic.
“He was a man for others, and it showed in the mastery and the breadth of his skills.”
Gilly pays tribute to ‘mischievous’ mate Andrew Symonds
HOLDING back tears, Adam Gilchrist reflected on memories with his “mischievous” mate Andrew Symonds after a private service he described as “simply beautiful”.
Symonds, 46, was farewelled in a private service Riverway Stadium in Townsville on Friday, where about 250 friends, family and sporting legends paid their respects.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist spoke to media after the touching service, saying he’d never seen a group of people so moved in his life.
“The service was just simply beautiful. In its entirety, it was full of sadness, but just such wonderful beautiful memories of a guy that just gave so much of himself to so many people unconditionally,” Gilchrist said.
The service featured speeches from Symond’s mother, Barbara, sister Louise, and children, Chloe and Will.
Gilchrist said the cricket community had wrapped their arms around his two children, now left without a father.
He spoke of “one of the most beautiful” eulogies he’d ever heard, delivered by Jimmy Maher, who gave a message directly to Symonds’ son and daughter.
Gilchrist said despite the immense sadness, there was one moment with Will which cheered him up.
“I just bumped into Will and he said to me ‘I’m a wicketkeeper now’. Sorry Roy,” he laughed, looking to the sky.
Symonds was known as an entertainer who played with fairness and passion, but Gilchrist said there was more to him than cricket.
“We’ve all spoken so much about Roy, shared so many stories, and there’s been barely a mention of the cricketing exploits.
“He was just a pure heart, found his way into trouble as well as anyone… (and) loyal beyond belief.”
Good friend and cricket coach Matthew Mott said the day they’d been dreading was an “outstanding tribute to a great human being”.
Mott’s mind also went to Symnonds’ two children, saying he was devastated his friend would never get to see them grow up.
“He loved them so much and they meant so much to him,” Mott said.
Looking back on their friendship, he wished he’d agreed to more fishing trips.
“The thing I take out of this is the amount of fishing trips that were knocked back because we all got too busy and stuff like that… (I’d) love that opportunity to go back out there and do that again.”
“It’s a sad moment, but I think it was a great service and celebrated what was a life well lived.
“You know, it’s a shame that he’s been cut so short, and he had so much more to give to a lot of people. But you know, those kids grew up with a loving father and they know he’ll be overlooking them for many years to come.”
A public service will kick off at 2pm.
Hats, bats and crab pots piled high in memory of Roy
A PRIVATE service to remember Andrew Symonds has started, with a number of high-profile guests in attendance to pay their respects.
A selection of hats, a cricket bat, a crab pot and a bouquet of flowers sat around a simple timber coffin at the front of the service, with a portrait of Symonds in his signature Akubra.
The service is being officiated by Nigel Fairbairn and will be opened by a song by Zac Brown Band, Knee Deep.
After an introduction and prayer, Symonds’s mother, Barbara, his children Will and Chloe, and sister Louise will deliver moving speeches.
A photographic tribute will then be played alongside music, which includes John Williamson’s classic, True Blue.
A video tribute from Matthew Hayden will then be played, followed by the eulogy which will be read by Jimmy Maher.
Loved ones will have a final chance to say goodbye before John Williamson’s, Galleries of Pink Gallahs is played as the recessional song.
Adam Gilchrist is expected to speak with media after the private service.
Guests arrive at private service for Symonds
FAMILY and friends have started arriving at the private funeral service for Andrew Symonds.
Symonds’s wife and two children arrived at Riverway Stadium about 10am, as other mourners filtered through the gates.
His two children were carrying Akubra’s as they walked in together.
A bus load of about 50 mourners arrived at the stadium shortly after, lead out by Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting.
Among the guests was Ian Healy, John Buchanan, Glen McGrath, Mark Waugh and rugby league great Darren Lockyer.
The private service will kick off at 11am
Symonds memorial service
THE sporting world will farewell one of its greatest in a public memorial service for Andrew Symonds in Townsville today.
Symonds, 46, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Hervey Range Rd near Alice River earlier this month, leaving behind two children.
His death sent shockwaves around the nation, and came just weeks after the death of other cricket legends Shane Warne and Rod Marsh.
A private funeral service will be held for Symonds at Riverway Stadium at 11am.
A public service will kick off at 2.30pm, and include speeches from Adam Gilchrist, Darren Lehmann and Ricky Ponting.
The Townsville Bulletin will be live blogging the services from 11am.
Originally published as Andrew Symonds memorial service held in Townsville on Friday
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