Sports and TV celebrities recall loving and respectful Graham ‘Shadow’ McNeice

The professional achievements of racing commentator and television producer Graham McNeice were dwarfed by tales of his loving and respectful at a moving Sydney funeral.

Racing commentator and television producer Graham "Shadow" McNeice died on September 12.

The remarkable professional achievements of racing commentator and television producer Graham “Shadow” McNeice were dwarfed by tales of his loving and respectful care of his proteges at McNeice’s moving Sydney funeral on Thursday.

During a 90-minute service held at Kensington’s Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic Church., a stellar cast of high profile McNeice “discoveries”, among whom were actor Matt Le Nevez, newsreader Peter Overton and Sunrise host Matt Shirvington, spoke tenderly of a man who loved a drink, a bet and a show tune.

McNeice died on September 12, aged 76, after battling illness for some years.

A host of sport and television’s most influential identities attended his funeral, among them

Darren Beadman and Richard Freedman (on Prayers of the Faithful duties), Johnny Tapp, Ken Callander, Andrew Ettingshausen, Steve Leibmann, Prue MacSween, Tim Webster, Alan Jones, Katrina Lee, Jessica Rowe and Marg Rayner.

McNeice’s two families, the McNeices and the Kennedys, came together to celebrate a kid who landed in a saucer of milk at age 17 when his father, Croydon Park butcher and SP bookie Syd, collared racing and boxing promoter Frank Kennedy, a customer, and asked him to take his boy under his wing and teach him the business.

Graham McNeice. Picture: Supplied

As Kennedy’s son Terry recounted, McNeice moved into the family’s humble home in Sydney’s west – and stayed for 10 years – while working odd jobs – in insurance, driving a cab – while finding his feet as Frank’s understudy.

Overton recalled his first meeting with McNeice 40 years ago when interviewed for a job as a young sports reporter and greyhound commentator at Club Superstation (later Sky Racing), which McNeice is credited with helping launch: “His care for us all, no matter your role, was legendary,” Overton said.

Sports commentator Graham McNeice.

Through tears, Offspring actor Matt Le Nevez told of meeting McNeice as an 11-year-old when he was persuaded to audition for the role as a young Wayne Pearce, the Balmain league legend, for McNeice’s documentary Local Hero: The Wayne Pearce Story.

“There’s no way I could possibly list all the things he has done for me. Selfless … generous, always ready to help. He’s taught me what true love is. He’s shown me that love comes in many forms and should be given unconditionally … I loved him so much. He will always be one of the great loves of my life. I’ll miss him forever,” said Le Nevez.

Shirvington recounted McNeice approaching him at 17 and offering to manage the young athlete’s career.

He taught Shirvington to “be grateful, remember people’s names and always be kind” – and also to return every piece of fan mail he received, which he did.

It inspired a young Cameron McAvoy, who wrote to Shirvington after the 2000 Olympics, to follow his dreams, which he did to gold medal success at the Paris Olympics this year.

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Originally published as Sports and TV celebrities recall loving and respectful Graham ‘Shadow’ McNeice