Tributes flow for transplant champion Graham Lentell, dead at 47

A father of six and transplant champion who touched the hearts of so many in the Queensland community is being remembered fondly following his passing.

Graham Lentell and his wife Sandi.

Someone famous once said great leaders don’t set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference.

Graham Lentell did just that.

Sadly Graham, a 47-year-old father of six who was much loved and highly respected in the Rockhampton and Brisbane communities, died last Wednesday after a brave battle with cancer.

He is being remembered as humble, polite, genuine, loyal, selfless, hard working and a “downright good bloke”.

But the superlative Graham truly deserves to be remembered by - he was an inspiration.

Rewind to 2010 and Graham, then 32 and working for Hastings Deering in Rockhampton as office supervisor, spoke to this publication as he prepared to stride out to open the batting at the Sydney Cricket Ground as captain of the Australian Transplant Cricket team.

Graham Lentell.

He’d received a life-saving kidney from his sister in 2001 and said he was thrilled at the prospect of facing former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson, who was expected to turn out for the Bradman Foundation in the contest.

“He’ll be a bit quicker than I’m used to,” Graham said at the time before a flight to Sydney to meet his teammates.

“The team is made up of players from all over the country who have received organ donations. We’re a bit of a mixed bag, but the spirit is fantastic and it’s a real honour to lead them.”

Graham, a former president of Norths Cricket Club in Rockhampton, continued on to say he could hardly wait to take guard at the iconic SCG in a match that would salute all Australian organ donors including another Test great, David Hookes, who became a donor in 2004.

“It’s a great honour to play at the SCG and to get a taste of where Hooksey once cracked sixes for Australia,” Graham said.

“The boys are thrilled to celebrate their ‘second innings of life’ on any pitch, let alone at the SCG. I know I’m overly excited to be out there, I never thought it would be possible.

“It will be my Test match.”

Little did Graham know, his biggest “Test” was to come.

Graham and his family moved to Brisbane in 2019 where he volunteered at Souths Sunnybank Rugby League Club where his four sons were involved.

In recent years he was dealt a tough hand - diagnosed with Merkel-cell carcinoma, a very aggressive form of cancer.

He underwent surgery to have the cancer removed from near his eye only to discover within three weeks it had gone to both his saliva gland and lymphoid.

Those close to Graham know the battle he then endured.

A GoFundMe page set up last year to help Graham’s family aptly described him as a “downright good bloke”.

Graham and Sandi Lentell with their children L-R Katelynn, Harrison, Mitchell, Temperance, Chandler and Alex after a service at St Pauls Anglican Cathedral on Easter Sunday. Photo Chris Ison/The Morning Bulletin.

Following Graham’s passing last week, Norths Cricket Club, now known as North Rockhampton Tigers Cricket Club, president Tony Stephensen summed it up best when he said:

“It is with deep sadness that I relay to players past and present, the passing of Graham Lentell.

“Graham played cricket for Norths and held various roles within our club.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with (brother) Damien Lentell (former president) Sandi (wife), immediate family, family and friends as they mourn the loss of Graham.

“Rest in peace mate. You fought a bloody tough fight.”

Scott Anderson also paid tribute to Graham.

“I don’t know how many currently at the club knew Graz but I played alongside him for a number of years,” Mr Anderson said

“He was a wonderful club man, a wonderful advocate for building the club from what it was into what it is now.

“More than that he was simply a wonderful human being.”

Tony Newman described Graham as “one of the good ones” when it came to “putting others and the cricket association needs first before himself or his own club”.

“Another one gone too soon,” Mr Newman said.

Graham Lentell gave ongoing support to the transplant community and before he captained Australia, he said he was living proof that transplants save lives.

In life, Graham’s innings was cut way too short - but his was a knock of amazing inspiration.

Graham’s 47 made a difference.

Originally published as Tributes flow for transplant champion Graham Lentell, dead at 47