Ailsa-Rani Satini funeral hears tributes for young footballer who loved her family

Family and friends of Ailsa-Rani Satini have gathered to celebrate a young woman regarded as “a gift from above” after her life was tragically cut short in a car crash.

A CARING, young Babinda woman has been remembered for her love of her family, “everything outdoors” and rugby league at an emotional memorial service.

Family, friends, co-workers and teammates of Bellenden Ker’s Ailsa-Rani Satini, 20, gathered at the Babinda RSL for her funeral on Friday.

Ms Satini died in a car crash on July 3 at Manoora.

Delivering the eulogy on behalf of Ms Satini’s family was Melissa Clubb who said with four older brothers, Ms Satini “made the family the complete.”

The crash site at the corner of Enmore Street and Reservoir Road where a 20 year old woman was killed when she hit a power pole. Photo: Brian Cassey

“Rani was a proud aunty and godmother. She cared for her family and would move mountains for her family.”

She said when Ms Satini was born, her brother Isiaha was only nine months old and growing up they identified themselves as “un-identical twins”.

“When Rani and Isiah would get in trouble, they would look at each other and cry. When one would get a smack, the other one would cry.

“But their parents would often hold their laughs as they would watch themselves crying in the mirror, making all kinds of faces.”

The influence of Ms Satini’s brothers on her was so powerful, at the age five she joined a dance academy but didn’t stick around for too long because she didn’t enjoy being dressed up.

Players from the Innisfail Leprechauns and Edmonton Storm women's teams huddle following the death of Innisfail footballer Ailsa Satini. Picture: Facebook/ Innisfail Leprechauns RLFC

“She grew up a tomboy. Doing all things her brothers did - diving, swimming, backyard footy, cricket, wrestling, and playing Nintendo.

“She never got a turn at playing Nintendo. Her job was to get the Nutella jar and make chocolate cake so they could have their sugar hits and stay up all night.

“She played her first game for the Babinda Colts Junior Rugby League in 2006.

“This was the start of an amazing talent that she will be forever be remembered for.

“Being a natural athlete she also played touch football and AFL for Gordonvale.”

Around 2009 Ms Satini and her brother Isiaha moved to Weipa for schooling.

“This is where a special bond was created with her uncle.

“They would enjoy family outings going fishing, having barbecues, skateboarding and having fun. While in Weipa, Rani played football for the Western Cape junior rugby league club.”

Ms Satini returned to Gordonvale for high school and in 2014, during a football tournament, she met the future love of her life – Hope Vale’s Ethan Bowen.

The crash site at the corner of Enmore Street and Reservoir Road where Ailsa-Rani Satini was killed. Photo: Brian Cassey

In her last year of school she was awarded the Year 12 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation scholarship, which helped her in her final year of schooling.

After graduation she began work as an administration officer at My Pathway.

In her spare time she loved spending time at creeks, camping and fishing, all things outdoors and country music.

“God had other plans for our baby girl and we know she’ll be watching and waving,” Ms Clubb said.

Speaking at the service, Ms Satini’s boyfriend Mr Bowen said she made him the man he was today.

“I’ve never experienced this kind of pain in my life. I’ll see you on the other side, I’ll always love you,” a distraught Mr Bowen said

Fighting the tears, Ms Satini’s mother Tracy Satini said she knew her daughter was “a gift from up above”.

“You brought so much love, joy, happiness, peace and a bond that no one would understand as a mother-daughter relationship,” she said.

“Mumma is going to miss you very dearly, as now I have no one to talk, argue back, laugh and get me going, do my hair, watch movies and go shopping.

“Until we meet again Rani, mum loves you and will remember you every day as you were.”

Originally published as Ailsa-Rani Satini funeral hears tributes for young footballer who loved her family