Talented footballer Joseph Kearsley farewelled by hundreds at Cazalys Stadium

As his sister Kelsie put it, Joseph Kearsley was “running onto the field for the last time”. And there were hundreds there to bid him farewell.

Before a crowd bedecked in the red, white, and black of Cairns Saints Australian Football Club, Joseph Kearsley was given one final run on the football pitch on Tuesday afternoon.

Remembered as a talented young footballer and an incredible human being, the Cairns community turned out in their hundreds to Cazalys Stadium to farewell the 18-year-old, who lost his battle with cancer on Sunday, June 13.

Stephen Oldham, teammate Toby Burkett and mother Mandy Kearsley place a Cairns Saints singlet and a bouquet of flowers onto the casket of Joseph "Joey" Kearsley, who passed away last week after a long fight with cancer. The funeral service at Cazalys Stadium was attended by hundreds of mourners. Picture: Brendan Radke

Paying tribute to his son, Peter Kearsley said Joseph had a great sense of humour, didn’t talk much, and was the master of understatement.

“He’d probably acknowledge today that ‘this ain’t great’,” Mr Kearsley said.

But beneath the brevity of his words was a young man of enormous strength of character, who never once complained about “being dealt a pretty average set of cards” over the last two years.

“His kind, polite, humble, selfless nature was so evident in the way he carried himself and for this we’re all so proud,” Mr Kearsley said.

Pete and Kelsie Kearsley read a eulogy for their son and brother Joseph "Joey" Kearsley, who passed away last week after a long fight with cancer. The funeral service at Cazalys Stadium was attended by hundreds of mourners. Picture: Brendan Radke

Joseph’s early life consisted of the farm, fishing, and footy – “three things he loved to this day”, Mr Kearsley said.

And while he never did become a great fisherman, the same could not be said for his AFL.

He was a popular youngster, a Gold Coast Suns Academy member, and Cairns Saints president Craig Hards said that when Joseph joined the club in 2016, it didn’t take long for them to realise he was “one of those special kids” – both on and off the field.

Mr Kearsley said he didn’t want to go into detail about Joseph’s cancer battle – but did have this message for the medical profession who supported him.

Supplied Editorial Joseph Kearsley

“Our family would say … we are blessed as a society to have such beautiful and clever people working in the health system, and it’s something we should always support and protect.”

Joseph’s older sister Kelsie remembered him as “the strongest person” she ever met, and said she was “so proud to call you my brother”.

“18 years of Joseph Barry Kearsley just wasn’t enough.”

Mourners formed a guard of honour to farewell Joseph as the funeral procession made its way around the boundary of the field.

Originally published as Talented footballer Joseph Kearsley farewelled by hundreds at Cazalys Stadium