Shane Warne Memorial Service: Australia farewells it’s only home-grown monarch
It’s hard to imagine another Australian whose death could have yielded such outpourings of emotion, writes DANIEL CHERNY.
In a segment at Wednesday night’s state memorial service at the MCG designed to resemble a sportsman’s night, panelists Mark Taylor, Allan Border, Merv Hughes and Nasser Hussain were asked to describe Shane Warne in a single world.
Lastly, host Mark Howard threw to West Indian great Brian Lara, a cricketer himself dubbed The Prince. Well The Prince’s word to capture Warne was simple: king.
So many labels have been used for Warne over the years and since his shock death a few weeks ago.
But none seem more fitting than the moniker bestowed upon him by Lara. As a constitutional monarchy, Australia will never host a royal wedding, or funeral.
Prime Ministers come and go, oft loathed, occasionally loved. When they pass, there are tributes, legacy pieces, television reflection, state services. But there are no ex-PMs or queens who lie in state in Canberra.
When Warne died in early March, a common refrain was to compare the moment to Princess Diana’s death 25 years previous.
Little from the events and gallery at the ‘G on Wednesday contradicted that sentiment. Warne’s funeral came 10 days earlier, but this state service took on royal proportions.
Comparisons are odious, but it is hard to imagine another figure in Australian public life whose death could have yielded such outpourings of emotion. Or a prime time memorial service in front of tens of thousands at the country’s greatest sporting cathedral.
Who else could have drawn a Prime Minister away from the budget roadshow weeks out from an election?
Who else was held with such reverence in the circles of uber-fame that they could have led Elton John, Chris Martin, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran to send musical tributes?
To prompt video messages from a veritable who’s who Australian celebrity? Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, Ray Martin, Greg Norman, James Packer. To have a Bradman sing the national anthem.
To have the greatest surfer of all-time, Kelly Slater, deliver a message? To relegate Michael Clarke, Stephen Fleming, Wasim Akram and Sachin Tendulkar to footnotes?
Bloody hell, there was even an address given by a representative of the United Nations!
He lived in rarefied air, mixed in circles barely imaginable to the common person.
And yet just as Diana was known as the People’s Princess, it was Warne’s every man touch that ultimately drew us in.
His star was simultaneously untouchable yet comfortably within grasp.
In one of the umpteen video messages on the night, Dermott Brererton, one of Warne’s childhood heroes and the inspiration for Warne’s perpetual dalliance with peroxide, noted that ultimately Warne was “just like us.”
In a later panel hosted by Andy Lee, four of Warne’s good mates: Dimitri Mascarenhas, Aaron Hamill, Sam Newman and Glenn Robbins discussed what Warne was like behind the scenes.
Two former footballers, an ex-cricketer and a comedian spoke of his golfing habits, his questionable fashion, his tendencies behind the wheel, his friendship.
His charity work was appreciated. At either end of the ground flew the flags of eight cricket teams for whom he played. From the humble beginnings of East Sandringham to the riches of the Indian Premier League.
But before the breakthroughs, the scandals, the greatness, there was the family. There were the touching words of Warne’s bereaved father Keith.
“Looking forward to a future without Shane is inconceivable. We do take comfort in knowing that Shane packed more in his life of 52 years, five months and 19 days than most people would in two lifetimes.
“Your mother and I can’t imagine a life without you. You have been taken too soon and our hearts are broken. Thank you for all you did for us. And for being such a loving and caring son. Rest in peace, mate. Love you.”
There were the stories of his brother Jason.
“The impact my brother had during his remarkable life, it’s always been really difficult to comprehend,” Jason said.
“Although the last few weeks and the tributes and tonight has brought it all into sharp focus. Shane has connected with us all in many ways. Whether it being entertained by his amazing exploits on the cricket ground, through the time he spent and putting a smile on the face of many children, or the times he’s met you in person, made you feel special.”
And most moving were the words of his children, Brooke, Jackson and Summer.
“You will always be with us dad, just not in the way we would have hoped,” Summer said, fighting tears.
“There is comfort in knowing how loved around the world he was, and still is … when dad would walk into a room, the whole room would light up. He was an inspiration.”
“You saved me dad, you truly did.”
“All you ever wanted for me was to be happy,” Jackson added.
“I’m so proud that you were my dad.”
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“My dad just wanted to be the best dad he could be,” Brooke said, her dad’s physical features living hauntingly through her.
“We will do you so proud, dad. I love you always, dad.”
Australia doesn’t have a president, doesn’t have a princess, but we had the king. The king is dead, long live the king.
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