“Warnie would have loved it,” was the common refrain after spin king Shane Warne memorial service at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.
Panel discussions among friends and teammates, live and recorded musical performances by international luminaries, and heartfelt statements by the cricket legend’s father, brother, and three children were among the highlights of the event. From the 212-hour service, here are five noteworthy moments.
Shane Warne memorial Service: Warne’s Peaky Blinders audition
At the conclusion of the night, four of Warne’s close friends approached the stage and told a series of stories that lifted spirits at the MCG.
Warne had been wearing a flat cap for the previous two years, identical to the type used by the Shelby family in Peaky Blinders, a British period drama set in the 1930s.
Former AFL player Aaron Hamill, who played for St Kilda and Carlton, remarked that the flat cap style was “not too many that could get away with it, let’s be honest.”
Warne went beyond a fashion statement, according to Hamill, as he tracked down contact information for Peaky Blinders’ creators.
“He got the email of the producer up there and off he sent the email, ‘look I’d love to be part of your show, I’m a keen viewer’.
“So, he completed all of that and then called back and said,’mate, I got the email back.’ I asked if you could read it to me. “Please,” Hamill said, “because I’m curious.”
“‘Dear Shane, thank you very much, we adore your passion,’ says the producer. However, porcelain veneers were not available in Birmingham in 1931. But we appreciate your help, so thank you very much.’
“But that was his personality; he was ambitious, motivated, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Shane Warne memorial Service: Daughter Summer’s moving speech
Summer, Jackson, and Brooke Warne, Warne’s children, gave heartfelt comments that were both tragic and humorous.
In her four minutes on the mike, Summer, the youngest, captured the many facets of her father’s personality. She began by claiming that he had saved her life.
“He showed me how to fall in love with life again when I was struggling and didn’t know how to continue on with life because I was dealing with my own issues,” the 20-year-old added through tears.
“He told me that I could either live with these demons or fight them and emerge stronger as a result of your faith in me, and that was all I needed.”
“Dad, you saved my life. You performed a fantastic job.”
Summer delivered a detailed account of the last time she saw her father, two days before he travelled to Thailand and died of a heart attack at the age of 52, as the trio stepped on stage to the Bryan Adams song Summer of ’69.
“You were on your way to get your bag for your trip to Thailand.” “You walked in and had your car door wide open, screaming that tune [Summer of ’69] as I opened the door,” she added.
“With a smile that lighted up the room, you began dancing and singing.” We began to dance without a care in the world, and we both began to giggle at each other.”
Shane Warne memorial Service: ‘He wrote me letters to ask how I was’
Alex Kerr, a Wurundjeri man, helped kick things off with a Welcome to Country. But he began a highly personal night with an unexpected narrative about meeting Warne as an eight-year-old at an MCG Test.
After being removed minutes later, the leg-spinner stepped out to bat during an Australian batting collapse and walked back to the dressing room — right past Kerr.
“What happened when he returned was incredible.” It was completely silent. As Warnie approached the finish line, I jumped up in my chair and yelled, “Well batted, Warnie.” The audience burst out laughing. Warnie approached me, patted my hair, and said, ‘Thank you, little man.’
After 10 minutes, Warne returned to Kerr’s seat.
“How would you like to spend the rest of the day with the team?” he inquired. Kerr said, “Of course I said yes.”
“I’ll never forget that experience.” But that wasn’t the most interesting part. For the next two years, Warne would write me letters just to check in on how I was doing.
“This man was a rock star, so for him to do that just goes to show that no matter who you are or what you’ve accomplished in life, it’s crucial to stay humble and care about everyone.”
“I’ve carried this lesson with me ever since that day.”
Shane Warne memorial Service: Elton John’s dedication from Los Angeles
When Sir Elton John began to speak about Shane Warne, “perhaps one of the best sportsmen ever, and certainly one of the most brilliant Australian cricketers of all time,” the Los Angeles audience must have been completely taken aback. Or, given Warne’s celebrity, it might have all made sense to American music fans.
“Today is a sad day, but it isn’t in all aspects since his legacy goes on.” And he will be remembered by future generations because he was captivating, clever, and a cricket fanatic. Sir Elton addressed the audience, “And he loved life.”
He dedicated a rendition of the aptly titled Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me to Warne’s children while seated in front of a grand piano and wearing a harlequin jacket. In Los Angeles, a photo collage featuring Sir Elton and Warne together covered the big screen.
When Warne was dating previous partner Liz Hurley, the two became pals.
Pre-recorded dedications by Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams, and Coldplay leader Chris Martin, who performed Yellow from the outskirts of a Central American jungle, were also played during Wednesday’s service.
Shane Warne memorial Service: Shane Warne, United Nations sponsor
Andrea Egan from the United Nations Development Program made a surprise appearance.
She disclosed that Warne had joined Lion’s Share, the United Nations’ wildlife fund, last year in order to “rewrite the future and conserve animals and their habitat.”
Ms. Egan announced the formation of Shane Warne conservation grants, stating that the UN agency will “try to honour his memory in a manner that is commensurate with the person he was.”
“Last time I spoke with [Warne], he indicated his enthusiasm for our work, his ties to Sri Lanka, and his desire to be a part of something bigger than himself. He was a man who kept his promises. He was a generous person. He leveraged his celebrity to rally behind the cause at this critical time.” Egan told the MCG crowd.
“His legacy reaches well beyond today’s hearts. It lives on in the people of Sri Lanka, who promote sea conservation through an anti-poaching unit, and the Byron Bay hospital staff, who were aided in the aftermath of the bushfires. Shane aided in the completion of all of this job and more.”
Sam Newman, a TV personality and Warne friend, wasn’t the only one who wondered, “What can’t the man do?”