Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Hansard source

on indulgence—I was joined by the Leader of the Opposition last night, with the rest of Australia and the world, to farewell Shane Warne at the 'G. I want to thank Premier Andrews, the Victorian state government and Eddie McGuire for the great job that they did last night in farewelling Warnie.

The memorial service at the 'G was a fitting occasion to reflect on and give thanks for a truly extraordinary Australian life—the king, the legend, the father, the son, the brother and, as Merv said, the bogan. Shane Warne lit up this country and the cricketing world, just like he lit up the wicket every time he went out there, with his joy, with his enthusiasm and with his extraordinary talent. He was the boy who played for East Sandy and practised his flipper in the hallway of his family home with his brother, Jason. Shane claimed, as we know, more than 700 test wickets and was declared by Wisden to be one of the five greatest cricketers of the century. There was the hat-trick, the one that Boonie caught, the ball of the century that Gatting is still trying to understand! We know the achievements because we had the joy of witnessing them wherever we might have been.

Shane Warne didn't just play the game of cricket; he was the game of cricket, and he changed it forever, as only the greats of the game can. But Australians didn't just know him and love him for his tremendous sporting success and for his wizardry with the ball in hand. I think Australians really identified with Warnie—with his successes but also with his great vulnerabilities. As he once said: 'I'm not a very complicated person. I've never pretended to be something I'm not.' And that is true.

What came through last night, at a truly memorable service, was what so many of us had experienced. He encouraged people, including me. He accepted people for who they were and embodied the timelessness of Australia's greeting of 'mate'. His children, Jackson, Brooke and Summer, spoke of what their dad had taught them: manners are free—they cost nothing; always say please and thank you. Great advice from a great dad. When it came to sport, he told them, 'Just go out there and have some fun, because, when you're happy, good things will happen,' as Jackson said last night. These were stories of his generosity, of his decency, of his good common sense, of his humour and of his humility—loading up the car after the Black Saturday bushfires and heading up to Kinglake; spending a day with a local community playing cricket with the kids, signing autographs and encouraging all.

Shane often visited sick kids in hospital. As his dad, Keith, reminded us last night, none of that is said to deify Shane; it is simply to appreciate the depth of this great Australian. He was a wonderful Australian larrikin, a goodhearted bloke who lived large, enjoyed life and truly loved people. It is to appreciate the depth of this great Australian hero. At last night's fitting farewell we witnessed the unveiling of the Shane Warne stand, where his own cricket journey began with his brother so many years before. As Shane's daughter Summer said last night, he will always be with us, just not in the way we hoped.

Of all Shane's greatest achievements, it was clear to me, and I'm sure to all Australians and those around the world who witnessed it last night, that his crowning achievement—the one that he shared with their mother, Simone, and the one that I think he took the greatest delight in—was his children, Brooke, Jackson and Summer. To Shane's parents, Keith and Brigitte; to his wonderful and brave children, Jackson, Brooke and Summer; to his great brother, Jason; and to all who loved him, we send our love and our condolences. May Warnie rest in peace. That saint has now gone marching in.

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