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Shane Warne has been farewelled by his 80 closest family and friends including his ex-wife, three children, and dozens of sporting elite at a private funeral.
There was a sombre mood at Simone Callahan’s house early Sunday morning as she and her children made final preparations to farewell late cricket icon.
Guests began arriving at the St Kilda Football Club from about 10am, as the who’s who of Melbourne’s sporting scene and Warne’s loved ones farewelled 52-year-old Warne in an intimate ceremony.
Dannii Minogue, Eddie McGuire, Michael Clarke and Merv Hughes were among the guests, with the pop star comforted by a friend as she made her way inside the clubhouse.
Warne’s son Jackson, 22, proved yet again that he was prepared to step up for his family in his father’s absence as he led his sisters Brooke, 24, and Summer, 20, to a waiting chauffeur and liaised with security at St Kilda Football Club where Warne’s funeral was held.
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blond hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club and ushered his sisters into the car.
Warne was a keen golfer, particularly after he retired from cricket, and would often travel the world to play in friendly and competitive matches with his mates.
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blonde hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club and ushered his sisters into the car
There was a sombre mood at Simone Callahan’s house early Sunday morning as she and her children made final preparations to farewell late cricket icon, Shane Warne
Brooke, Jackson and Summer Warne arrive at St Kilda Football Club and are greeted by other mourners
The trio’s mother, Warne’s ex-wife Simone (pictured), left her house only briefly to say goodbye to her children, who departed well before the private service began at 11am. She slipped into the service via a back door
Dannii Minogue was comforted by friends as she made her way inside the service on Sunday morning
Eddie McGuire arrives for Warne’s private funeral on Sunday. The Fox Footy present will host proceedings
Sam Newman appears on the verge of tears outside Warne’s funeral service on Sunday morning as he is embraced by friends
Meanwhile at the nearby home of Warne’s parents Bridgette and Keith, his mother went for an early morning stroll with a female friend ahead of the funeral.
Police officers and security guards were stationed around the perimeter of the St Kilda Football Club in order to protect grieving loved ones.
Guests began quietly filing into the clubhouse about 10.30am, while Simone slipped in via a back entrance and greeted immediate family in a separate room.
McGuire gave a live cross to Channel 9 before heading inside. He spoke of Warne’s jovial and happy-go-lucky nature, noting he was a ‘friend of The Footy Show’ and loved his life.
‘The reason why he was so loved is because he was fallible, he was Superman. He did the things you dreamt of doing as a kid,’ McGuire said in a moving tribute out the front of the service.
The 52-year-old’s friend Eddie McGuire gave a live cross to Channel 9 before heading inside as a guest. He spoke of Warne’s jovial and happy-go-lucky nature, noting he was a ‘friend of The Footy Show’ and loved his work
Pictured: Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke arriving for the intimate service
Pictured: Merv Hughes greeting a friend at Warne’s private funeral on Sunday
Former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath (left) arrives for a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne
Eddie Mcguire, former test captain Allan Border and former fast bowler Merv Hughes walk in to Warne’s funeral at the St Kilda Football Club HQ
The Melbourne park, which is normally open and available for kids to play on when there aren’t games scheduled, has become a fortress surrounded by security in blue uniforms and patrolling police officers. Pictured: Lloyd Williams (left), who build Crown Casino in Melbourne, accompanied by two companions
Sam Newman embraces a woman alongside former AFL star Campbell Brown
‘The magic part about Shane Warne was that he sprinkled his gold dust everywhere he went.’
McGuire also noted Warne’s notorious eating habits, reminiscing on how he was always unapologetically himself.
‘He didn’t become a hermit, He brought his friends into everything in life. He would go to Michelin star restaurants and order pizza in,’ he said.
McGuire said it was fitting the service was held at the St Kilda Football Club, given Warne’s passion for the team and the sport.
‘He could walk with kings but never forgot those who walked around the streets of Melbourne.’
McGuire said it was fitting the service was held at the St Kilda Football Club, given Warne’s passion for the team and the sport
Sam Newman greets Merv Hughes before Warne’s funeral service on Sunday morning
Newman and Brown shake hands outside the St Kilda Football Club HQ on Sunday
Comedian and actor Glenn Robbins looks downcast as he arrives for Warne’s funeral on Sunday
Sam Newman speaks to Merv Hughes before heading inside the St Kilda Football Club HQ for Warne’s funeral
Every guest at the intimate service received a Saints scarf in Warne’s honour.
Young fans in AFL jerseys and their parents watched on through mesh gates as friends and family made their way through the open car park and into the building for the funeral.
The Melbourne park became a fortress surrounded by security in blue uniforms and patrolling police officers.
At the nearby home of Warne’s parents Bridgette and Keith, his mother (left) went for an early morning stroll with a female friend in the brisk 17C Sunday sun
Bridgette Warne clutched on to her friend as the pair went for a brief walk near her home on the morning of Shane’s funeral
Jackson handed a David Jones bag to an unknown man as he arrived at the location of his father’s funeral on Sunday morning
Guests embraced one another during the emotional service
AFL legend Sam Newman also attended the service.
‘I’m going and I’m humbled to be invited. Like all funerals I think it’s going to be a sombre affair and emotional,’ Newman said earlier.
‘This was extremely shocking to everyone who knew of Shane and to those that knew him well.’
Close friends from the cricketing community paid their respects, including former England captain Michael Vaughan who flew in for the service.
Australians players Michael Clarke, Glenn McGrath, Darren Berry, Mark Taylor, and Glenn Maxwell also attended.
Warne’s former fiancée, actress Elizabeth Hurley was expected to fly out from the UK but revealed overnight she would not be able to attend.
‘My heart aches that I can’t be in Australia tomorrow for Shane’s funeral,’ she wrote in an Instagram post.
‘I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there.
She posted photos from their engagement and said: ‘It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone.
‘It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever. RIP Lionheart, with love your Luna.’
A second funeral will be held on March 30 at the MCG for a crowd of up to 100,000 fans.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will attend the public service – the night after the Federal Budget is handed down.
Jackson was responsible for carrying a golf club presumably owned by his father, who was an avid golfer before his tragic death. He led the way as his sisters and mother followed him out of their home
One of the last pictures taken of Shane Warne hours before his death at a luxury resort in Koh Samui
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and singer Ed Sheeran are expected to send video messages to be played on big screens.
The state memorial will be ticketed and live-streamed for those who can’t be there in person, with tickets to be made available to the public soon.
People wanting to attend the event will be able to enter a public ballot for one of 50,000 tickets. More tickets may become available, depending on demand.
Warne was found unresponsive in his luxury villa at the Samujana resort on Koh Samui, Thailand, about 5pm on Friday, March 4 after suffering a heart attack.
His close friend Andrew Neophitou performed CPR on Warne for up to 20 minutes before first responders arrived and took over, but could not save him.
Shane Warne’s children Brooke, Summer and Jackson (pictured with their dad in London) have shared heartwarming tributes to the cricketing legend and put on a united front in the weeks since his tragic death
Police investigators are pictured speaking with Warne’s friends after his sudden death at his villa on March 4. A post-mortem examination revealed Warne had suffered a heart attack and there were no suspicious circumstances
Warne will be farewelled in a state funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 30. Tributes to Warne are pictured outside Samujana Villas on March 7
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