Andrew ‘Roy’ Symonds has been farewelled in a gut-wrenching service as stunned former teammates consoled his grief-stricken widow and children.
The cricketer’s devastated family joined superstar ex-players, all fighting back tears and sharing stories as they gathered at Riverway Stadium on the outskirts of Townsville, north Queensland for the private funeral on Friday.
Symonds, tragically died aged 46 when his car rolled off a far north Queensland road late at night two weeks ago.
His devastated wife Laura was hugged by Adam Gilchrist as she kept close watch on her numbed and disbelieving children Will, 8, and Chloe, 10.
Michael Clarke, who had an infamous falling out with the late cricketer, also attended.
A tearful Gilchrist called the eulogy by Symonds’ long-time friend Jimmy Maher one of the best eulogies he’d ever heard.
‘Jimmy Maher gave what I think is one of the most beautiful eulogies you could ever imagine,’ Gilchrist told Daily Mail Australia.
‘He looked the kids in the eye and delivered a message of what he thought Roy would want him to say and it was really touching, really moving.’
Deeply contrasting sides of Symonds were revealed in the heart-breaking private service.
He was remembered as a professional sportsman who would play on with gruesome injuries – but also loved reciting poetry.
Symonds’ former skipper, Ricky Ponting, remembered a moment ‘Roy’ injured his arm while playing.
‘He was having trouble batting and he lifted his sleeve and his bicep was down around his elbow,’ Ponting said.
‘We said ‘what are you doing?’ And he was like ‘na, just push it back up’.’
Ponting said his teammates tried to get him off the field to no avail. He was determined to keep playing.
Symonds would sometimes call Australian poet Rupert McCall at midnight from around a campfire with his friends to repeat his favourite poems.
Once he’d done it once he thought he could keep doing it, so it’d be midnight and I’d see a name pop up on my phone ‘Andrew Symonds’ and I’d run out of the room.
‘Pretty sure my wife thought I was having an affair.
‘If only Roy could call me from around that campfire tonight.’
Mr McCall dedicated ‘You Ripper Roy’ to Symonds, which was featured in the private service program.
Matthew Mott, a senior coach and former first-class cricketer, told Daily Mail Australia in a post-funeral press conference that everyone has been ‘dreading this day’.
‘But I just thought it was an outstanding tribute to a great human being,’ he said.
‘It was tough – I was in eyeline with the kids there and I just kept thinking about how he won’t get to see them grow up. He loved them so much and they meant so much to him.
‘I suppose the thing I take out of it is the amount of fishing trips I knocked back because we all got too busy, and you’d just love that opportunity to get back out there and do that again with him.
For me, he was like a brother. One of those blokes you take for granted and you think they’ll always be there.
‘You could tell there were a lot of people hurting in there today.’
Cricket Australia board member Greg Rowell, talked about Symonds’ ‘strength and perseverance’.
He told the crowd about a moment Symonds, Mott and another friend were on a boat near Morton Island when it broke down.
The trio were forced to swim for an hour back to shore in shark and crocodile-infested waters.
‘Roy and Matt swam ahead but the other guy was struggling, so they kept having to go back and help him,’ he said.
‘Matt said he worried about the other guy, but never Roy due to his strength and perseverance.’
Rowell said what started as funny situation could have ended in tragedy, but Symonds made sure it didn’t – they made it safely back to shore.
Symonds was also remembered as caring as well as tough.
When Rod Marsh died in March 2022, Symonds drove around town looking for a phone to use because he wanted to check that Maher was okay.
Maher and Matthew Mott remembered Symonds as a ‘skinny little fella with blond hair’ as a child.
‘There was a sense of fun and a cheekiness – you could always tell he was a good bloke,’ Mott said.
The queue outside the stadium ahead of the public funeral was a few hundred people deep – as Australians from all over flocked to the event.
Queensland cricket officials thought they’d struggle to fill the grandstand, being a school and work day, but it was clear from the moment the doors opened that populating the stands would not be a problem.
One fan said he happened to be in Townsville and thought he’d go to the service.
‘Always loved cricket, and I watched Roy, and I happened to be in town,’ he said.
‘I didn’t go to Shane Warne’s funeral.’
One woman carried a large bunch of flowers into the venue, while others wore Queensland cricket tshirts or green and gold jerseys.
Among the first to arrive just after 10am an hour prior to the service were Laura, Chloe and Will, each of them clutching Akubra hats in a nod to the Aussie larrikin cricketer.
Chloe celebrated her tenth birthday last week – just four days after her dad’s sudden death. Both she and little brother later bravely delivered eulogies.
They were followed a short time later by Symonds’ best friend, former Australian and Queensland teammate Jimmy Maher, who delivered a moving tribute hailed as the ‘best eulogy ever’.
Gilchrist added his day improved ‘because I bumped into Will (Symonds’ son) then and he’s said to me ‘guess what Gilly? I’m now wicket keeper.’
‘Sorry Roy,’ he said, looking at the sky. ‘I poached him.’
When trying to describe what Symonds was like ‘as a mate’, Gilchrist had to take a moment – tears welling in his eyes.
‘He was a pure heart, he found his way into trouble as good as anyone, but when he did he was remorseful … and then he’d dust himself off and have another go,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
A host of cricket greats have also travelled north, including Adam Gilchrist, Ian Healy, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson.
West Indies legendary batsman Brian Lara and NRL greats Darren Lockyer and Gordon Tallis were also in attendance.
‘He was loyal, almost to a fault. Mischievous character, but he would do whatever it took to help others – in and off the field,’ Gilchrist said.
‘The service was simply beautiful. I’ve not seen a congregation as moved as they were today – full of sadness, but also such beautiful memories of a guy who just gave so much of himself to so many people, unconditionally.’
When asked whether he could believe he was standing at Symonds’ funeral, Gilchrist said ‘No, I can’t’.
‘I can’t believe I was standing there, unable to speak ten minutes ago and I’m trying to talk now, openly and honestly.
‘I literally can’t believe he’s gone, nor could anyone who was at that service today.’
A note was sent to guests saying ‘no tie necessary’ to reflect Symonds’ casual personal style. Throughout his career, he often showed up to semi-formal events wearing shorts and t-shirts.
Former teammates took the brief seriously with chinos and button-up shirts, while others wore three-piece suits.
Many attendees were also dressed in maroon in a nod to Symonds’ love for his home state Queensland.
Mourners greeted each other with hugs, holding back tears, as they came together to pay tribute to Symonds and celebrate his life.
The order of service featured a poem titled ‘You ripper Roy’ celebrating Symonds’ life penned by poet Rupert McCall, which he also read out at the service in honour of his good mate.
‘Fate marks a moment in everyone’s life, the tide turns at dusk and the big fish are rife,’ it reads.
‘Instinct befriends you and confidence grows, talent takes over and everything flows.
‘Where to from here? Well, with him, who’s to say? The ocean is deep and the fella can play.
‘For now, let’s acknowledge the dream of a boy, and the day he fulfilled it…’You ripper Roy’.’