The offices of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews are being consulted,for each will attend the ceremony and will not want it to clash with a parliamentary sitting day or a major announcement. Many of Melbourne’s movers and shakers,including Eddie McGuire and friendsfrom Warne’s beloved St Kilda Football Club, will be in attendance.
In terms of scheduling,the MCG has to also take into consideration the AFL fixture,with the new season starting next Wednesday.
The playing dates of the men’s tour of Pakistan,which ends on April 5,and the women’s World Cup in New Zealand are also a consideration,for the ceremony is unlikely to be held on a day when the Australian teams are taking to the field.
Warne’s long-time St Kilda,Victorian and Australian teammates are expected to turn up in large numbers,while others from around the world are considering their options.
The legendary leg-spinner,52,was found unconscious in his villa at a Thailand resort on Friday and could not be revived by friends or paramedics. His body was driven from Surat Thani to Bangkok on Monday night before it began the journey home to Australia.
An autopsy at the Surat Thani Hospital found that Warne died of natural causes,Thai police confirmed.
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Shane’s parents,Keith and Brigitte,his brother Jason,his children,Jackson,Summer and Brooke and his ex-wife,Simone,each released statements on Monday evening.
Keith and Brigitte said the past three days had been a “never-ending nightmare”.
“To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable,hopefully the mountain of happy memories we all have will help us cope with our ongoing grief,” Keith and Brigitte said.
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Jackson said his father had left a void that would never be filled.
“Sitting at the poker table,walking around the golf course,watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same. But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy,no matter what. You just wanted me to be happy,that’s it. So that’s what I’m going to do,try and be happy,” he said.
Summer said Shane was “the best dad someone could ever ask for”.
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