Moving tributes to Shane Warne by daughter Brooke and son Jackson have given a further glimpse into the happy family life the cricket great shared with his three children.
Brooke, 24, said she was heartbroken but incredibly proud of her Dad with whom she loved having a laugh.
“I will forever cherish our final memories together laughing and joking around with each other. We were happy,” she said.
“This doesn’t feel real and doesn’t make sense that you are not here with us anymore, it doesn’t feel right, you were taken away too soon and life is so cruel.”
“We were so similar in so many ways and I always used to joke that I got your genes and I use to joke about how much that annoyed me!! Well now I couldn’t be happier and prouder that I have your genes,’ she said.
“I was lucky and will forever be, so proud to call you my dad. I love you to infinity and back and I will miss you forever.”
Warne’s son, Jackson, 23, posted a Tik Tok set to Yellow by Coldplay, showing photos of the time they spent together as “best mates”.
In an earlier tribute to his father, Jackson wrote, “I don’t think anything is ever going to fill the void you have left in my heart. Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same.”
He thanked everyone for the “overwhelming amount of support, messages and love”.
Brooke and Jackson were spotted leaving the home of their Mum, Simone Callahan, in Brighton, Melbourne on Wednesday. Shane and Simone were married from 1995 to 2005.
“Eternal love remains and will never leave,” she posted online.
The cricket legend died from a suspected heart attack while holidaying in a villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui late last week.
Earlier in the week, Warne’s youngest daughter, Summer, said she would do anything to have more time with him.
“Moments before the world took you away from me, we were jamming to ‘Summer of 69’ and ‘I’ve Had The Time of My Life’,” she said.
“God you made me laugh dad. Little did I know that was the last time I would ever see you dad.
“You may not be alive dad, but you will forever live inside my heart, I will cherish the memories till my time is up on this earth and I am reunited with you again.”
A state funeral will be held for Warne on March 30, with a private family service expected to take place towards the end of next week.
Plans were in place for Warne’s body to be returned to Australia on Thursday evening. The 52-year-old’s coffin was seen draped in an Australian flag as it was moved onto a private flight.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the public service would be an opportunity for the state to pay tribute to one of its biggest sporting icons.
“It will be an opportunixjmtzywty for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country,” he said.
The Great Southern Stand at the MCG, where Warne took his 700th wicket, will be renamed the S.K. Warne Stand in honour of his achievements and impact on the game.
“The S.K. Warne Stand will be a permanent tribute to an amazing Victorian,” Mr Andrews said.
