On a warm Wednesday, Macksville is observing a complete shutdown as the sleepy town gets ready to bid one final farewell to its favourite son, Phillip Hughes. The batsmans funeral is set to start at 1330 AEDT and his family has already stated that they expected a big turnout for what would be a celebration of Hughes life. Australias Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, the entire Australian team, master batsman Brian Lara, Indias stand-in captain Virat Kohli, team manager Ravi Shastri are amongst the dignitaries who are set to be present at the funeral. Macksville High School is the venue for the Hughes funeral service which will be broadcasted live on Channel nine while Cricket Australia will provide live streaming of the event. Tributes continue to pour in from across the world as players, both past and present, express their heartfelt condolences to the family of the departed batsman Phil Hughes casket arrived at Macksville High School. It was carried along by six pall-bearers. A deathly silence surrounded as a few hundred mourners stood in silence. Phillip Hughes casket arrives ahead of the Funeral Service on December 3, 2014 in Macksville, Australia. © Getty The Australian players have arrived at the venue. Michel Clarke, who stayed with Hughes during his treatment at the St. Vincent Hospital, was amongst the first to arrive at the Macksville High School. Cricket Australia chief, James Sutherland, has also arrived, and signed on the condolence book placed on the way to the hall. Slowly, almost all of Australias players have arrived at the hall. Mitchell Starc has arrived along with his girl-friend, Southern Stars player Alyssa Healy. Starc was one of the men on the field when Hughes was struck with that ill-fated bouncer. Several Team India members have also arrived at the funeral of Hughes. The batsman had a stint with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was also a part of the Australian team that last toured India for a seven match ODI series in November, 2013. Team Indias stand-in captain, Virat Kohli and Team Manager Ravi Shastri, were one of the earliest ones to arrive at the hall and have signed in the condolence book. Its not just the cricketers who have come along to bid farewell to Phil Hughes. Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis and NSW coach Laurie Daley are those who have arrived from the rugby world. Brian Lara and Shane Warne have arrived together. This is what Warne told Channel nine: Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has arrived, so has Opposition leader, Bill Shorten. Australian captain, Michael Clarke, is there with his wife. The skipper will be delivering a tribute to his younger brother during the funeral. On the way to the hall, school children have lined up wearing shirts bearing Hughes baggy cap number 408 on their backs. Broadcaster, Alan Jones, who was considered to be very close to Phillip Hughes is present as well. He is sitting besides pace bowler, Brett Lee. The last ones to arrive were Phil Hughes family members, father Greg Hughes, mother Virginia, brother and sister, Megan and Jason. The entire family held one another, arm in arm, as they walked into the hall. The funeral service has begun..Earlier, stadiums across Australia paid their tributes to the departed batsman. Be it his original home-ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, his adopted home, Adelaide Oval, or even the WACA - where, a giant screen had been set up for people to watch the funeral proceedings. Father Michael Alcock starts with a brief prayer for the departed batsman: We all have so many questions. Why Phillip? Why take him so young? How could such a thing happen to such a fine young man? And I have no answer to those questions. But I do know the world is a better place for experiencing the vitality, love and passion of Phillip Joel Hughes. Phillip Hughes cousin, Nino Ramunno, is in next and he speaks fondly about Hughes childhood. One of a kind, a young kid from the country who dared to dream big, he says, about his cousin. He then goes on to recount the final year of Hughes at school, when he moved down south, from Macksville to Sydney. The only grumble Phillip had about school was in the final year, Mr Ramunno says. When asked how his first day was, Phillip replied with a very disappointed look on his face,it was okay but there are no girls there. We thought the name of the school, Homebush Boys, might have given this indication to Phillip, but alas no, he adds. A mummys boy as Ramunno recollects, Hughes was a country boy at heart but also loved the nice things about Sydney - the big city he had moved to. Phillip was always a country boy at heart but loved the finer things that the city could give, he said. As Clarke wrote in his birthday tribute, Hughes was never a person who would complain. I never, ever once heard him complain once about getting dropped from the Australian team, Ramunno added. After his cousin, Ramunno, its Hughes older brother, Jason Hughes, paying tributes to his loving younger brother. He is delivering two eulogies - and starts by saying he would read a letter to his brother. I have decided to write you this letter as its the best way I can express my feelings and love and let you know how much you mean to me. As I started writing, I realise this is the most important letter I will ever write. There has been a lot said this week ... (but) I couldnt have asked for a better little brother. From a very young age you were destined to be our rock star. All I ever wanted was for you to look up to me as your big brother. I still cant believe that Im here saying my final goodbyes. Even though you are my little brother, I cant believe you have taught me so much. You always had the good looks, you always had the hair, and who said you needed braces to have a smile, you never took a bad photo bro. My promises to you, Ill take good care of mum, dad, Megan and of course your beloved cows. I promise to get back on the horse and play the game we both love. Ill endeavor to become the best player I can be. Now its time to say goodbye. Take care. I miss you. Im so proud of you. Thank you again for all the memories. I love you, now and forever, your big brother Jason. Jason concludes a somber speech and its now the turn of his younger sister, Megan Hughes, who cant control her tears as she re-collects her association with her loving older brother, Phil. Im standing before you today to show my love and appreciation for the big brother Ill never forget. He had an impact on so many lives and it shows someone that always take cares of himself still had time to worry about others, Phillip, Im so honoured to call you my brother, best friend and my hero. All the memories between us will keep us together, Even though you physically cant hug your little sister in the time of need. I will always remember and admire that you never changed and became someone different while your life and career were progressing before your years. Im sorry you cant be here with us any longer, but I promise all the dreams and thoughts we had together, Ill continue in your honour. There wont be a day that goes by when I wont think of you, and I promise Ill talk to you every day and keep your company up there, she concludes. The baggy green of Phillip Hughes and his state cricket caps are seen on a hat rack inside the Macksville High School Stadium ahead of the Funeral Service for Phillip Hughes on December 3, 2014 in Macksville. Corey Ireland, a close friend of Phil Hughes, tries to re-collect Hughes passion for his farm and particularly his recently bought farm. Phillip was passionate about Angus cattle. He spent every spare moment researching Angus cattle, genetics and planning his next move. He loved the fact that he could share this passion with Greg His deal with himself was he would buy a new cow for his herd every time be hit a hundred. The herd grew very quickly, Ireland says. He ends his speech with a solemn promise that he would look after Hughes farm as well as his flock of cattle. A teary-eyed, Michael Clarke, who was struggling to wipe away tears is the last man to pay tributes to his little brother. Clarke had written as to how he treated Hughes as his younger brother, having had no younger siblings himself. He thanks the Hughes family for having been given an opportunity to speak on the occasion. He would definitely be calling me a sook right now, Clake says as he begins his tribute. I am humbled to be in the presence of you, his family, his friends, and his community. He was so proud of Macksville and its easy to see why today. Taken from (us all) at the age of 25, he left a mark on our game that leaves no embellishment. I dont know about you but I keep looking for him. I know its crazy, but I expect any minute to take a call for him or see his face pop around the corner, Clarke says. Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then his spirit is still with me and I hope it never leaves, he adds. Clarke speaks about the spirit of Phil Hughes and his everlasting memory of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). I walked out into the middle of the SCG on Thursday night, those same blades of grass beneath my feet, where he and I and so many of his mates here today have built partnerships, taken chances and lived out the dreams we painted in our heads as boys. The same stands where the crowds rose to their feet to cheer him on, and the same fence he sent the ball to time and time again. Its now forever the place where he fell. I stood at the wicket and knelt down to touch the grass and I swear he was with me, picking me up off my feet to check if I was okay, telling me we just needed to dig in, and get through to tea. Telling me off for that loose shot Id played, chatting about what movie wed watch that night, and then passing on a useless fact about cows. I could see him swagger back to the other end, grin at the bowler, then call me through for a run with such a booming voice a bloke in the car park could hear it. The heart of a man who lived his life for this wonderful game we play, whose soul enriched not just our sport but all of our lives. Is this what indigenous Australians believe about a persons spirit being connected to the land upon which they walk? If so, I know theyre right about SCG. His spirit has touched it, and it will forever be a sacred ground for me. I can feel his presence there, and I can see how hes touched so many people around the world. Clarke now talks about the spirit of cricket, how Hughes has affected the game - right from a young girl - playing on the streets of Karachi to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. The tributes to him from cricket lovers across the globe have kept me going. The photos, the words and the sense of communion in this sense of loss has shown me his spirit is in action. It has sustained me and overwhelmed me in equal measure, and the love of my band of Baggy Green and Gold brothers and sisters have held me upright when I felt I could not proceed. His spirit has brought us closer together, something I know must be him at work because its so consistent with how he played and lived. He always wanted to bring people together, always wanted to celebrate his love for the game and its people. Is this what we call the spirit of cricket? From the little girl in Karachi holding a candle-light tribute, to masters of the game like Tendulkar, Warne and Lara, showing their grief to the world, the spirit of cricket binds us all together. We feel it in the thrill of a cover-drive, or the taking of a screamer in gully, whether by a 12-year-old boy in Worcester or by Brendon McCullum in Dubai. Its in the brilliant 105 wicket haul, just as significant to the players in a western suburbs club game, as it is in a Test match. The bonds that lead to cricketers around the world leaving their bats out, that saw people who didnt even know Phillip leave flowers at the gates of Lords, and that brought every cricketing nation on earth to make its own heartfelt tribute. The bonds that saw players old and new rush to his bedside, from wherever they heard the news, to say their prayers and farewells. This is what makes our game the greatest game in the world. Rest in peace my little brother. Ill see you out in the middle, Clarke concludes an emotional talk. Cricket Australia Chief Executive, James Sutherland, is the last speaker at the memorial service. He talks about Phils passion for the sport and his determination to make it big. Speaking on behalf of the entire cricket community, he said that Hughes would remain an abiding memory to Australian sport in general. I also want to offer love and support of that entire cricket family to Phillips own family, they have lost a beloved son and an adored brother, Sutherland said. A great deal can be packed into a very short time if you talent, passion and a big adventurous spirit, he says while saluting Hughes spirit. The wave of emotion that has washed over our country this past week tells us so much about the affection millions felt for Phillip and also about the privilege place cricket has near the heart of this nation. Quite simply the boy from this proud community of Macksville personified the spirit of Australian cricket, a choking Sutherland said That ends the memorial service at Macksvilles High School. Hughes coffin is now placed into the hearse van to the sounds of Elton Johns Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me. The pall-bearers are Michael Clarke, Aaron Finch, Hughes Father Gregory, brother Jason, as well as Corey Ireland, Mitchell Lonergannd and former house-mate Matthew Day. The funeral procession is moving on the roads of Macksville with Australian cricketers, Hughes friends and silent mourners, lining up on both sides of the road. We leave you with a few more tearful farewells from people from all across the globe - from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin.. from Piers Morgan to the International Cricket Council
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 06:15:54 +0000
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