“We thank the Australian Government and the Thai Government for their valuable assistance in bringing Shane home to us. To Tom Hall and Gareth Andrews, thank you for incredible efforts in Thailand and all you’ve done for the family and Shane.

“To the Victorian Government, Premier Daniel Andrews, the MCG Trust, the MCC, Cricket Australia, Australian Cricket Association and Cricket Victoria, thank you all for all you’ve done to make tonight a reality.”

“Looking forward to a future without Shane is inconceivable. We do take comfort in knowing that Shane packed more in his life of 52 years, five months and 19 days than most people would in two lifetimes.” Never a truer word spoken.

Keith speaks of his pride at watching his son make his Test debut, more than 30 years ago. “It felt like no time at all before we went from watching Shane play local grades of cricket with his mates, to watching him nervously walk out on to the SCG for his test debut in 1993.

“As he did, the words ‘Congratulations Shane Warne on being the 350th Australian Test cricketer’ lit up on the big screen. It then dawned on me in over 100 years of Australian cricket, there’s only ever 350 cricketers to achieve that honour.

“How proud we were. It wasn’t sunny but a few pair of sunglasses might have come out.”

“What Shane achieved was unimaginable but for his mother and I it was the things Shane did and the things he did away from the cricket field we will hold up as his finest achievements.

“He was a doting father who loved and adored his children. He was a loving and caring son and brother. He was a sports hero who happily handed out autographs and stood for photos, sometimes for hours on end.

“It was a man who would be prince or pauper and give you same undivided attention – warmth and respect. He was a person that would make everybody feel very special.”

“I remember I picked Shane up at Melbourne Airport when he arrived home after an extensive overseas test series. He asked me, “What’s been happening, Dad?” As soon as I mentioned a little boy who had terminal cancer had been hanging on, hoping to meet Shane, he had me contact the father and see if it was OK for him to pop in and say hello. 

“We got the OK and went directly to the boy’s home. Shane stayed until the lad was starting to fall asleep which was a good two hours later. Then I drove Shane home to see his own children. This is who he was. 

“This summed up Shane’s character as a man who took great responsibility in using his profile and privilege to bring good into the lives of people less fortunate than himself.”

“In Shane’s typical humble manner, Shane said of himself, “I smoked, I drank, and I played a little cricket.” Mate, your mother and I can’t imagine a life without you. You have been taken too soon and our hearts are broken. Thank you for all you did for us. And for being such a loving and caring son. Rest in peace, mate. Love you, Mum and Dad.”

7:12pm– Australian film icon Eric Bana stars in a video tribute to Warne to begin the night.

Warne speaks about his close bond with AFL and St Kilda, and his disappointment at not being able to make the grade.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t good enough [at football]. That was a tough lesson to learn that your dream was shattered. Luckily, I had a natural ability to spin the ball a long way.”

Here’s Nick Riewoldt on Fox Cricket talking about Warne’s love of the Saints.

7:10pm– Of all the tributes to Warne we’ve seen over the last few weeks, this might be the most poignant.

Artist Callum Hotham poses in front of his just completed mural of Shane Warne. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

7:08pm– Eddie McGuire is the first to speak in tribute to Warnie.

“Was there anyone ever bigger than Warnie in cricket? There might have been one bloke, his name was Sir Donald Bradman.”

Fittingly, Bradman’s granddaughter, Greta, is singing the national anthem tonight.

7:05pm– A ‘Warnie, Warnie’ chant echoes around the MCG as a highlights package of his career is shown. It’s enough to bring a tear to the eye.

7pm– Hello and welcome to The Roar’s coverage of Shane Warne’s memorial service, as Australia says goodbye to a sporting legend.

The service begins with a minute’s silence at the MCG.

Preview

Australia says goodbye to one of its favourite sons on Wednesday evening, with Shane Warne’s memorial service at his beloved MCG. Join The Roar in farewelling a legend of cricket and the nation at large from 7pm (AEDT).

Warne’s tragic death in Thailand on Friday, March 4 (Australian time) was met with a level of despair and heartbreak not seen for an Australian athlete since the passing of Don Bradman.

A hero to many, especially in his native Victoria, Warne’s standing in the game had remained strong even more than a decade after his retirement, having worked as a commentator for Channel 9 and Fox Cricket.

But it is as a cricketer that ‘Warnie’ will be remembered most fondly: from humble beginnings as a young, unrefined leg-spinner handed a surprise Test debut in January 1992, he would soon become arguably the greatest bowler, and certainly the greatest leggie, of all time.

A career spanning 15 years, 145 Tests, 194 ODIs and more than 1000 international wickets featured plenty of highs – frequent embarrassments of old enemy England in the Ashes, a World Cup triumph and Player of the Match honours in the final, and of course, THAT ball to Mike Gatting.

There would also be plenty of lows, which seemed disastrous at the time but now only add to his legacy many years on: his infamous ban from the 2003 World Cup after taking a banned diuretic, being shockingly dropped during Australia’s 1999 tour of the West Indies, and too many off-field controversies to count. But Warne rose above them all.

More than 50,000 tickets have been sold for his memorial service: fitting for a man who was able to fill the MCG like few others.

Earlier in the month, it was announced the colosseum’s most famous stand, the Great Southern Stand, will be renamed the ‘Shane Warne Stand’, signage of which will be unveiled tonight.