Matt Shirvington and Matthew Le Nevez were among the A-listers who paid tribute to sporting icon Graham McNeice at his funeral on Thursday.
The Australian sports and racing icon, who died on September 12 aged 76 after a short illness, said his farewells in a heartfelt ceremony at Kensington’s Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic Church in Sydney.
Sunrise co-host Shirvington, Offspring actor Le Nevez and Nine newsreader Peter Overton were among the celebrities who spoke at the emotional commemoration.
The trio, who were all mentored by McNeice throughout their careers, all shared some heartfelt words in memory of the former Ten News sports presenter.
Jessica Rowe, Alan Jones, Darren Beadman, Tim Webster and Andrew Ettingshausen were also at the service to pay their respects.
Shirvington, 45, recalled how he first met McNeice when he was 17 and training as a marathon runner, and revealed how he offered to manage his burgeoning career.
“He taught me to be grateful, to remember people’s names and to always be kind,” Matt said, according to the newspaper Daily Telegraph.
Meanwhile, Le Nevez said he met McNeice at the age of 11 when he auditioned for a role in a sports film and praised the “selfless” presenter.
Matt Shirvington and Matthew Le Nevez were among the A-listers who paid tribute to sports icon Graham McNeice at his funeral on Thursday (Matt and McNeice are pictured in 2015)
The Australian sporting and racing icon, who died on September 12 aged 76 after a short illness, was farewelled at a heartfelt church ceremony in Sydney.
“I can’t possibly list all the things he’s done for me. Selfless, generous, always willing to help,” he said.
Nine News Sydney presenter Peter Overton added that he had known McNeice for four decades, saying: “His care for all of us, no matter your role, was legendary.”
The heartfelt ceremony was full of laughter and tears as McNeice’s A-List friends gathered to share sweet stories of what he meant to them.
During his celebrated 60-year career, McNiece worked as a racing commentator, broadcaster and documentary film producer.
He began his career at the age of 17 in 1965, working with legendary greyhound racing caller Frank Kennedy at regional NSW radio station 2KA.
Le Nevez (pictured) said at the memorial that he met McNeice at the age of 11 when he auditioned for a role in a sports film and praised the “selfless” presenter.
Graham stayed with the broadcaster for over ten years, later moving to Channel Ten after being offered a role as a sports presenter.
In 1984, he covered the Los Angeles Olympics for the network and in the early 2000s became a documentary producer, helming several critically acclaimed productions.
He joined Foxtel in 2005 and created the investigative television series CIA: Crime Investigation Australia, which took a hard-hitting look at shocking real-life crimes across the country.
