Matt Shirvington and Matthew Le Nevez were among the celebrities who paid tribute to sporting icon Graham McNeice at his funeral on Thursday.
The Australian sporting and racing icon, who died on September 12 aged 76 after a brief illness, was farewelled in an emotional ceremony at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Kensington, Sydney.
Sunrise co-host Shirvington, Offspring actor Le Nevez and Nine news presenter Peter Overton were among the celebrities who spoke at the emotional tribute.
The trio, who were mentored by McNeice during their careers, shared some heartfelt words in memory of the former Ten News sports presenter.
Jessica Rowe, Alan Jones, Darren Beadman, Tim Webster and Andrew Ettingshausen also attended the service to pay their respects.
Shirvington, 45, recalled how he met McNeice when he was 17 and training as a marathon runner, and revealed how he offered to manage his budding career.
“He taught me to be grateful, remember people’s names and always be kind,” Matt said, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Meanwhile, Le Nevez said he met McNeice aged just 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 celebrities who paid tribute to sporting 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 at the age of 76 after a brief illness, was farewelled in an emotional church ceremony in Sydney.
‘There’s no way I can list all the things he’s done for me. Selfless, generous, always willing to help,’ he shared.
Nine News Sydney presenter Peter Overton added that he had known McNeice for four decades and gushed: “His care for all of us, regardless of his role, was legendary.”
The heartfelt ceremony was filled with laughter and tears as McNeice’s best friends gathered to share sweet stories about what he meant to them.
Throughout his celebrated 60-year career, McNiece worked as a racing commentator, presenter and documentary producer.
He began his career at age 17 in 1965, where he worked with legendary greyhound racing presenter Frank Kennedy on New South Wales regional radio station 2KA.
Speaking at the memorial, Le Nevez (pictured) said he met McNeice when he was just 11 when he auditioned for a role in a sports film and praised the “selfless” presenter.
Graham stayed at the station for more than a decade and then moved 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, directing several critically acclaimed productions.
He joined Foxtel in 2005 and created the investigative television series CIA: Crime Investigation Australia, which provided a hard-hitting look at shocking true crimes across the country.
