Sydney, June 24 (ANI): Hundreds of mourners are expected at tomorrow’s funeral for Jane McGrath at the historic Sydney church where she married Test cricketer Glenn McGrath nine years ago.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting has sent his touring team’s condolences from the West Indies, but many of those who played with McGrath during his illustrious career will attened the funeral.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, they will include former Test captain Steve Waugh, who was the best man when the McGraths married in 1999 at the Garrison Church, built in Sydney’s The Rocks area in the early 1840s.
Jane McGrath, 42, died at her Sydney home on Sunday after an 11-year battle with breast and bone cancer, and then a brain tumour.
The former British flight attendant, who became an Australian citizen in 2002, was described this week as a remarkable Australian by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who told parliament she would remain “a source of inspiration and hope to all”.
Jane and Glenn McGrath were both appointed Members of the Order of Australia (AM) in January for establishing the McGrath Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for the fight against breast cancer.
Glenn McGrath was at his wife’s bedside along with children James, 8, and Holly, 6, when she died.
He said that he wanted her to be remembered as “an extraordinary person whose courage and determination humbled me and inspired so many people”. (ANI)