- Family and friends gathered to pay their respects
- Teenager was a highly talented junior cricketer
- Died after being struck by a cricket ball in the nets
Thousands of mourners gathered on Thursday to farewell teenage cricketer Ben Austin at Junction Oval in Melbourne.
Austin, 17, died three weeks ago after being struck by a cricket ball while warming up for a suburban T20 match with Ferntree Gully.
The teenager was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but sadly later passed away.
In highly emotional scenes, Junction Oval was at capacity, while close friends and family were seated as they bid farewell to the beloved teen.
Austin was a huge Collingwood fan and had the Magpies AFL logo plus club colours on his coffin.
A signed footy jersey, Collingwood’s 2023 Premiership cup, an AFL Sherrin with the words ‘forever 17’, and his portrait featured on top of his casket.
Austin, 17, died three weeks ago after being struck by a cricket ball while warming up for a suburban T20 match with Ferntree Gully (pictured, his father Jace saying farewell)
Thousands of mourners gathered on Thursday to farewell teenage cricketer Ben Austin (pictured) at Junction Oval in Melbourne
A signed footy jersey, Collingwood’s 2023 Premiership cup, an AFL Sherrin with the words ‘forever 17’, and his portrait featured on top of Ben’s casket
Tracey Austin (pictured left), the mother of Ben Austin, kisses a rose during her son’s funeral
Ben Austin has been remembered as someone who ‘lit up the world’ and will be forever missed
Cricket was Austin’s main passion, with the service held at the traditional home of Victorian cricket.
Austin’s grandfather David was first to speak, and referred to the youngster as ‘Benny my No.1 main man.’
Father Jace was next and said his son ‘lit up the world’.
‘Your mum and I have never been prouder. Benny, lend us your strength and spirit so we can keep moving forward in a way that would make you proud,’ he said.
‘The best goal you ever scored or the four you ever hit wasn’t on the field, it was when your soul chose us as your family.
‘Very smart move, mate, choosing to be 90 per cent your mum… kindness, warmth, grace and definitely the good looks. Mixed with my love for sport.
‘That’s what made you our first achievement and greatest love. Well played, son.’
Austin’s mother Tracey also wrote a tribute, which was read out by the funeral director.
‘How do I do life without you? This is just a bad dream I can’t wake up from,’ she said.
The cricket fanatic always put others’ interests above his own and will never be forgotten, friend Hudson Reid said.
Mate Cooper Wood described him as ‘more of a brother’ than a friend.
‘Loyal, funny, caring and always there when you needed him, he had a way of making you feel like you mattered,’ he said.
The tragedy comes more than a decade after the 2014 death of Test cricketer Phillip Hughes, who was struck in the neck by a ball while batting in a Sheffield Shield game at the SCG.