Live - Andrew Symonds memorial

And that brings us to the end of the memorial which concludes with another video tribute filled with family phots. Some lovely, funny and touching stories over the last hour. Thanks for joining us. RIP, Roy.

Poet Rupert McCall delivers a poem in celebration of his good friend's life. He recalls writing one for him after Symonds made a half-century against South Africa at the MCG when he needed a score to keep his Test place. Tells the stories of when Symonds would call him late at night on fishing trips to share some poetry. "It worked well the first time so thought he'd keep doing it," McCall says. "If only Roy could ring me tonight, around that fire with his mates."

Now it's over to two of Andrew Symonds' closest friends.

"He just had the infectious smile straightaway," says Matthew Mott, who once shared a 446-run stand with Symonds at Under-19 level. "Roy just loved getting better. When he wanted to work, no one worked harder."

"His loyalty was the thing for me," says Jimmy Maher. "He loved being around his mates. He loved their successes."

Maher recalls the hundreds he and Symonds made against England in the tour match during the 1994-95 Ashes.

"We are all going to miss him. Will never be the same," says Maher.

Andrew Symonds had a huge impact on cricket in England as well during his county career. Here's how he is remembered.

"It just felt like he was playing in the back garden with his kids, how easy it was, with how much power he gained, how hard he hit the ball. We just were left a bit sort of bewildered by it really. But Symo being Symo sort of walked off, bat under his arm and, 'whatever, no big deal'."

"He just didn't understand why things needed to be complicated," Adam Gilchrist says. "His skill level was exceptional.

"Success and fun - he could find the balance."

Makes mention of the life and career changing 2008 Test against India in Sydney.

"He was just a break bloke," says Darren Lehmann.

"Symo just made sure the team wasn't going to lose games," adds Ricky Ponting. "He made everyone better."

The first panel includes three huge names from Australian cricket. Darren Lehmann reflects on how Andrew Symonds all put the team first. "To coach him was a pleasure," Lehmann says. "A really talented player full stop. A fantastic cricketer. We are going to miss him dearly. A champion."

Adam Gilchrist talks of when he first met Symonds when he was about 16 years old. "He came with a big reputation," Gilchrist says. "He worked hard, he fought and fought."

Ricky Ponting reflects on a "pretty tough" time with the number of deaths in recent times. "I'm so glad I was able to make it here today," he says. "Everyone has done a remarkable job today." Ponting passes on the praise of backing Symonds in 2003 to former coach John Buchanan. "That moment was when his whole life changed," he says of the century against Pakistan.

"He would do anything if it gave his mates a better chance of winning the game," Ponting adds.

The first speaker of the afternoon is Greg Rowell, the former Queensland player and now Cricket Australia board member. He offers condolences on behalf of CA before reflecting on his early memories of Symonds, saying that while his talent was clear it was how hard he worked that stood out. "He was a man for others," Rowell says..."Courage in all dimensions were not far away with Roy."

Rowell talks of Symonds' decision to stick with Australia rather than go for a career in England in 1995. "He never turned his back on Australia," Rowell says.

"He made us proud to be Australian."

As we reflect on Andrew Symonds' life and career, here's a look back at some of the innings that play a key part in his cricket story

The public memorial to Andrew Symonds is getting underway in Townsville. It will be led by Ian Healy. It starts with a video tribute to Symonds with highlights of his career. One of the clips is Symonds reflecting on his maiden Test hundred against England at the MCG in 2006-07 which he reached with a straight six and celebrated by jumping on his best mate Matthew Hayden. And, of course, there's the moment he felled the streaker. Then we move to some of his best moments from the commentary box and onto his life away from cricket, where he was most at home on his boat.

Australian cricketing greats have gathered at a private service in Townsville to celebrate the life of Andrew Symonds with a fitting dress code of 'definitely no jacket and tie required'.

Symonds' wife and two children arrived at Riverway Stadium on Friday, along with former teammates Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson who were among a plethora of cricketing royalty to see off the proud North Queenslander who died in a car crash on May 14.

At the morning's private service, hats, flowers, a crab pot and a bat - items symbolic of the many facets of Symonds' life - were placed at the foot of his coffin.

There was also a picture of Symonds wearing an Akubra hat, with a smile that fans of the allrounder will remember fondly.

Jarrod Kimber penned a tribute to Andrew Symonds shortly after his death, highlighting how he took the game to a new level and pondering what might have been for him in the current era. You can read the full piece here

"We know how much faster he could have scored if they had ever let him off the leash. He averaged a very respectable 40 in ODIs. But what kind of player could Australia have had if they just let Roy be Roy? There are only three players with a career strike rate of over 100 with that amount of runs: Shahid Afridi, Virender Sehwag and AB de Villiers. Symonds held himself back to a strike rate of 92 and an average of 40 and he won twice the number of World Cups as that trio combined, as well as a Champions Trophy. Across two World Cups and two Champions Trophies, he averaged 76 at a strike rate of 95. But what could his ceiling have been had he been truly let loose?"