Symonds’ wife Laura and two children, Chloe and Will, arrived at Riverway Stadium on Friday, along with former teammates Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson.

They 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.

Speaking afterwards, Gilchrist fought back tears as he spoke of his friend on and off the field.

“I literally can’t believe he is gone, nor could anyone that was at that service today,” he said.

“It was full of sadness but such wonderful, beautiful memories of a guy that gave so much of himself to so many people, unconditionally.”

Symonds’ larrikin nature and true Australian character resonated with cricket lovers across the country during his 227-match first-class career.

Universally known as Roy, it was that personality that ensured Symonds was admired for his bullish nature with the bat and arrow-like precision on the field for Queensland and Australia.

Following the private ceremony, former Queensland and Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy hosted a public memorial service, with Ponting, Gilchrist and Darren Lehman among the speakers.

Poet Rupert McCall was also expected to deliver a poem in celebration of his good friend’s life.

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