Sports

‘The big fella never stopped smiling’: Jarrod Lyle’s life celebrated at memorial

Golfer Jarrod Lyle has been remembered as a man whose enthusiasm for life was infectious, and who faced the disease that would ultimately claim his life with courage.

Hundreds of people, including Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, turned out for Lyle's memorial service at The Sands golf club in Torquay, where Lyle spent the last years of his life.

The golfer died last month at the age of 36 after a long battle with acute myeloid leukaemia.

There was a no-ties policy at the memorial, with guests asked to dress casually and wear a splash of yellow.

Lyle's friend Ian Bull told guests Lyle had wanted the service to be a celebration of his life.

"He did not want those who attended his funeral to be too morbid or too sad," Mr Bull said.

Jarrod Lyle's friend Ian Bull speaks at Lyle's memorial service.

Lyle had twice beaten cancer — in 1998 as a teenager and again in 2012, and Bull said his friend's ability to inspire others with the way he fought his disease was in many way what inspired him.

"These were special qualities that he possessed, and why he was so loved, and why he was so admired.

"Jarrod didn't just fight for himself, he fought for his family and for others, displaying unbelievable courage in everything that he did.

"Jarrod's was a short life, a life full of many challenges, but a life nonetheless very well lived, despite the total unfairness of his recurring illness and the sadness that his own life journey only lasted 36 years.

"Yes, Jarrod was a wonderfully gifted and talented golfer, but more importantly he was a wonderful young man, a courageous young man and a man who did not dwell on the unfairness of his own battles.

Jarrod Lyle sits on a hospital bed with his daughter Lusi playing a board game.

"He faced life with great enthusiasm and positivity and his attitude to life was indeed infectious.

"You couldn't help but be drawn to him.

"Whatever he did in life, his big smile and all-too-familiar laugh went with him."

Another friend, Gareth Scott, who had known Lyle since high school, served as his friend's caddy when he played in the 2013 Australian Masters, his first tournament in 20 months after a second bout with cancer.

Mr Scott told of Lyle's nerves as the pair walked to the first tee on day one of the tournament.

"Jarrod told me, and we all know he has some colourful language, he was absolutely shitting himself and wondered if he could even manage to hit the ball," Mr Scott said.

"But we made the cut, and the rest is history."

Jarrod Lyle tears up during his return to golf

Mr Scott spoke of the time he and a group of old friends visited Lyle shortly before his death.

"That Friday night we watched the footy, ate pizza, drank beer. The band was back together," he said.

"The big fella never stopped smiling while we were there.

"He was making one last effort to get up and about and his banter and sledging to all of us was as good as ever.

"We ignored the elephant in the room as best we could, but we knew the end was near."

Jarrod Lyle's friend Gareth Scott speaks at Lyle's memorial service.

Mr Scott said it was "gut-wrenching" to say goodbye to his friend on the Sunday morning, but Lyle sought to lighten the moment by telling one of the friends that when he died, he would sit on the edge of the friend's bed as a naked ghost for the rest of his life.

"Ghosts are scary enough, but to have the big fella on your bed, and use your imagination, as a ghost, with no clothes on, that is the stuff of absolute nightmares," Mr Scott said.

Mr Scott spoke of how important Lyle's wife Briony and daughters Lusi and Jemma were to him.

"He wasn't a lovey dovey bloke, but by god he loved his girls he told me on plenty of occasions how much Bri, Lusi and Jemma meant to him. They were his world.

"To you Bri, you are such a strong woman, and there is no way that he would have gotten this far if it wasn't for you and the girls, and I can say that because he told me that the last time I saw him.

Briony Lyle and daughters Lusi and Jemma at a public memorial service for golfer Jarrod Lyle.

"In the end mate, you were comfortable, and it was a merciful release.

"You flew away knowing that you'd made the right decision and that your girls will be OK.

"What a great time we had mate. I know you're still with us, but it was way too soon."

Professional golfer Robert Allenby also paid tribute to his close friend.

"I don't think there's one person in this world, that has met or known Jarrod, and could ever say that he did not give back.

"He is and was the nicest, the most loving, the most caring. He always thought about everyone before he thought about himself."

Original Article

[contf]
[contfnew]

ABC .net

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]

Related Posts