It was a wet and windy day in Sydney for the crowd who gathered to celebrate the life, times and achievements of Graham McNeice. He’s better known to his many friends and colleagues simply as ‘Shadow’.
Leading the mourners at his funeral were members of his family.
Guests included broadcasters Peter Overton, Tim Webster, Alan Jones, Terry Kennedy, Matt Shirvington, Andrew Ettingshausen, Steve Leibmann, Jessica Rowe and actor Matt Le Nevez.
Sports broadcasters and media identities included Richard Freedman, Darren Beadman, Ray Thomas, Prue MacSween, plus Garry Farrar, Paul Klyne and Brett Hlywa from The Promotions Department. Race callers included Darren Flindell, John Tapp, Ian Craig, Ken Callander, Jo McKinnon, Glenn Munsie, and Andrew Bensley.
Colleagues from his time working at Foxtel included CEO Patrick Delany who returned early from the APOS Conference to attend the funeral, plus Jim Buchanan, Alison Hurbert-Burns, Lana Greenhalgh, Steve Baldwin and Helen Johnson.
A crowd gathered for a wake at the Doncaster Hotel, the famed racing hangout within spitting distance of Royal Randwick.
Sky News reported earlier this month the TV legend and acclaimed sports broadcaster died aged 76, after a brief battle with illness.
His legacy includes a successful multi-faceted career as a TV presenter, race caller, and radio and television sports commentator.
Racing New South Wales (NSW) chief executive Peter V’landys in a statement said McNeice was a “legend in media and a giant in racing’’.
“Even with all his contributions and achievements, the memory I have is of a beautiful human being,’’ V’landys said.
“The racing and media family has lost one of its most popular members.”
Born in Croydon Park in Sydney, McNeice’s career started with a chance meeting with renowned greyhound caller Frank Kennedy.
The then 17-year-old became Kennedy’s protégé and quickly reinforced himself as a race caller across three racing codes at 2UE radio.
McNeice found his way into Network 10 in 1997, where he appeared as a regular on Good Morning Australia with co-host Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
He worked as a sports anchor for Ten News and was pivotal in the network’s coverage of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ten’s retired broadcasting icon Ray Warren said McNeice was a “great friend, rich in sincerity” and praised the late legend’s dedication to his work.