Deano's Final Lap on the MCG

Dean Jones AM was farewelled by close family members at a private memorial service on the MCG’s hallowed turf over the weekend.

Due to Victoria’s current COVID-19 restrictions, the service was limited to ten of Jones’ closest family members including wife Jane and daughters Phoebe and Augusta.

A hearse carrying Jones’ handmade Indian coffin adorned with the Australian flag and a floral 324 arrangement showcasing Deano’s Australian Test cap number, took one last lap of the MCG. The number was also his highest first-class score achieved for Victoria against South Australia on the MCG in the 1994/95 Sheffield Shield season.

As a proud Victorian and three-time premiership player for the Melbourne Cricket Club a farewell on the People’s Ground was only fitting for a man who lit up its stage on so many occasions in the past.

Jones played six of his 52 Tests for Australia at the MCG and was a recent inductee to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame housed in the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG.

Dean’s girls would like to thank everyone in the cricketing world and beyond who have sent messages of love and support during this difficult time. They have also chosen to publicly share some moments from the service before a larger public memorial celebration is staged in the coming months, once restrictions in Melbourne are eased.

The following quotes are attributable to Dean’s wife, Jane Jones:

“We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love for Dean over the last week and can’t thank everyone enough for their support and for sharing their memories with us.

“It has been an awful time to navigate as a family, but I could not have thought of a more fitting place to say goodbye to my husband than under the lights of his beloved MCG. What better way to honour him than with the music of his friends Elton John and INXS echoing throughout the empty stadium.

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Melbourne Cricket Club and the MCG for their willingness to create our personal tribute to Dean and for Cricket Australia’s support. We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs for ensuring Dean was returned home to us as quickly as possible.

“We will forever miss Dean’s energy, his zest for life, passion for cricket and his love for us as a family.”

Writer Chris Driscoll penned the following poem in honour of his friend Dean Jones.

Hold Him tenderly, O’Mother India
For he was Our favourite son
Place gently the zinc white ash on his resting forehead
Anoint him in Linseed oil
Place old willow by his side

We wait for him, for his return.
No full breath drawn
Shallow gasps and disbelief
This force of nature, impervious to all assault
But not our grief

Stumps are called
The bails removed
Player 324, no more to prove
Zinc cream, his baggy green
The Ashes Tests
Champion of Champions
Now lay him to his rest

As we hold him tenderly in our hearts forever.