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Sunday May 19, 2013

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Jim Stynes passes away

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 20 March, 2012 - 8:50 AM
Jim Stynes

Jim Stynes passed away peacefully this morning after a long battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

Tributes have been flowing into 3AW all morning, honouring the AFL Legend, philanthropist, father and friend.

Premier Ted Baillieu told Neil Mitchell that the Stynes family had accepted his offer of a State Funeral.

"I'm honoured to be able to offer that honour (a state funeral) to Jim Stynes. I think he was an exceptional Victorian."

Leave your written tributes to Jim below.

Melbourne Football Club President Don McLardy, who took over the position from Jim Stynes in February, announced his passing on behalf of the Demons just before 9am this morning.

"It is with deep sadness that I have to announce the passing of our great club champion and immediate Past President Jim Stynes after a courageous battle against cancer," Don McLardly said in a statement.

Video

Read Don McLardy's full statement from the Melbourne Football Club.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also payed tribute, telling a press conference that Jim was an "absolute legend" and will be very sorely missed.

"He's come into the hearts of Australians for so much more than his footballing career. He showed such bravery in the face of his devastating illness. He's shown such courage to the Australian people."

Tributes have not been confined to Australia with Seven-time winner Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong tweeting his sadness at the passing of Jim.

AUDIO PACKAGE: 3AW's Tribute to Jim 

AUDIO: Carlton legend Justin Madden reflects on his ruck duels with Jim

AUDIO: Trisha Silvers, widow of Troy Broadbridge, reflects on her involvement with Jim at Reach

AUDIO PACKAGE: 3AW Listeners turn their lights on for Jim

AUDIO: Neil Mitchell pays tribute

AUDIO: Glen Christie & Tamica Reynolds who worked with Jim at Reach

AUDIO: Jim's oncologist Professor Grant McArthur

AUDIO: AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou

AUDIO: Melbourne Legend Robbie Flower

AUDIO: Melbourne President Don McLardy

AUDIO: Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu

Jim's wife Sam Stynes posted this message her Facebook page:

 Jim Stynes’ died on tuesay the 20th of March at 8.20 a.m.. Jim was pain free, dignified and peaceful. Matisse and Tiernan were present. Not surprisingly, in his last week of life Jim continued to defy the odds and lived his life to the fullest attending the Melbourne vs. Hawthorn football match, his son Tiernan’s 7th Birthday celebration, The MFC Blazer Ceremony and a casual Friday night dinner at Toplinos in his much loved suburb St.Kilda. In his final days Jim was immersed with insurmountable love and tenderness surrounded by his family and some close friends in the comfort of his own home.

On behalf of Jim my heartfelt thanks to all those who have so generously cared for, guided and supported Jim throughout his challenging cancer battle. The list of people to thank reaches far and wide but for now I would like to make special mention of those that went far and beyond the call of duty, Dr Grant Macarthur from The Peter McCallum Centre, Dr Grahame Southwick from the Australian Institute of Plastic Surgery, Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld from The Alfred Hospital, Dr Peter Sherwan from Freemasons Hospital and the team at Cabrini Palliative Home Care that combined with Jim’s fighting spirit resulted in Jim’s extended three year life journey.

It is an incredibly sad time, however Jim in his passing, has made us see that in our grief that we can smile in our hearts for a beautiful man who will forever hold a special place in the hearts of many. Jim’s lesson is that life was to be challenged and treasured. Sam Stynes.

The Stynes Family have requested two charities if you wish to donate:

The Jim Stynes Future Fund - http://www.reach.org.au/

Peter Mac Cancer Foundation - http://www.petermac.org/

LISTEN: 3AW's Audio Tribute to Jim.

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Jim's Irish teammate reflects

Jimmy and James Fahy in 1984 In 1984, 2 young Irishmen landed in Melbourne after answering a newspaper advertisement inviting "183cm Plus Gaelic Footballers". One was Jim Stynes, the other was James Fahy, who was kind enough to have a chat to Neil about his old teammate.

Neil Mitchell with Jim Stynes

Jim Stynes VIDEO: Last year a brave Jim Stynes joined Neil Mitchell in the 3AW Studio. Neil later said it was one of the most powerful and emotional interviews he has ever conducted.

Wish my grandma had known Jim

Olivia Newton-John & Jim Stynes DERRYN HINCH: At a time when I was being forced to confront my own mortality I thought that if I could face what lay ahead with a skerrick of that Jim Stynes' strength, passion and continued love of life, then I was half way there.

 

Blog comments Your Say

  • My eldest Grandson was given a scholarship by Reach. This has helped him find out his strengths and it has been a programme he has enjoyed. So Jim & people like him have made a world of difference in young peoples lives. The world was a better place for having you in it. Heart felt sympathy to the family and it's loss. I hope you find comfort that my family, and others like it, have been left a legacy by by Jim. Thank You Jim - God Bless

    Joanne Wednesday 28 March, 2012 - 10:32 PM

  • Change the sport from Aussie Ball to Football, then change the country where the ashes are to be scattered from Ireland to Greece or Serbia & watch the different reactions from the redneck racists from 3AW. Your heart strings are being pulled by a biased agenda, wake up.

    Matt - proudly Un-Australian Wednesday 28 March, 2012 - 10:27 PM

  • Today in the celebration of the life of Jim Stynes a man I never had the chance to meet I have cried a river of tears. Jim as a young man only a year younger than my sonâ??s age today, presented himself for a football club based a world away to consider him to be a possibility to enhance that team in years to come. How could any one person believe the influence a young man from the suburbs of Dublin could change the culture of a football team, the league he played under, a city he lived in and wherever he managed to touch a community over the country through the years of his much too short life see the ability of such a person. As I began I never had the privilege to meet the man although admired his ability to front up week after week, year after year in his football life and this continued in his work after football even in ill health. To the Stynes family and the extended families MFC and Reach my deepest sympathies in your loss and heavens gain.

    Shane Ricardo Tuesday 27 March, 2012 - 11:20 PM

  • Jim Stynes, what a man! What an inspiration to so many people. I wish I'd had the opportunity to meet him. My condolonces to all his family and close friends, I'm sure he will never be forgotten! RIP Jimmy!

    Regards, Jason Smart.

    Jason Smart Tuesday 27 March, 2012 - 1:28 PM

  • Awwwww...too young

    @}--;---- R.I.P. Jim

    Michelle MW Friday 23 March, 2012 - 5:06 PM

  • For some reason the death of Jim Stynes has had a strong impact on me, I had thought that he would survive his cancer, and continue on doing what he was doing, I saw him on the footy show last year, and he just impressed me as a marvellous human being, perhaps because he too is a father, and I could see how much he loved his children, as a footballer he was just another name, as many footballers are, but it is in learning about what he has done off the field, that I find myself really admiring him, I watched the doco about his illness that was on TV this week, I had missed it when it was originally on, I heard young people on radio talking about their experiences with him through reach, and then last night I saw Gary Lyon talk about him, and today I find myself being inspired to be a better person, I am 53 years old, and I hope that I have a few good years left, lets all try to be the best that we can be, to always be there for others, I want to make a difference in my life, lets all try to do that........perhaps that is the best tribute that we can give Jim.........

    Mark Friday 23 March, 2012 - 3:48 PM

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