Friends, family, fans and superstars have farewelled Shane Warne at a special memorial service at the MCG.

Among the tributes and tales were some wonderful heartfelt stories told by those who knew him best, many never heard before.

We have compiled just a few of those below.

'Don't let the chance slip by': The letter sent from Jason to his big brother 30 years ago

"We wanted the best for each other, which is highlighted in a letter I sent Shane after his breakthrough Test here (at the MCG) in 1992 against the West Indies. Dad happened to keep that letter," Jason told the crowd.

The letter read: "Shane, so I hear you're in love. Tell me about Simone.

"Congratulations on taking 7-21 against the Windies in Melbourne. Me and Finn were going wild telling everyone you were my brother and I can't tell you how proud of you I was when I first saw it on teletex.

"Well done, keep it up. Loads of hard work at the nets could set you up for the rest of your life. Don't let the chance slip by enjoying the limelight and resting on your laurels. That comes in 10 years time when you have rewritten all the record books.

"Now is the time to put everything, and I mean everything, into it and make it work for you. So, come on, make some more sacrifices and give people the opportunity in 20 years' time to say remember Shane Warne? We'll never get another leggie like him. He was the best spinner Australia has ever had."

'Shane stayed until the lad was starting to fall asleep'

"I remember I picked Shane up at Melbourne Airport when he arrived home after an extensive overseas Test series. He asked me, 'What's been happening, Dad?'

"As soon as I mentioned a little boy who had terminal cancer had been hanging on, hoping to meet Shane, he had me contact the father and see if it was OK for him to pop in and say hello.

"We got the OK and went directly to the boy's home. Shane stayed until the lad was starting to fall asleep which was a good two hours later. Then I drove Shane home to see his own children. This is who he was. This summed up Shane's character as a man who took great responsibility in using his profile and privilege to bring good into the lives of people less fortunate than himself.

"We are grateful the world loved our son as we did and thankfully touched so many lives in so many ways." – Keith Warne, Shane's father.

RECAP: Shane Warne's memorial as it happened

'When I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever'

As Shane's children Summer, Brooke and Jackson took to the stage, the Bryan Adams hit Summer of '69 played

"That song, Summer of '69, played on Wednesday, March 2, two days before your passing. And the last time I saw my dad.

"You were coming to pick up your bag you needed for Thailand. And as I opened the door you came inside and had your car door wide open blaring that song. You started dancing and singing with true happiness all around you.

"With the smile that lit up the whole room. We both started dancing with room. We both started dancing with not a care in the world, and couldn't stop laughing with each other.

"Looking back on that memory now, and it is so incredibly special as you, as the year you were born was 1969 and a verse in that song is When I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever. And if I had a choice I'd always want to be there. Those were the best days of my life.

"You will always be with us, Dad, just not in the way we had hoped." – Summer Warne, Shane's daughter

Cheers, little man

"Like most of you here tonight, I too have memories of Shane. When I was eight years old I was at the MCG test with my grandfather. I was sitting in the members' section where the Aussies would run down the race.

"We were batting at the time and we had a rare batting collapse. When it was Warnie's turn to bat, I remember him walking past me.

"His batting stint, though, was quicker than the walkout to the ground.

"But what happened when he got back was just amazing. It was dead silent, as Warnie walked up the ramp. I stood up on my chair and within earshot I said, 'Well batted, Warnie.'

"The crowd giggled. Warnie came up to me, rubbed my hair and said 'Cheers, little man.'

"Ten minutes later, Warnie came back down and asked me how would I like to spend the rest of the day with the team. Of course I said yes. That was an experience that I'll never forget." – Wurundjeri man Alex Kerr during the Welcome to Country

In one word ….

"Bogan. Deadset bogan. King. Genius. Entertainer." – Merv Hughes, Brian Lara. Nasser Hussain and Mark Taylor asked to describe Shane Warne in one word.

Buying cigarettes so you could capitalise at Duty Free

"How do I encapsulate 35 years of loyal friendship? So many big moments on the field but the little moments off the field I'll cherish most of all.

"Sitting on the team bus singing Aussie Crawl or Springsteen, telling you to slow down in our cars, buying cigarettes so you could capitalise at Duty Free, our love and passion for the St Kilda Footy Club and the thousands of text messages we exchanged.

"So many fond memories, mate. My heart is broken. My soul is crushed. I miss you, mate. And I love you." – long-time friend Darren Berry.

And Shane being Shane, he pulled out two passports

"I remember the day clearly and you need him around in those moments. A few emotional moments that go with it.

"But I remember one particular moment that he came in, gave us a hug, because he didn't mind a bit of affection. He liked a hug every now and then. And he whispered 'Mate, it's not too late'. And Shane being Shane, he pulled out two passports.

"He managed to get his hands on my passport as a bit of a gag. But he was like that. He always had that, just that willingness and want to see people happy and he brightened up the mood. – Former St Kilda great Aaron Hamill, who had Warne as joint-Best Man at his wedding.

"You will always be with us, Dad, just not in the way we had hoped."

Summer Warne fought back the tears as she struggled to put into words how much she would miss her dad, Shane.

Sporting legends, musical superstars, Hollywood icons had all paid tribute to Warne at an emotion-filled, star-studded MCG State Memorial Service.

But it was his children – Summer, Jackson and Brooke – who reminded everyone that above everything else, Shane Warne was their dad.

'The boy from Black Rock who dreamed of being a footballer'

Hours earlier, the MCG was eerily silent, waiting for Warne to become the central focus before an adulating crowd for one, final time.

But where once there were teammates waiting to snare a catch off a delivery, there were instead rows of empty white chairs waiting to be filled by those wanting to say goodbye.

Slowly, the ground filled up with the young and old, families and fans.

And the laughs and stories soon flowed, as well, of course, as the tears. Plenty of tears.

Warne died at just 52 years of age, found in a Thai villa earlier this month after suffering a suspected heart attack.

The memorial paid tribute to his achievements on the pitch, but also recognised a doting father and beloved son, filled with stories of his charitable and larrikin acts away from the glare of fame.

The MCG was, of course, the scene of Warne's 700th Test wicket.

But the stadium is also home to Melbourne's favourite son's other great love, Aussie Rules.

"The boy from Black Rock who dreamed of being a footballer on this ground adopted the number of his hero, Dermott Brereton," said host Eddie McGuire.

"He was even named in the footy record as Trevor Warne in his one and only reserve grade appearance, an inadvertent nod to Trevor Barker."

The stars came out, led by friend Eric Bana, who described "kids in dusty laneways and backyards who wanted to be just like Warnie".

Warne's dad, Keith, fought back the tears as he tried to come to terms with "a future without Shane".

Keith Warne paid tribute to his son's sporting achievements but said they were ultimately secondary in his life.

"What Shane achieved was unimaginable but for his mother and I, it was the things Shane did and the things he did away from the cricket field we will hold up as his finest achievements," he said.

"He was a doting father who loved and adored his children. He was a loving and caring son and brother."

Keith Warne's voice eventually broke.

"Shane said of himself, 'I smoked, I drank, and I played a little cricket'.

"Mate, your mother and I can't imagine a life without you. You have been taken too soon and our hearts are broken."

His little brother, Jason, described how touched the family had been by the tributes that had flowed in from across the globe.

"The impact my brother had during his remarkable life, it's always been really difficult to comprehend," he said.

"Shane has connected with us all in many ways.

"Whether it being entertained by his amazing exploits on the cricket ground, through the time he spent and putting a smile on the face of many children, or the times he's met you in person, made you feel special.

"The tributes that have flowed over the past few weeks have been extremely heartfelt."

READ MORE: The incredible letter sent from Jason Warne to his big brother Shane in 1992

Messages from Kylie Minogue and Hugh Jackman followed, as did a rendition of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" by Sir Elton John, who described Warne's legacy as one that will "live on through future generations".

Cricket superstars Merv Hughes, Brian Lara, Nasser Hussain and Mark Taylor were asked to describe Warne in one word.

"Bogan. Deadset bogan. King. Genius. Entertainer."

His close friends, those who had stood by him in tough times, as well as the good, offered another insight into Warne.

"How do I encapsulate 35 years of loyal friendship?" long-time friend Darren Berry said.

"So many big moments on the field but the little moments off the field I'll cherish most of all.

"Sitting on the team bus singing Aussie Crawl or Springsteen, telling you to slow down in our cars, buying cigarettes so you could capitalise at duty free, our love and passion for the St Kilda footy club and the thousands of text messages we exchanged."

Former St Kilda great Aaron Hamill, who had Warne as joint best man at his wedding, shared a story about how he tried to snag a walk-on part on his favourite show, Peaky Blinders.

"He said, 'I've got this great idea', as he always did," Hamill recalled.

"He said, 'I've sent off an email to the producers of Peaky Blinders.

"'I'd love to be part of your show. I'm a keen viewer.'

"So he did all that and he rang back and said, 'I got the email back'.

"I said 'Please, read it out to me'.

"'Dear Shane, thanks very much. We love your enthusiasm, but unfortunately porcelain veneers weren't around in Birmingham in 1931.'"

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin provided another touching moment on the big screens, performing "Yellow", from somewhere in Central America while on tour with the band, with a special tweak to the final chorus.

"It's true. We are going to miss you," Martin sang.

New Zealand rocker Jon Stevens then took to the stage to perform some of Warne's favourite songs, starting with "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS.

Later, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran performed too.

'You saved me, Dad'

But it was his children, Summer, Jackson and Brooke who captured a desperately sad, but also moving and ultimately celebratory night as the memorial concluded.

"When I was struggling, and I didn't know how to go on with life because I was dealing with my own demons, you showed me how I could fall in love with life again," Summer said.

"You told me that I could either live with these demons or fight with them and come out stronger at the end.

"You saved me, Dad. You truly did."

For Jackson, it was the everyday, simple moments he said he would miss most.

"You were the best Dad anyone could have asked for and you were my best friend," he said.

"Time with you went way too fast.

"It feels just like yesterday that we were looking at each other's cards playing poker, eating pizza while watching the Saints.

"I'm never forget how much fun we had doing simple things, grocery shopping, watching movies or going for walks during lockdown.

"We didn't have to do much to be happy.

"Life was so easy and peaceful with you in it."

Brooke admitted she still can't believe her father is gone.

"I will miss seeing how excited you get over our achievements and your achievements," she said.

"I have to come to the fact that my Dad will never get to see me grow up or Jackson or Summer or see us get married one day, have kids and get the promotion I was going for.

"I could go on forever about what we're going to miss out on, but nothing would be more upsetting about how much I already miss you, Dad.

"But what makes me the saddest is I will never get to wrap my arms around you and give you the biggest hug and rest my chin on your chest.

"Dad was our shining star in life and now he's shining down on all of us."

But, fittingly, there was celebration too.

The evening finished with a trumpeter's rousing rendition of "When The Saints Go Marching In", leading to huge applause.

And there were more smiles as the spotlight shone on Brooke, Summer and Jackson as they unveiled they newly-renamed Shane Warne Stand from high in the seats as "My Way" blared around the ground, finally drowned out by familiar chants of "Warnie" echoing around the MCG.