After weeks of seemingly endless rain, residents across south-east Queensland and New South Wales have been left wondering if it will ever stop.

Although thousands of people were evacuated across south-western Sydney this morning, and regions north of the border have only just begun the storm cleanup, there is some respite in sight.

Here's a breakdown of the upcoming forecasts.

LIVE COVERAGE: Queensland bracing for 'nasty' storms

When is it going to stop raining in Sydney?

Sydney has copped a drenching this morning and the soggy conditions are set to last the remainder of the day. However, residents across the city can look forward to a significantly dryer week, with just a few millimetres of rain forecast on each day.

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Today, Sydney is expected to see a total of 120 to 150 millimetres with "a near 100 per cent" chance of continuous rain throughout the day, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

Tomorrow, there is a just a 50 per cent chance of rain with between zero to three millimetres expected while on Thursday, there is hardly any rain forecast at all. Similar levels are expected until Monday.

You can find a full seven day forecast here.

LIVE UPDATES: NSW braces for more rain

When is the rain going to stop in Ballina and northern rivers?

The forecast for Ballina and surrounds is expected to be similar to Sydney this week although slightly more dry.

It'll be warm throughout the region today with peaks of 31C degrees and just a 10 per cent chance of rain, according to the BoM.

READ MORE: NSW schools closed, evacuation orders and river water levels

Just three and five millimetres of rain is expected tomorrow and Thursday respectively. Showers are again forecast on Friday with a higher 80 per cent chance, and a total of eight millimetres predicted.

When is the rain going to stop in Brisbane?

Brisbane residents can enjoy a warmer day today with tops of 31C predicted and a relatively dry day.

There is a 40 per chance of showers today in the city, however only one millimetre of rain is expected.

Tomorrow, between three and 15 millimetres of rain is expected and on Thursday just 0.2 millimetres, however a late morning thunderstorm is possible. Conditions will remain largely the same in Brisbane throughout the rest of the week.

Why is it raining so much?

A deepening low-pressure system is moving through the coast, bringing a burst of dangerous weather to parts of eastern NSW as it moves towards the coast.

Rain radar

Weather forecast

How much rain is Sydney expecting over the weekend?

This weekend Sydneysiders could see between two to four millimetres of rain across the weekend, with a 50 and 60 per cent chance of showers on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

In Brisbane, it'll be a mostly dry weekend, with just one to two millimetres of rain predicted across the two days. It is forecast to be 26C degrees and cloudy and both Saturday and Sunday.

In Ballina, between one to six millimetres of rain will fall across the weekend, however conditions will be warmed and showers scattered.

How long does La Nina last?

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, La Nina is likely to last until mid-autumn.

The 2021-22 La Nina is past its peak, with outlooks indicating it will return to a neutral El Nino-Southern Osciliation levels during the southern hemisphere autumn.

"As La Nina weakens, it will continue to influence global weather and climate," according the BoM.

For families with more than one child in child care, daycare fees can be a huge expense.

But things are about to get a little bit easier, with changes to the Federal Government's child care subsidy to take effect from this week.

The changes, which were brought forward by four months, lift the rate of child care subsidy for parents with multiple children in care.

Will the changes affect me?

The changes only apply to families with more than one child aged five and under in care.

It is still means tested, so to be eligible, your family's combined income has to be under about $354,000.

If you've only got one child in care, your childcare subsidy will remain the same.

How much extra will I receive?

Under the changes, the subsidy given to parents for second children onwards will be 30 per cent higher, up to a rate of 95 percent.

For example, if you currently get a 50 per cent subsidy, that will increase to 80 per cent for your second child in daycare. 

READ MORE: Full list of NSW schools closed and areas under evacuation orders

The changes mean around 250,000 families will be, on average, $2,260 a year better off, Employment and Workforce Minister Stuart Robert said. 

"For a family who are charged a typical fee and earn $120,000 a year with two children in child care for five days per week, the saving will be $144 per week compared to current settings."

What do I have to do?

Nothing.

The changes should happen automatically for parents already receiving the child care subsidy.

Services Australia will work out how much the subsidy for each child is. You should have received a letter to confirm your new subsidy.

Family income	Previous out-of-pocket child care cost per week	Current subsidy (standardCCS rate)	New 2nd child subsidy	Futureout-of-pocket child care cost per week	Total better off per week
$40,000	$162	85%	95%	$108	$54
$80,000	$198	82%	95%	$126	$72
$110,000	$306	72%	95%	$180	$126
$120,000	$342	68%	95%	$198	$144
$140,000	$414	62%	92%	$252	$162
$180,000	$540	50%	80%	$378	$162

Table source: Federal Government

A 'complicated and tense' situation has developed at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor plant in Ukraine as Russian forces take control, according to reports.

Hundreds of Ukrainian workers and guards at Chernobyl – the site of the world's biggest nuclear disaster in 1986 – have been stuck there for more than 12 days after Russian troops seized the plant.

With limited food and medicine, there are concerns about their welfare and their ability to carry out their duties, the BBC reports.

LIVE UPDATES: SES braces for NSW downpour

Russian forces are now inside the 32km Chernobyl exclusion zone in northern Ukraine and have ringed the perimeter of the plant.

While Chernobyl is no longer a working power station, the nuclear reactor site was never fully abandoned and still requires constant management.

After the Russian invasion started last month, its staff who usually commuted by train have been forced to live on site.

Local authorities are concerned about the workers' welfare and how it will impact the day-to-day management of Chernobyl.

READ MORE: Russia sets Ukraine key demands for peace

"The situation is complicated and tense," Yuri Fomichev, the Mayor of Slavutych, a nearby town housing workers, said. "It is difficult for them morally, psychologically and physically."

Food for the workers has been rationed and temporary dormitories set up using camp beds and tables to sleep on.

"Under these conditions, the workers' concentration gets worse and worse, and that is a threat to safety," Fomichev said.

EXPLAINER: How dangerous was Russia's nuclear plant strike?

"It may not be a working power plant, but but it still requires a lot of attention to make sure all systems are working normally," he added,

On Sunday, Russian officials offered a delivery of food, but the Ukrainian workers rejected it, saying it was a propaganda stunt.

Last week the Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Europe's biggest, provoked international condemnation.

The days when women were rebuffed and discouraged from working in trades fortunately appear to be behind us, but there's still plenty of bias to break when it comes to females in the industry.

Despite companies working to get more women on board, the concept of a female tradie still comes as a surprise to many.

Women make up just two per cent of workers in the Australian construction industry.

LIVE UPDATES: Evacuations across Sydney as floodwaters rise

Female employment rates slowly growing

"You're female. We can't risk having a lawsuit".

That's what Melbourne electrician Lani Verde was told by at least nine electrician companies when she tried to apply for her first gig as apprentice electrician in 2012.

Ms Verde, in her early 20s, couldn't believe what she was hearing after she went into the companies' offices to find out why she had been rejected for multiple roles.

She thought she was going to be told there was something wrong with her CV.

"I never thought they would turn around and say it was because I was female," she said.

"I told them, 'I'm not going to cause any trouble,' and they said, 'We just can't risk it.'"

When she finally found a job at a small company – because the boss' girlfriend encouraged him to give Ms Verde a go – she said she was treated "really badly".

READ MORE: Female quota introduced for jobs in the Victorian construction industry

She was left alone to do unsafe jobs as a first-year apprentice, but was too scared to leave the job, anxious that no one else would hire her.

"I thought all the signs are pointing to, 'You can't do it'".

But ten years on, Ms Verde says efforts to address the bias in the industry are largely starting to take effect in terms of employment rates.

Melbourne builder Oksana Katorjevskaya has also noticed an increase in the number of women tradies and increasing discussion about their representation.

Bowens, which supplies materials to the construction industry, is one of the companies working to up the number of women in its ranks.

The company employs 145 women, making up 23 per cent of the supplier's employees.

Pushes to drive the numbers up have seen the company employ 26 women in the past 12 months.

But Head of Human Resources Vesna Brown said while the company was proud that its ratios surpassed others in the industry, it wanted to do more.

"While we take the wins and we're proud of them, it doesn't feel like enough for us," she said,

"There's still quite a gap that we need to close."

The Victorian Government has also moved to get females into trades with its new Building Equality Policy, which mandates women occupy at least three per cent of trade roles and 35 per cent of management and supervisor roles in government projects worth over $20 million by 2024.

Need to normalise the concept of women in trades

However, the idea of women being tradies needs to become commonplace in society to get more females in trades, players in the construction industry agree.

"We need to change this surprise factor of, 'Oh wow a woman in trade'," Ms Verde said.

After struggling to break into the industry, she went on to launch her own electrician company, 'Lani the Sparky', in Melbourne's inner north as the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold in 2020.

Business has boomed, and she has hired another female A-Grade electrician and a female apprentice, but every day Ms Verde still comes across people who are surprised to see women tradies.

Ms Verde believes schools need to start teaching students that trades are a practical career path for women.

Executive Director Strategy People and Influence at Masters Building Association Michaela Lihou agrees that getting more women into the industry will 'break the bias'.

"It's about changing the conversations," she said.

"It starts from parents having conversations with their daughters, with their sons.

"It's about all of the players within the system having the conversation and making it aware that construction sites are safe places for women… and that there are a variety of roles."

Companies need to embrace women

To increase and maintain the number of women employed in the construction industry companies also need to make having women integral to their structure, Bowens' Vesna Brown said.

"A piece of paper does nothing, you've got to put something into action," she said.

Ms Brown said Bowens managed to have exceptional rates of female employees by not only having hiring practices targeted towards women, but also flexible working arrangements, awards for women and female ambassadors.

READ MORE: Robotexts leaving Australians 'under attack all the time'

Ms Brown said the company had allowed her to have a meaningful career while being a mother of two.

"Being a female leader, especially in an industry like ours, I can say you really can have both in a really guilt-free way."

Women in the trade industry 'just makes sense'

Ms Katorjevskaya, who has been a licensed residential builder for more than eight years, is adamant women have different skills to offer the construction industry, just as men do.

She was dealing with her own residential build while working as a software consultant when her builder suggested that she become a professional builder herself.

Ms Katorjevskaya did just that, and has never looked back, urging other women to give it a go, "Be confident and we can make a difference".

Ms Verde couldn't agree more, saying she was better than most of her class when she was doing her pre-apprenticeship.

She said many of her female clients liked having female electricians in their homes, while women are indeed physically suited to working in trades.

"We are built to do this – crawling through roofs and sitting in tight spaces and thinking with your brain, problem-solving."

"We are absolutely made to do this."

Two days to recover mentally and physically from a miscarriage is not enough and employers should provide better leave policies to support grieving parents, advocates have said this International Women's Day.

Landmark changes to the Fair Work Act came into effect last year, entitling full-time and part-time employees to two days of paid compassionate leave if they have a miscarriage.

Miscarriage support network Pink Elephants lobbied for the change through their Leave for Loss campaign, with pregnancy loss now recognised under bereavement and compassionate leave as a valid reason to take time off work.

READ MORE: Triple Zero call-taker gets funding boost to cope with delays

While the validation is a significant step forward, businesses are being encouraged to step up their leave policies, by facing the fact that two days is not enough to mourn the loss of a child and physically heal.

Artemis Greenwood, 31, from Sydney, has suffered four miscarriages over the past 18 months.

For her first miscarriage, she took three weeks off work using her sick leave.

For her second and third, she didn't take any at all, feeling as if she had to "get back to work".

But when she endured her fourth, she took nine weeks off after she miscarried in her second trimester, adding she was "lucky she had sick leave", as not all women do.

Ms Greenwood got her two days of bereavement leave, but it took her nine weeks to feel OK to return to work – so that's about 61 days.

"Even if you have a miscarriage early, it's the hope that gets taken away from you," she told 9news.com.au.

"It's a lot to deal with. And yes, we're being validated by the bereavement leave and all that – but at the end of the day … two days is lovely, but it's really not enough to heal even physically."

It took the 31-year-old about two weeks to recover physically after her last miscarriage, which required a Dilation and Curettage (D&C) procedure – the removal of tissue from inside the uterus.

She then suffered from an infection, which added to her recovery journey.

"I reckon you need at least a week in bed to just be able to have your body go back to normal," Ms Greenwood said.

"So having only two days … say, for instance, you go to hospital and you need to have an operation – that's one day and then you've only got one more day in bed and then back to work.

"It's not enough."

READ MORE: Aussies 'saving more than $1300 a year by buying groceries online'

Ms Greenwood said taking nine weeks of leave was "kind of unheard of", but going to work was out of the question.

"You feel broken, you feel like your whole world just gets turned upside down in a matter of seconds," she said.

"I always say to people … look at your child in the real world – go back to that time, say from six to 13 weeks; to 20 weeks – and erase them from your life."

She was meant to go back to work after a month, but emotionally and mentally she was still broken.

"I couldn't concentrate," she said.

"I actually couldn't even retain information.

"It's a nightmare and then all of a sudden, people have to go back to work. It's extreme."

Statistics show that up to one in five women will have a miscarriage before 20 weeks, with most occurring in the first 12 weeks.

However, the actual rate of miscarriages is even higher because some women have early miscarriages without knowing they were pregnant.

Women who have a stillbirth or if their child dies in the first two years of life can take up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave.

According to Fair Work: "If the employee takes leave because of a miscarriage or termination, it can continue until they're fit for work."

But with standard paid sick leave being 10 days a year in Australia, many women face the predicament of rushing their recovery, to return to work.

Pink Elephants Support Network CEO Samantha Payne said their Leave for Loss campaign spearheaded legislative change last year, but it was now time for organisations to look at their own policies.

"We are seeing a really heartwarming trend now with some organisations … offering 12 weeks' paid leave for pregnancy loss," she said.

"We're seeing organisations that have infertility leave now as well."

The two days of paid bereavement leave for staff means pregnancy loss has at least been validated as a health issue, Ms Payne said.

"It's a mental health issue for many couples as well – it's trauma," Ms Payne said.

"If we don't validate it, if we don't provide support – we have many thousands of women and partners suffering from anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts."

Ms Payne has also experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage and felt greater support was needed.

She said there were several horror stories of women returning to work prematurely after suffering a miscarriage.

"We've heard stories of women crying in the car," she said.

"We've got stories of women presenting in boardrooms who are still bleeding from their miscarriage, women hiding in toilets.

"We've got men having panic attacks because they're so concerned about their wife at home.

"We could literally tell a hundred tales of parents who are grieving the loss of a baby, who shouldn't be back in the workplace."

Some businesses have recognised the issue and are leading the charge for better leave policies.

Underwear company Modibodi has launched a policy entitling its employees to an additional 10 days of paid leave for menstruation, menopause and miscarriage, on top of their existing sick leave entitlements.

CEO Kristy Chong, who has suffered miscarriages, said the policy aimed to remove the shame, guilt and stigma that can come with needing time off for pregnancy loss and other women's health issues.

"I have personally experienced a few miscarriages and believe it is important to have a policy that gives women the time at home to recover physically and mentally, should they need it," she said.

"We want to be a leader in discussing what's right for women in the workforce.

"The reality is people are suffering in silence, some of these symptoms and conditions can be quite debilitating, both physically and mentally.

"This is super important so they can remove that shame, they don't have to feel guilty and they can have the rest and recovery they need."

Ms Payne said organisations needed to improve their policies to help employees cope with miscarriage.

"It's a huge number of people in workplaces suffering in silence alone," she said.

"It's not good enough. We need to get better at addressing the issue head-on, providing employee support and providing awareness across the whole workplace."

Michael Clarke is a shattered man.

A 1am phone call in the early hours of Saturday morning is still playing on repeat in his head. His teammate and best mate Shane Warne was gone.

He'd spoken to him just days before, as Warne headed off on a holiday to Thailand.

READ MORE: Warne's family shares heartbreak as police confirm cause of death

"He was trying to, you know, get fit and healthy but he's done that a million times, you know, so nothing really changed," he said, adding that his friend was "as happy as ever".

"And that's why I think it happened so suddenly and so quickly with no real warning.

"I think that's why everyone's still finding it so difficult to comprehend."

As a young cricketer, Clarke grew up idolising the king of spin but had no idea his admiration from afar would grow into a friendship he always thought would last a lifetime.

"What you see is what you get, you know, there was no real surprises with him," the former Australian captain said. 

"In good and bad. He was loud and proud and we all knew about it. 

"He couldn't keep anything a secret, you know, his whole life was publicised."

When Warne retired from the one-day game, he handed his famous number 23 to Michael Clarke.

The batsman still to this day has no idea why.

It's not the only thing Warnie gave to Clarke.

He was also responsible for the nickname "Pup", when Clarke was the youngest and newest member of the Aussie side.

"I was, like I say, so fortunate to come into such an amazing team with so many experienced players and yeah, I was the small fish in a big pond," he said.

"So he did give me the nickname 'Pup' and unfortunately, it stuck."

Plenty of Aussie blokes would have loved to have been mates with Warnie, the king of good times.

As well as the beer, baked beans and occasional cigarette, Clarke said Warne was a fiercely loyal man, a true friend, generous and kind.

"I think the parts that you know you're extra lucky, you know, being his friend, is you realise how loyal he is, a very giving friend," he said. 

"Nothing was ever too difficult and he'd drop everything for you. 

"And you know, the other side, what a great dad he is. 

"You know, I think when you're his friend, you get to see a real good look at that. But really, everything the world knows about him is exactly what he was like."

In the days since his death, it's been said Warne was the greatest Australian captain who never was.

But Clarke today revealed to 9News Warne had more influence over the Test team than we ever knew.

Warne, from the commentary box, would text the team manager who would relay his advice directly to Captain Clarke.

"We spoke regularly," Clarke said.

"When you're playing you can't can't have your mobile phone in the change room.

"But our team manager used to have a mobile phone. So if I was unsure about something during the lunch break, I would ask the team manager to call Warnie in the commentary box and ask him what he saw."

Clarke said while Warne "wouldn't sugarcoat things" if his younger friend had made a mistake, he was also "extremely biased towards me as well, sometimes too biased".

"He had an amazing cricket brain," Clarke said. 

"That's what separated him from everyone else. He read the game better than anyone. 

"I played under him at Hampshire when he was captain and I guarantee he would have been an amazing Australian captain."

Clarke also shared a story from an unforgettable first visit to Warnie's place, when he was a wide-eyed new addition to the Aussie team.

"I remember walking (in), I could hear him, I was like 'where are you?'," Clarke remembered.

"I couldn't see him. I walk into his lounge room — he had about six lounge rooms in this palace he was living in. 

"He's in a solarium — He's got his own solarium. He's got the goggles on, and he's got a smoke hanging out of the sunbed. 

"And I'm like, 'you know what, that is exactly who he was'." 

Warne was a fixture of the Aussie summer, whether it was sending down spinners with a slick of zinc on his nose and bottom lip, head to toe in a hot pink suit with the commentary team on Jane McGrath Day at the SCG or just being Warnie…  so large perhaps we all thought he would always just be here.

Clarke, like the rest of us, just isn't ready to say goodbye.

"It's very surreal. I know it's real, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"I think at the moment I'm still trying to think of so many good things, and there are so many in my friendship with him that, you know, it probably hasn't hit me as hard as it will. 

"I think obviously, his funeral is going to be very tough.

"Seeing the kids is going to be tough. 

"You know, there's a number of things and I know (with) me as well, this takes a bit of time."

By RNZ Emergency ambulance services across Aotearoa recorded the highest ever 111 call volumes over the weekend.At its peak on Sunday, St John and Wellington Free Ambulance recorded 2322 calls nationwide into its centres in Auckland,…

A champion, adventurer, people's person and the mate everyone had on speed dial is how Outback Wrangler favourite Chris "Willow" Wilson has been remembered at an emotional funeral service in Darwin.

Hundreds of people, many of which sported cowboy hats and boots, gathered at the city's convention centre to commemorate the life of the Northern Territory identity.

The 34-year-old father-of-two was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of West Arnhem Land last Monday, while collecting crocodile eggs.

READ MORE: Outback Wrangler star killed in NT chopper crash

Willow's close family arrived at the funeral by helicopter, including wife Danielle and their two young sons Austin and Ted.

"He was a husband, father, son, grandson, brother, cousin, nephew and friend, he did more in his short life 34 years than most people do in 10 lifetimes," father Robert "Bobcat" Wilson read out in his eulogy.

"Christopher was a lovable, larger-than-life, loud, sometimes frustrating, sparkling, blue-eyed human being… he left this last week doing what he loved, we are all hurting so much and so very, very sad."

Showing remarkable strength during unimaginable pain, Ms Wilson read out a letter she wrote to her husband.

"One week ago today our lives changed forever, it's a day I never saw coming, to me and the boys you were invincible," she said.

"You make up more than me than I do myself, you are my rock, my person and you are the boys and my whole world, this will never change.

READ MORE: Death toll nears six million as pandemic enters its third year

"Honey, I love you to the moon and back and I just want you to come home."

Among the sadness were at times laughter, as memories were shared of his larrikin ways, including a video tribute made up of highlights from the Outback Wrangler television series.

Co-worker and close mate Matt Wright sat in the front row, alongside Willow's loved ones.

Australian country singer Lee Kernaghan also sent in a video, which was played to the packed auditorium.

"Willow was the epitome of an Australian mate, loyal, reliable and true," he said.

"To Danielle and family, I just want to let you know I'm always on standby if there's anything I can do for you."

The pilot who was also involved in the chopper crash, 28-year-old Seb Robinson, video-called into the ceremony from his hospital bed as the pallbearers gathered together around the casket.

Willow's father also read aloud a letter from Mr Robinson as part of his son's eulogy.

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"To Willow, my mate, your passing has suspended reality for all of us," Mr Robinson wrote.

"It was way too soon and completely unfair in every way.

"As humble as you are you would be pleased to see how many people are here today, to show their support and share a beer or two in your name.

"I have so many great memories of our adventures together which will make for many good yarns for Teddy and Austin as they grow up.

"Dani, please know that this will never change and I will always drop in to see you and the boys."

More than a thousand people live-streamed the service online.

The Australia Transport Safety Bureau last week confirmed an investigation into the chopper crash, 30km south of South Goulburn Island, is underway.

Police are investigating the “unexplained” death of a man whose body was found in a stream in Havelock North.Detective Senior Sergeant James Keene said police were called to Karamu Stream near Panckhurst Street, off Lipscombe Crescent,…

Shane Warne's children, brother and ex-wife have expressed their heartbreak over the cricket legend's sudden death, as an autopsy revealed he died of natural causes.

Warne, 52, died suddenly from a suspected heart attack on the Thai island of Koh Samui on Friday.

Police in Thailand confirmed tonight Warne died of natural causes, following an autopsy conducted by a forensic doctor at a hospital in Surat Thani.

READ MORE: Shane Warne's life in pictures: From Victoria boy to Aussie 'Spin King'

His body is set to be repatriated to Australia.

Parents Keith and Brigitte Warne, in an emotional tribute today, said Friday night had been the start of a "never-ending nightmare" for their family.

"To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable," they said in a statement.

Warne's son, Jackson, reminisced about the times they would watch the Saints, play golf and eat pizza together, saying things would never be the same.

"I don't think anything is ever going to fill the void you have left in my heart," he said.

"I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could've asked for. I love you so much Dad, see you soon."

Warne's brother Jason said life will forever have a "massive hole" following the death of his childhood "nemesis".

"I have lost my nemesis in all sports as a child, the person who smeared Vegemite under my nose while he pinned me down giving me the typewriter, my big brother, my mate," he said.

"I remember catching the train into the MCG in 1982, sitting in the front row of the Great Southern Stand with our fingers crossed the great Allan Border and Jeff Thomson would get the runs needed to beat England."

Daughters Summer and Brooke Warne said they wished they had more time with their dad, who was taken "too soon".

"I wish I could've hugged you tighter in what I didn't know were my final moments with you," Summer said.

READ MORE: Clarke reveals extent of Warne's 'fast paced' life

"You are the best Dad someone could ever ask for. Our time was robbed."

Brooke said his death did not yet feel real.

"It doesn't feel right, you were taken away too soon and life is so cruel," she said.

"I will forever cherish our final memories together laughing and joking around with each other."

Read the full family statements below.

Keith and Brigitte Warne

The night of the 4th of March 2022 is when a never-ending nightmare began for our family, for that is the date we lost our much loved and admired son, father, brother and Uncle, "Shane Keith Warne" a tragedy we will never come to terms with.

To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable, hopefully the mountain of happy memories we all have will help us cope with our ongoing grief.

Over the past few days Shane has been honoured with the family being offered a state memorial for Shane by Premier Dan Andrews which the family have gratefully accepted.

The Premier and Minister for Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula have also advised that the Great Southern Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be renamed the S.K Warne Stand. We sincerely offer our thanks to the state government and the MCG trust for this honour.

We would also like to acknowledge the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his kind words both personally and on behalf of the country, as everyone knows Shane was an extremely proud Victorian and Australian.

Brigitte and I are most grateful for the many messages of love and support received over the past few days and thank one and all for their kind words of comfort.

We also wish to acknowledge and thank those members of the media who are honouring our request to respect our family's privacy and who will continue to do so.

Jackson Warne

To my brother, my best friend, to my Dad, I love you so much. I don't think anything is ever going to fill the void you have left in my heart. Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same.

But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy, no matter what. You just wanted me to be happy, that's it. So that's what I'm going to do, try and be happy. I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could've asked for. I love you so much Dad, see you soon.

Jason Warne

The world has lost someone extremely special to them, who has made a positive influence on their lives and it is incredibly touching to see the outflow of emotion and the amazing tributes to him by friends, teammates, opponents and media. It has been truly heartbreaking, whilst also being sincerely appreciated.

Personally, I have lost my nemesis in all sports as a child, the person who smeared vegemite under my nose while he pinned me down giving me the typewriter, my big brother, my mate. I remember catching the train into the MCG in 1982, sitting in the front row of the Great Southern Stand with our fingers crossed the great Allan Border and Jeff Thomson would get the runs needed to beat England.

Who would have thought he would have such a huge impact at the ground in the years to come and that very stand being renamed in his honour. Amazing life. Amazing guy.

Life will forever have a massive hole in it. I will miss our fierce competition on the golf course, poker table and the sledging, seeing who could put the other on tilt first. Love you and miss you big brother.

Summer Warne

Dad, I miss you so much already. I wish I could've hugged you tighter in what I didn't know were my final moments with you.

And your final breaths were only moments away. I wish I could've told you that everything was going to be okay and hold your hand. You are the best Dad someone could ever ask for.

Our time was robbed. I want more holidays with you, more laughs where your smile lights up the whole room, more "goodnight I love you SJ, I'll see you in the morning", more talks about how our days were and just to feel safe when you would hug me and you would let me know how proud you are of me and how much you love me.

You haven't died Dad, you've just moved to a different place, and that is in our hearts. I love you forever, until we meet again.

Brooke Warne

Dad, this doesn't feel real and doesn't make sense that you are not here with us anymore. It doesn't feel right, you were taken away too soon and life is so cruel.

I will forever cherish our final memories together laughing and joking around with each other. We were happy.

We were so similar in so many ways and I always used to joke that I got your genes and about how much that annoyed me!

Well now I couldn't be happier and prouder that I have your genes. I am lucky and will forever be so proud to call you my Dad forever. I love you to infinity and back and I will miss you forever.

Simone Callahan

"Who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains."