Weekly Times | THE streets of Colac were yesterday lined with more than a thousand people who turned out to farewell a country footballer who died on the footy field.
Family and friends formed a guard of honour for Otways Districts Football Club captain Aaron Mahoney and applauded as his casket was driven from St Mary’s Parish.
Mr Mahoney, 24, passed away suddenly on May 2 during his team clash against Lorne.
Today, the body of the father-of-two was farewelled in a red and blue casket which displayed the captain’s number 36.
Mr Mahoney’s daughter Asha waved goodbye to her dad, while her baby brother Toby was cradled by relatives.
Inside the packed parish, Mr Mahoney’s partner Emma Craddock told the crowd her man was her best friend.
“Now he’s just a perfect star in the sky,” Ms Craddock said.
Others described a cheeky prankster, joking that the mate they affectionately called “Bill” was “the world’s most likable pyromaniac”.
Photos of the popular bulldozer driver and project firefighter showed him kissing his baby daughter and son, laughing with friends and cuddling his partner.
His parents Russell and Sheryl took the opportunity to reveal footage and photos they joked Mr Mahoney would not have wanted shown in public: him singing high-pitched in the car, and running in the nude.
The service was meant to draw laughs, to remind people that Mr Mahoney’s fun-loving spirit lived on.
Long-time friend Ben Morrow, sporting a bushy beard like Mr Mahoney’s, apologised for his “scruffy” appearance.
“I was going, I’ll have a shave but then I thought ‘what would Bill do?’” Mr Morrow said.
Mourners wore bright red and dark blue in honour of the Demons player.
Others in green paid tribute to his career with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and his love of the outdoors.
Afterwards, friends handed out stubby holders covered in pictures of the much-loved young man.
Then, for many, it was off to the pub to charge a glass in honour of their mate “Bill”.
Originally published as Otways footballer farewelled
