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| Richie Benaud's family declines Tony Abbott's offer of a state funeral | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The family of cricket great Richie Benaud has turned down the prime minister’s offer of a state funeral. | The family of cricket great Richie Benaud has turned down the prime minister’s offer of a state funeral. |
| Tony Abbott says the offer was a mark of respect for a man who meant so much to millions of people in Australia and around the world. | Tony Abbott says the offer was a mark of respect for a man who meant so much to millions of people in Australia and around the world. |
| But the former Test captain and renowned commentator, who died on Friday aged 84, wanted a quiet and private funeral. | But the former Test captain and renowned commentator, who died on Friday aged 84, wanted a quiet and private funeral. |
| “My understanding is that Richie’s own wishes was for something very, very quiet and very, very private,” Abbott told reporters on Sunday. | “My understanding is that Richie’s own wishes was for something very, very quiet and very, very private,” Abbott told reporters on Sunday. |
| Benaud’s widow, Daphne, phoned Canberra on Saturday to kindly decline the offer of a state funeral. | Benaud’s widow, Daphne, phoned Canberra on Saturday to kindly decline the offer of a state funeral. |
| The player-turned-commentator will be remembered this week with a private gathering attended only by his immediate family. | The player-turned-commentator will be remembered this week with a private gathering attended only by his immediate family. |