MORE than 1000 people turned out to farewell Zac Young on Saturday, the young Port Macquarie man killed by a shark, joining his family and friends in saying goodbye to a remarkable young man.
The St Columba School Hall in Port Macquarie was almost full, with the 950 seats all filled well before the service and people standing against the walls and sitting on the floor.
The two-and-a-half-hour service, led by Zac’s close friend Dave Malvern from Christian Surfers and The Point Church, was a celebration of his life, but inevitably an emotional roller coaster for those who attended.
“At times I was laughing, at times I was crying. I experienced just about every emotion you possibly could,” one funeral-goer said afterwards.
The coffin was draped in a brightly painted cover painted by his friends and decorated with pieces of driftwood, with Zac’s guitar, bodyboard, flippers and a bucket of sand in front, all reminders of the young man’s love of the surf and music.
Small wooden crosses made out of driftwood and tied with string were handed out as people entered the hall, a tangible reminder of Zac.
During the service Zac’s father Kevin and mother Lin and some of his seven brothers and sisters and friends spoke in turn of their love for the charismatic young man, sharing their memories. Kevin wore his son’s shoes during the service and Lin her son’s glasses so they could walk in his shoes and see with his eyes.
Kevin told how his son had personified the word “love”, and at times he and his wife laughed and at others they had to choke back the tears as they painted a picture of a fun-loving young man with a deep faith who had brought immense joy to their lives.
His brother Michael, who served in the army in Afghanistan and had had to farewell mates, touched hearts as he read the ode, obviously never dreaming that he would have to one day read it at his own brother’s funeral. “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old,” he said. “Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”
Tears flowed as a photo montage and film footage showed the much loved Zac – aka ‘fish lips’ – in his element, making faces, laughing and just generally goofing around, the fun nature of the photos underlining his loss. But laughter rang out as the young Zac and his brothers compared muscles in grainy black-and-white footage shot on a long-ago holiday when they were only small children.
A church band played numerous songs during the service, helping keep the mood upbeat and celebratory, along with recordings of songs such as Forever Young, with Kevin Young urging everyone to join him in rocking to the infectious song Celebration.
Thunderous applause rocked the tin roof of the hall as the three young men who risked their lives to save him after he was attacked by the shark – Lindsy Isaac, Kurt Gillan and Shayden Schrader – were honoured with a standing ovation.
“Boys, you did such an amazing thing that day,” Dave Malvern said. “Everyone in this room loves you and is proud of you. We are so grateful for what you did.”
Zac’s uncle, Les, paid further tribute to the three in a poem he wrote and read out about Zac’s encounter with the shark, emphasising just how brave his mates were when he was attacked, rushing to help him despite the immense danger to themselves.
The service ended when Zac’s father and mother – no longer married but united in the loss of their son – blew out a candle next to his coffin, with his brothers joining to carry the coffin out of the hall as funeral-goers stood and clapped to show their love and respect.
Later in the day the family joined the surfing community in a paddle-out at Town Beach, with hundreds taking to the water to pay tribute to the young surfer.
