<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 1000 friends and family have packed out </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span>'s Junction Oval to farewell a beloved teenager </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sheffield-shield-tributes-death-ben-austin/e2171a34-dfae-4dcd-8174-ff3b69e845a8" rel="" target="" title="tragically killed in a cricket training accident last month"><span>tragically killed in a cricket training accident last month</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ben Austin, 17, died in hospital days after he was fatally hit by a cricket ball in his head and neck area while at training in Ferntree Gully on October 29.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Shane Warne Stand was a sea of 1100 of the teen's friends, family and members of the public today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uber-driver-pay-ride-transparency-petition-exclusive/cd63986a-6e37-4264-82c3-50560343ab85" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie Uber drivers are forced to accept jobs with no clue what they'll be paid. Now hundreds are demanding better</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mourners were encouraged to wear their cricket club tops, scarves or a splash of colour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ben's closest loved ones sat on chairs in the middle of the grounds, where his Collingwood Football Club-adorned coffin was displayed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Magpies' 2023 premiership cup had pride of place at the service, on a table next to a framed photo of Ben, a Sherrin football bearing his name, and a cricket bat inscribed with his Ferntree Gully Cricket Club cap number 512.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ben-austin-cricket-junction-oval-funeral/6747efb0-dfa3-4ff5-9fe4-00ae7a09901f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His father Jace - wearing Ben's number 512 cricket cap - his cricket coach and other family members were among those to eulogise the talented young sportsman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ben Andrew Austin, 17 years, 19 days, five hours, you lit up the world. Your mum and I have never been prouder," Mr Austin said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-full-list-of-sites-banned-everything-to-know-explained/b19e9d0f-9a6d-49bd-b5c4-c6a33f98fd0e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia's world-first social media ban comes into effect next month. Here is what it will look like</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The best goal you ever scored or four you ever hit wasn't on the field, but it was when your soul chose us as your family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our first achievement and greatest love."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Austin said the family found peace knowing Ben would join his cousins and nana on the other side.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But mostly playing cricket with Warnie and Phil Hughes will be high on the list," Jace said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/gym-membership-cancellation-rights-can-they-charge-you-four-weeks-explainer/f7127790-2960-4dc6-a6e2-4a3f637ff56c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Cancelling a gym membership? These are your consumer rights in Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ferntree Gully Cricket Club coach Josh Henry remembered Ben as "the perfect young man".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Only the other week, a new left-handed batsman turned up to training without gear," Henry said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I asked Benny if the kid could borrow his. Without hesitation - yes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Not only did he lend it, he helped the boy pad up, doing the straps, fitting the gloves, making sure he was ready, that's who Benny was.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Anything, for anyone, anytime. A heart of gold."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ben's coffin was carried from the ground by Ben's friends and teammates into a hearse which performed a lap of honour around the ground at the end of the service.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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