Hundreds farewell teen lifesaver at funeral

Hundreds of people joined family and friends at the Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Caloundra to farewell the keen surf lifesaver with a “wonderful quiet demeanour and sunny smile”.

The 14-year-old drowned while competing in a board race at Kurrawa Beach at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast on March 28.

Among the mourners were family and friends, Matthew’s peers from Siena Catholic College, and members of the surf lifesaving community on the Sunshine Coast.

During the service, Matthew’s sister Lauren Barclay spoke about her older brother, and Matthew’s godfather Mike Purcell delivered the eulogy.

An honour guard, consisting of Matthew’s family, friends and surf lifesaving members stretched the street as a final mark of respect, and a private wake will be held at Matthew’s surf club.

The young ironman champion was a rising star at the Maroochydore Surf Club on the Sunshine Coast.

He won last year’s Junior Coolangatta Gold and several team events in the Future Champions Surf Carnival.

Surf Life Saving Queensland president Ralph Devlin says Matthew was an accomplished athlete who was loved by all.

“All the girls and boys in the nipper club at Maroochydore absolutely loved Matthew,” he said.

“He had a wonderful quiet demeanour, a sunny smile.”

Mr Devlin says Matthew was also part of the Queensland Cyclones State Team dedicated to the development of young champions.

“He was an unassuming champion, but he also had a really steely determination in competition and that really endeared him I think to all the life saving community,” Mr Devlin said.

Former Olympian Clint Robinson was Matthew Barclay’s coach and was one of six people who spoke at his funeral today.

“Matt has polarised a lot of people in the way that he went about doing what he did that was just so real, to want to be involved in it, to want to show your support for the family.

“It’s touched a lot of people and it’s going to be huge, there’s no doubt about that.”

Mr Robinson says Matthew Barclay’s father has taken comfort in the fact that his son died doing what he loved.

“[Matthew’s father] said, ‘mate we’re OK and I’m OK for one simple fact – that my son died doing what he loved to do – if we could all go that way, the world would probably be a little bit happier place’,” Mr Robinson said.

“‘I said, ‘yes, there may be some comfort in that for you – if I had an option that’d be the way I’d love to go too’.”

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