Mercer’s ‘carnival’ send-off

IRONMAN legend Dean Mercer’s heartbroken wife wants his funeral to resemble a “mini surf lifesaving carnival” as preparations intensify for what will be one of the city’s biggest farewells.

Mercer’s family is close to finalising details for the service, which will likely be held late next week at a venue capable of hosting thousands of people.

Options include Metricon Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium and Gold Coast Convention Centre, with talks having even extended to the council.

Mercer, who with brother Darren was a superstar of ironman racing in the ’80s and ’90s, died on Monday after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving. He was 47.

Family friend Ian Hanson said Reen Mercer and her four young sons wanted her husband’s funeral to not only celebrate his life but also pay tribute to surf lifesaving.

“She wants to see the colour and pageantry of surf lifesaving out in force,” he said.

“Her message to the community is to come with your club flags and banners, bring your boards and caps. Don’t wear black – wear colour.

“She said she’d just be overwhelmed if she could see a mini surf carnival happening in front of her.”

Hanson said finding a venue large enough to cater for the expected huge crowd had proved challenging.

“It’s going to be enormous,” he said. “We suggested some numbers to Darren and Reen yesterday and they said ‘You’re kidding, we thought it would maybe be 600 or 700 people’.

“We said we think there will be about 2000 or 3000 and want to find a place that doesn’t have restrictions in case we get more … this isn’t just for the surf clubs in Queensland but those around Australia. It’s about NSW clubs and Wollongong where the boys were from.

“We want to ensure that no matter where we go, people are going to be able to get in … we’ve really scoured the Coast and are heading towards a good conclusion. Once we piece it all together, I think it will be a special event.”

Hanson said this week’s gathering of almost 100 clubbies at Kurrawa Surf Club in honour of Mercer highlighted the impact of his death on the surf lifesaving “brotherhood”.

“It’s hard to explain how all the ironmen feel but they just want to be Deano,” he said.

“It was so evident last night when Darren (Mercer) walked into Kurrawa. It was the first time many of them had seen him and he just got swamped.”

Hanson said Reen’s inner circle was also drawing inspiration from how she was holding up.

“I was blown away by how good she was (yesterday) and everyone involved has got so much strength from her,” he said of the former champion ironwoman. together for