Hundreds to miss funeral

THE family of Jake Ryan have been left to tell friends of the popular Gold Coaster they can’t attend his funeral because of COVID-19 restrictions.

The well-known Australian rules identity died after he was clipped by a train while running in Noto, Italy on October 13.

Jake’s brother Mitch was leading a push to get the Queensland government to increase the number of people allowed at his funeral – which under the state’s COVID-19 restrictions is capped at 100 – after Metricon Stadium offered the venue for the event.

Under Queensalnd government’s current restrictions, funerals can have a maximum of 100 people in either indoor or outdoor venues irrespective of its size.

However, the number of people permitted at “wakes, memorial events or gatherings after the funeral and similar events” is determined by the location it is held.

The number of people to pay tribute to Jake, a survivor of the 2002 Bali bombings, has been overwhelming.

After waiting two weeks for a response, the Queensland government wouldn’t budge on its restrictions, despite the larger outdoor venue and a COVID-safe plan at the stadium.

“As a family we just don’t understand the decision,” Mitch said. “We understand there’s restrictions in place and why, but when a funeral – not only Jake’s but anyone’s who has a larger venue that can operate with more people safely – why can’t more people attend?

“It’s confusing why only 100 people can go to a funeral but 30,000 can go to the AFL grand final. We’re a footy family and loved seeing all those people at the grand final, but how is a funeral more dangerous?”

The grieving family have decided to lay Jake to rest on Friday, November 13 at a private funeral home limited to 100 people.

A wake will be held at Metricon Stadium following the service, which will allow 500-750 people to attend under the stadium’s COVID-safe plan.

“We’re just happy to have a ceremony for Jake that more people can come to and be together to share his memory and have a toast to the great man,” Mitch said.

“My fiancee and I were starting to plan a wedding before this all happened and had started to think about how to go about cutting people from the wedding list.

“Now I’m doing that with my brother’s funeral. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve had to do telling mates they’re the 101st person on our list and won’t be able to come to the funeral.

“Everyone has been really good about it and understands our tough situation, but it’s still so hard to have that conversation.”