Beloved former Gympie High student and Gympie Cats player Liam Constance has been farewelled after he lost a courageous battle with a devastating diagnosis.
Liam died on May 27, 2023, less than three weeks after his 18th birthday.
A GoFundMe for Liam launched in September 2022 said had been battling prostate alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer.
Family and friends from as far away as South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales turned out to farewell the young man with an avid love of AFL, and mountain and dirt bike riding.
The service was held at the Gympie Pavilion, and live streamed.
Liam Constance’s mountain bike and a dirt bike were among the personal items laid out at the service, during which the 18-year-old’s passion for these sports, along AFL, was lovingly remembered.
He was remembered throughout the hour-long ceremony as a “real character” who “loved to make others laugh”, was “proud of his mo (moustache)”, loved his dogs, and developed his own trademark drink of “Coke and raspberry cordial”.
Speaking at the service his younger brother Nate said “everyone loved Liam”, and he “wasn’t just a brother, he was also a hero”.
Mourners heard how Liam’s interest in AFL started at age five, when the family lived in Orange, NSW.
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He joined the Gympie Cats when the family moved in 2019, and in his first year on the field he was the runner up for Best and Fairest.
AFL was only part of Liam’s sporting passions, though.
His love of dirt bikes started at an early age, with his father Craig telling the service he made the mistake of leaving eBay unattended while searching the machines.
When he returned, it was to find the young Liam had jumped on and bought a “very expensive” KTM motorbike.
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Liam Constance was remembered as a “real character” who “loved to make others laugh”.
Liam also represented his schools in a range of other sports, including soccer, softball and rugby league.
Sports groups from interstate who Liam had been affiliated with took to social media in the wake of his death, and in the lead-up to the funeral.
The Orange Tigers Australian Rules Football Club said Liam would be “remembered by those who had the pleasure of knowing him, as a talented young footballer who always gave it his all and a genuine nice guy”.
The Hinterland Blues Australian Football Club said it would “take a moment to remember Liam… and wrap our arms around his family and friends” and Gympie Junior Rugby League said it was “deeply saddened” by his loss.
Noosa Tigers AFC, where Liam played as a Tigers Colts member, held a tribute round on June 4 in his honour.