More than a hundred mourners have paid tribute to an ex-Australian Army sniper who died mysteriously in his sleep, with fellow soldiers joining family and friends in remembering him at a memorial service.
Blake Hann, 35, from the New South Wales Central Coast, left behind his heartbroken wife Mel and their four little boys when he went to bed on March 12 but did not wake up the next morning.
The cause of Mr Hann’s sudden death remains unexplained.
But what was not in doubt was the outpouring of love for the young father at Terrigal’s Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Thursday.
His military peers wore flannelette shirts – his trademark outfit – and formed a guard of honour for his casket inside the church, arms wrapped around one another’s shoulders.
To mark the ex-5RAR soldier’s service to the nation, Mr Hann’s coffin was draped in the Australian flag. His digger’s slouch hat was placed on top and a ghillie suit hung out the front.
Brother Sam and wife Mel Hann delivered moving tributes, describing ‘Blakey’ as so impossibly handsome he made his future significant other’s jaw drop upon first sight.
They recalled how Blake was described by his teachers as magnetically drawing people to him at school and was beloved loved by his Army peers. And now, the family said, Blake is their guardian angel.
Blake Hann, ex-5RAR Army sniper, was mourned by shattered family and friends at a moving memorial service on the NSW Central Coast on Thursday after dying in his sleep at age 35
In a heartbreaking moment, Mr Hann’s wife, Mel, crouched down next to a young child and the hearse at the end of the funeral service at Terrigal’s Our Lady Star of the Sea
The ex-serviceman’s coffin was draped in an Australian flag during the memorial. Placed on top was an Army slouch hat, plus a portrait of him having a drink with friends
His friends from the Army wore flannelette shirts – the larrikin’s trademark outfit – and formed a guard of honour for Mr Hann inside the chapel
Brother Sam and wife Mel gave moving eulogies – with Mr Hann described as the family’s ‘guardian angel’, as a larrikin and simply ‘never scared’
‘He was never scared,’ said his brother Sam, who spoke lovingly of how much he looked up to Mr Hann.
He described his sibling as having deep dimples and a crushing handshake, known for his oft-used ‘she’ll be right’ expression and love of long necks but was candid about his vulnerabilities to loved ones.
Sam drew laughter from the crowd of mourners after recalling asking Blake a brotherly hug recently and being asked, with an awkward chuckle: ‘Do we have to?’
‘Come here, you big bastard,’ he was told.
Military peer and best mate Nick Hoiles said Mr Hann’s fathering skills to his young boys were inspirational to watch.
His four sons – Frankie, 9, Axel, 7, Spike, 2, and eight-month-old Rocko – would always have their Army uncles ‘just a phone call away’, he said.
Family and friends have rallied around the digger’s family with financial support as Mr Hann had been their sole breadwinner.
Loved ones created a viral GoFundMe page which had raised more than $90,000 in support at the time of publication.
‘We are shattered beyond words as we struggle to comprehend how this happened.
‘His boys don’t understand why Daddy is never coming home.
The former Australian soldier was the sole breadwinner for his young family – sparking a viral GoFundMe fundraiser which had raised more than $90,000 at the time of publication
Pictures were displayed of Mr Hann in his service uniform and slouch hat, and with the couple’s four sons in a family photo
Friends and family embraced outside the moving service on the state’s Central Coast, after a GoFundMe fundraiser went viral
A ghillie (camouflage) suit sat on a stand out the front of the church in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast during the service
Blake’s wife Mel (left) has been left to bring up her four boys alone without an income. The family moved to the town of Branxton several months ago
The page continued: ”(Melissa) needs a home for the boys. She needs to pay their school fees. She needs to be able to provide for them for many years to come, giving them the life she and Blake always planned for.’
More than 1,800 people have donated to the page as of Thursday midday.
One anonymous donor contributed $3,000, the Pineapple Express Veterans Community shelled out $2,200 and others sums ranged from between $10 to $800.
Friend Lauren Dubois said: ‘We all have the best memories of Blake making us laugh in his flanno shirt.
‘But he was more than a joker, Blake was a devoted husband and a daddy who adored his boys. He worked so hard to take care of his family.
‘We can’t bring our Blakey Boy back, but we can do everything we can to take care of his family for him.
‘It’s all that mattered to him.’
To help out, go to ‘Taking care of Blake’s family’ on GoFundMe.
More than a dozen friends wore flannelette shirts – Mr Hann’s trademark
