Jesse Baird: Inside the heartbreaking memorial service for for slain Network 10 presenter as his sister breaks down in tears in front of hundreds of mourners
Relatives of slain Network 10 reporter Jesse Baird fought back tears as they said goodbye to their beloved brother and son in front of hundreds of mourners at a colorful memorial in Melbourne.
The popular and charismatic Studio 10 presenter, 26, and his new partner, Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, were allegedly shot dead by NSW Police Officer Beau Lamarre-Condon on the Paddington Terrace in Sydney’s inner city Baird on February 19.
Their bodies were found nine days later in surfboard bags 125 miles away on a rural estate in Bungonia, following an extensive search for the missing couple, which stretched from Newcastle in the north to Goulburn in the south.
There was not an empty seat in the auditorium of the Plenty Ranges Art and Convention Center in Melbourne’s north, where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Mr Baird’s life on Tuesday.
Mr Baird’s sister Kourtnee struggled through floods of tears to say goodbye to her brother.
‘You are the absolute light of my life. My biggest inspiration and my biggest cheerleader,” she said.
His mother Helen paid tribute to her ‘beautiful, precious, loving, caring, generous, nurturing and talented boy’.
“Our hearts and lives are forever changed and there is less sparkle in the world,” Ms Baird said.
Invited attendees were asked to wear bright colours, while Melbourne-born Mr Baird’s AFL referee colleagues were dressed in uniform in his honour.
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Melbourne on Tuesday to say goodbye to former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird
Attendees arrived at the Plenty Ranges Art and Convention Center in an array of bright colours
A host of Channel 10 stars were among the brightly dressed mourners who hugged Mr Baird’s loved ones and each other before the service.
Network host Daniel Doody was among those to deliver a eulogy for his former colleague.
“Jesse was sassy, funny, caring, hardworking and heartbreaking,” Mr. Doody said to laughter from the audience.
Brendan Baird, Jesse’s brother, spoke about the heartbreaking family events he will never be a part of.
“One day my children will know all about their Uncle Jesse and it pains me that you won’t be there as my best man, as you agreed to when I married Nikki,” he said.
The stage at the front of the packed room was decorated with a balloon tribute spelling out Mr Baird’s name, along with a dozen photographs of him at various stages of life.
Jesse’s heartbroken father said he would be “missed but never forgotten.”
“This is your last show,” he said.
After the service, the large crowd gathered outside to blow bubbles.
Solemn mourners were seen leaving the venue holding photographs of Mr Baird.
The convention center is not normally hired for funerals but was chosen by Mr Baird’s family to accommodate the expected large attendance.
The site is approximately 11km from where Mr Baird grew up in Diamond Creek, where he played AFL at senior level.
He graduated from Loyola College in Watsonia in 2015 before moving to Queensland and later Sydney to pursue his career as a television presenter.
The memorial follows a community vigil in Sydney for Mr Baird and his partner on the eve of Mardi Gras earlier this month.
A service for Mr Davies will be held in his home state of Queensland in April.
Friends, family and former colleagues gave Jesse Baird an emotional and colorful farewell in Melbourne
The large gathering of mourners blew bubbles in Jesse’s memory after the memorial service
The emotional service was held not far from where Jesse grew up in Melbourne’s north
The stage in the hall was decorated with colorful balloons and photos of Jesse
Jesse Baird (pictured center with Studio 10 colleagues Tristian McManus and Angela Bishop) was reportedly murdered with his new partner at his Sydney home five weeks ago
Ten news recently aired a special tribute celebrating Mr. Baird’s life and his six-year stint with the network in various roles in the first Brisbane and then Sydney.
News anchor Sandra Sully struggled to maintain composure as she introduced the segment and urged viewers to remember Jesse as a talented, loving young man.
It has also been revealed that Mr Baird’s housemates have been moved from the Paddington terrace where he and his new partner were allegedly murdered and left under a tarpaulin in the property’s courtyard overnight.
Homicide detectives continue to work on the investigation ahead of the upcoming court ruling.
Lamarre-Condon was officially removed from the ranks of the NSW Police last Friday.
He has been charged with two counts of murder and is currently behind bars at the Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney’s west.
He will appear again at the Downing Center in Sydney on April 23.
Detectives will allege Lamarre-Condon killed Mr Baird in a premeditated attack following a months-long campaign of predatory behaviour.
There were tears and tributes at the service attended by hundreds of people who knew Jesse Baird
There was not an empty chair in the crowded room (photo)
Mourners left the memorial holding photos of the beloved TV presenter