In a room that represented so much of Jim Stynes’ life, a couple of hundred of the people in whom he believed so faithfully came together on Tuesday to share jokes and shed tears.
The Dream Factory at the Melbourne headquarters of the youth organisation Stynes founded symbolises the late footballer’s philosophy of believing in young people.
And as they mourned him only hours after his death, the same young people remembered the champion footballer who turned their lives around.
“He believed in us, it’s as simple as that,” said Emily Paulo.
“And we believed in him.”
Stynes co-founded the Reach Foundation in 1994, at the age of 28, while he was still playing in the AFL for Melbourne.
In the 18 years since, it is estimated his efforts have touched the lives of hundreds-of-thousands of teenagers.
As he recalled their work with Reach and their friendship, Stynes’ great friend – TV and radio personality Jules Lund – spoke of a man who “never ceased to amaze me”, and of “a big dag”.
“There were two sides to Jim,” Lund said.
“One was a strict, bad mood, anal guy who put such an emphasis on detail and perfection.
“That was the thing that made him a champion. What made him a friend was his immaturity.
“He was a big dag.
“I think it was this gift, being such a galah, that allowed young people who were equally immature to connect with him.
“From that position, he was able to impart incredible wisdom.”
Lund also told of perhaps a third side to his friend.
“He would never whinge,” Lund said.
“He always had other people first in his mind.”
An element of Stynes’ contradictory moods also surfaced during his last hours.
“When he died this morning, there was nothing else he needed in his life,” Lund said.
“But he was angry and frustrated, he felt cheated.
“It was annoying as hell for him.”
So gloriously eulogised has Stynes been, his and Melbourne football club colleague Don McLardy felt compelled to sound a note of caution.
“We keep saying what an amazing person Jimmy was that I worry that people won’t believe it,” McLardy said.
“But after all the stories are told, I hope you will appreciate what a wonderful privilege it was to be so close to him.”