Thurston mourns uncle at funeral

Richard Saunders, uncle to rugby league star Johnathan Thurston, was known as "Raindancer" because when he danced it would rain, the hundreds of mourners at his funeral south of Brisbane were told.

Mr Saunders, 38, was bashed to death at a Woodridge Park just south of Brisbane last
month.
His sister, Thurston's mother Deborah Thurston, told mourners at Our Lady of Fatima
Catholic Church in Acacia Ridge on Monday, that Aboriginal elders called him
"Raindancer" because after he danced it would rain.
Speaking under dark clouds and light rain after the ceremony, Stephen Saunders said
it was a sign his brother was watching over them.
He also called for calm to quell any racial tensions arising since the attack.
Five men and four teenagers of Pacific Island descent have been charged with Mr
Saunders' murder, creating a rift between the Aboriginal and Pacific Islander
communities in the Logan area.
"Everybody try and live together," Stephen Saunders said.
"I'm sick of the violence happening in Logan."
Priest Father Brendan Dooley echoed the plea for calm, peace and reconciliation.
"Many people are upset, even angry, but it's happened," he said.
Aboriginal and Pacific elders will meet over the next few days to clear the air over
the attack.
In her eulogy, Ms Thurston said her brother would be missed by his seven children.
"We've all lost a brother, the kids have lost a dad who can no longer hold them," Ms
Thurston said.
"He has beautiful daughters who he'll never see grow up and he'll never get to see
his son hold a football.
"He was a strong, remarkable man."
In his eulogy, Robert Saunders fondly recalled how his brother had single-handedly
won them a game of touch football, and how he would piggy-back his brother home from
school on hot days.
"He lived for his family, his kids and his sports," he said.
"He was much loved and highly thought of.
"Good men must die but can never be killed, because the memories we have of them
will live on forever."
Also paying respects at the service were Brisbane Broncos star Justin Hodges,
Australian Test coach Ricky Stuart, team mate Carl Webb and incoming North
Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry.