Footy
Stynes, an Irishman, arrived in Australia at the age of 18 as part of the Melbourne Football Club's "Irish Experiment" to trial talented athletes in the AFL. His natural athleticism, Gaelic football background and fierce determination made for the right stuff.
Stynes won four best and fairests with Melbourne. His AFL record of 244 consecutive games is an extraordinary achievement. Demons' president Don McLardy pays tribute to Jim Stynes explaining, "There are few places in Australia that have not heard or been touched by the legend of Jim Stynes - the affable Irishman who left his homeland to chase a dream, and succeeded beyond anyone's expectations."
Reach Foundation
One of Stynes' great legacies is the Reach Foundation for Australian youth. Reach Foundation is based on the notion that everyone has within themselves the ability to behave in a heroic way. The work of the foundation originated from the writings of an American, Joseph Campbell, who believed that the story of the hero is common to all cultures. Stynes described his work with Reach as his "calling".
Cancer
Demons' president Don McLardy stated, "He once told me that having cancer was a privilege. He said he had worked with many young people who had been in life-threatening situations, and he never really knew how they felt. He believed having cancer would help him understand what those young people were experiencing, and make him a much better person to help them. Cancer a privilege – it takes a special person to consider that."
Wife Sam Stynes Facebooked: "It is an incredibly sad time, however, Jim in his passing has made us see that in our grief we can smile in our hearts for a beautiful man who will forever hold a special place in the hearts of many. Jim's lesson is that life was to be challenged and treasured."
"Stynes' death reminds us of the pain of losing someone so special. Comfort can be found in the legacy he has left. Ultimate comfort, however, can be found in Jesus' promise, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy." (John 16:20). Here Jesus knows He will die. He acknowledges that death brings tears and pain. But He also knows that like a true champion, Jesus wins a great victory: over sin and death. The result is that those tears of grief will be turned to tears of joy as Jesus is raised from the dead. The great joy is that all who trust in Jesus will share in His victory over death. That is why Jesus is described as the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20). The promise is that if you have Jesus as your hero and trust in His atoning work, then you also can rejoice and win victory over death."