Simone Callahan, the former wife of cricket icon Shane Warne, has posted a heartfelt birthday message for their son Jackson, who turned 27 on Wednesday. The mother of three, who shares children Brooke, Jackson, and Summer with the late spin king, took to social media to share a collection of nostalgic photos.
A Mother's Loving Words
'Happy 27th Birthday Jackson,' Simone wrote in her post. 'I love & admire watching you grow into the man you are today, keep dreaming big. I know dad is shining down on you. He would be super proud, love you Freddy.'
The gallery included a throwback image of Shane carrying a baby Jackson, with a young Brooke smiling nearby. Other photos captured father and son enjoying family trips and outings.
Jackson's Response and Fans' Support
Jackson quickly replied to the sweet tribute, commenting with a string of red heart emojis. Supporters flooded the post with well-wishes. One fan remarked, 'He is so mature. His podcast is so enjoyable. One of the best. Happy Birthday, Jackson.' Another added, 'Happy Birthday Jackson! What an amazing man you have become. The love, support and inspiration you have received is certainly shining through.'
Simone Opens Up About Shane's Death
The tribute comes days after Simone spoke candidly about the devastating moment she learned of Shane's death. Appearing on Jackson's podcast, Warnes Way, she recalled the surreal horror of that night in March 2022.
Simone, who lives in the coastal town of Somers, about an hour outside Melbourne, was on her way home to collect daughter Summer when messages began pouring in. 'It didn't feel real,' she told Jackson. 'We were just having a normal Friday night. Then that just unfolded the way it did and having to go back to Melbourne and get Summer and getting a call on the way back.'
She described the moment she realised the gravity of the situation: 'Saying are you nearly home, when I got that message I thought this isn't good if they're asking me if I'm nearly home with Summer because they wanted us all together for the next phone call. Our lives were changed forever in that moment.'
Supporting Her Children Through Grief
In the chaotic weeks following Shane's death, as the world mourned one of Australia's greatest sporting legends, Simone watched her children thrust into the spotlight, tasked with organising a funeral and memorial while grappling with their own grief. Much of that period remains a blur for her.
'I had so much going on because I was worried about you guys because you were being pulled left, right and centre to organise the funeral, the memorial,' she told Jackson. 'There was so much going on... I always felt a sense of guilt that you were having to deal with that. You guys were young, it was out of my control. It was hard for me to see all that.'
She added, 'I was so proud of the way you guys handled yourselves and I knew you would, but it was very hard for me to watch and see you go through all that. It was really heavy and you guys had really heavy hearts and you didn't have a moment to really grieve at all during that time.'
Jackson's Perspective
For Jackson, the thought of making his father proud kept him going during the darkest days. Even four years on, he has not yet had the emotional release of tears. 'I felt a sense of duty that I know dad would want me to do this,' he said. 'You're not a big crier, dad's not a really big crier. I haven't had that big cry yet... some people say it comes years after or in two or three years or whatever it is.'
