Rohan Dennis has attended his wife Melissa Hoskins’ funeral after being accused of running her down with his ute.
The 33-year-old was asked to enter through a separate door to the West Chapel when he arrived at the Fremantle Cemetery in Perth on Wednesday.
He was blocked by a funeral official as he carried one of his young children into the service, who asked him to enter through a back door.
More than 100 mourners gathered to farewell the Olympic cyclist and mother-of-two, whose wooden casket arrived covered in sunflowers.
Dennis left the service carrying his young daughter, who was seen clutching one of the sunflowers from her mother’s coffin. His young son followed close behind.
The program for the service included a photo showing a proud moment from her cycling career and a list of her key achievements in the sport.
Ms Hoskins’ life was cut tragically short on December 30 when her husband, a fellow professional athlete, allegedly struck her with a luxury car outside their $2.45million home in the affluent Adelaide of Medindie.
He was arrested in January and charged with causing his wife’s death by dangerous driving, driving without due care, and endangering life.
Dennis, who is yet to enter pleas to the charges, is on bail and is scheduled to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13.
Dennis (pictured holding his daughter) made a surprise appearance at the memorial service
Dennis left the service carrying his young daughter, with his son following close behind
Dennis carried his young daughter out of the service, who clutched a sunflower from the coffin
Two children look at Melissa Hoskins’ coffin as they are carried into her funeral
Ms Hoskins’ body arrived in a white hearse accompanied by several mourners
The wooden casket was carried into the chapel covered in yellow sunflowers
Ms Hoskins’ father Peter gave the eulogy but struggled to begin as he wept.
‘There should’ve been more. There’s not going to be more,’ he said, through tears.
‘But we are left with a lifetime of memories.’
Mr Hoskins made no mention of the man charged with killing his daughter.
He said Melissa was not just a daughter, but also a mother, wife and granddaughter.
‘She was always doing something when she wasn’t listening to music and just bopping around,’ he said.
‘Everything from footy with the boys, swimming, surfing, teeball, netball, basketball – even cheerleading, we did the lot.’
In his welcome, Clint Wheeldon said Ms Hoskins was ‘adventurous, brave and lived life to the fullest.’
‘It is most likely Mel would want us to get on with our life,’ he said.
‘She had time for everyone. Her achievements and her legacy will never be forgotten.’
Her husband, fellow professional athlete Rohan Dennis, allegedly struck her with a luxury car outside their $2.45m home in Adelaide
Pictured is the order of service for the funeral of Melissa Dennis in Perth
Ms Hoskins’ funeral is being held in Perth, where she grew up, at Fremantle Cemetery
Mourners, some in bright colours, arrive at the funeral to celebrate the life of Ms Hoskins
More than 100 mourners gathered at the West Chapel at Fremantle Cemetery in Perth
Mr Hoskins said his daughter’s gold medal and world record – smashed by three seconds – in the team pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships in France was her career highlight.
‘She was a giver, would lend anything to anyone,’ he said. ‘She loved to cook and entertain.’
He said she loved gin and tonic and encouraged everyone to have a generous serve tonight to celebrate a life that had been cut short.
‘We are grieving, all of us,’ he said. There should have been more.’
In her tribute, sister Jess cried as she recalled Ms Hoskins as her best friend.
‘I already feel so lost and lonely,’ she said.
She remembered their trampoline competitions when they were younger and who could do the most laps in the pool without taking a breath.
A funny story about Ms Hoskins’ imaginary friend Danielle, who she begged to play with them, received laughs from the procession.
She vowed to help care for her sister’s two young children.
‘Every time I look at them I see you,’ she said. ‘This has been the most difficult two weeks of my life.’
Olympic gold medallist Anna Meares was among the mourners as well as Cycling chief executive Marne Fechner.
A montage of pictures was played to the songs Perfect by Fairground Attraction Chords and George Ezra’s Shotgun.
A service will also be held in Adelaide after the Tour Down Under cycling event.
Melissa Hoskins is pictured with her father Peter in happier times
Ms Hoskins’ life was cut tragically short in a horror car crash on December 30
Police have not revealed details of Ms Hoskins’ death, but it has been reported she allegedly jumped onto the bonnet of a $70,000 dark grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 and grabbed at a door handle before the vehicle drove off and she fell to the ground.
It is further alleged she may have been dragged along by the vehicle, with the incident captured on a neighbour’s security camera.
Ms Hoskins and Mr Dennis became trackside sweethearts during the London Olympics in 2012.
They married in February 2018 and split their time between Girona in Spain, La Massana in Andorra and Adelaide.
Their son was born in 2018, followed by a daughter in 2021.
The young family recently settled into their Adelaide colonial mansion, which they had purchased in 2019 but rented out for a few years prior.
Dennis, a former world champion cyclist and Olympian, has been charged with causing his wife’s death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life
The 33-year-old, who is yet to enter pleas to the charges, is on bail and is scheduled to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13
TRIBUTES
Ms Hoskins was remembered by her parents, Peter and Amanda, and sister, Jess, as a ‘freewheeling spirit’ and ‘a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life’.
In a statement, the family said they were ‘utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened’, acknowledging that her children had also lost their beloved mother.
‘She was the rock of their life and ours, and we need to honour her memory so they can grow up knowing who she was, what she stood for and what she gave to everyone whose life she touched,’ they said.
‘The outpouring of sadness and support has overwhelmed us. In her short life, Melissa has had so many positive touch points in and around the world.’
Melissa Hoskins (right) with her sister Jessica Locke
The professional athletes became trackside sweethearts during the London Olympics in 2012
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Raised in Kalamunda, in the Perth Hills, Ms Hoskins was a student at Walliston Primary School, then Carmel Adventist College.
She started competitive cycling aged 16, specialising in gruelling endurance events.
Later, Ms Hoskins enrolled but did not complete a Bachelor of Sports Science at Murdoch University from 2010 to 2012 and was a member of the Elite Athlete Program.
She also completed one unit at Curtin University.
Melissa Hoskins with her mother Amanda
CYCLING CAREER
Ms Hoskins was part of ‘s ride-off for bronze in London but the three-rider squad was defeated by the US.
Four years later, ‘s four-rider team was expected to challenge Great Britain for gold at the Rio Olympics.
But she suffered an injury and although she rode the first two rounds, she sat out the final where the team finished in fifth place.
Ms Hoskins won gold in the women’s team pursuit at the 2015 World Championships.