The parents of a 48-year-old man who died from cancer have paid an emotional visit to their son's final resting place in Australia.

Gorleston couple Stan and Wendy Evans and daughter Carina Rowswell have just returned from Sydney after a visit to Neil Evan's grave at Waverley Cemetery.

Neil died in 2021 during the pandemic from melanoma cancer aged 48-years-old.

This was his family's first chance to visit the iconic cemetery between Coogee and Bronte overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

On arrival, the family went to St Mark's Anglican Church for a short service at Darling Point with the Rev Dr Michael Jensen who had conducted Neil's funeral service in 2021. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Gorleston man Neil Evans' final resting place is at a cemetary in Sydney overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Gorleston man Neil Evans' final resting place is at a cemetary in Sydney overlooking the Pacific Ocean. (Image: Supplied by family)

Last year, the family, friends and Sean Brady raised £50,000 for a mole mapping machine for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in memory of Neil. 

Before Neil died, he with his partner Sonia Nazaretian set up the Neil Evans Melanoma Foundation in Australia.

The charity has already helped seven people with the cost of their melanoma treatment which can be expensive in Australia.

READ MORE: Tributes paid to 'visionary' teacher who changed people's lives

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Neil Evans, the first Norfolk person to play badminton for England, died in Australia in 2021. Neil Evans, the first Norfolk person to play badminton for England, died in Australia in 2021. (Image: Supplied by family)

Neil was a sports enthusiast in his youth, playing football, tennis, cricket and golf.

When he was 15, he was the first person from Norfolk selected to play badminton for the England junior team.

He competed at under-15 and under-16 levels, travelling all over the country and to Ireland and the Netherlands, winning the under-16 All England boys doubles title.

Unfortunately, a serious ankle injury when he was 17 cut short his badminton career.

READ MORE: Family overwhelmed by 'unreal' response to charity run for A47 crash victim

Neil had attended Cliff Park Junior and High Schools and before going to university - at Loughborough, where he would study banking and finance - he took a year off and travelled to Australia.

He never forgot the place and in 2004 emigrated there, where he worked in banks, becoming division director of Macquarie.

In 2017, he was diagnosed with melanoma.