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Church bells tolled amid tears and anguish at the funeral of Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, killed in a helicopter crash on the Gold Coast.

Family and friends held a funeral service at Saint John the Beloved in Mount Druitt, Sydney, to farewell Ms Tadros, 36.

She was one of four people killed when two helicopters collided and the chopper she was in crashed into a sand bar near Sea World on January 2.

Ms Tadros' 10-year-old son Nicholas, who was in one of the helicopters with his mother, woke from a coma on Sunday but remains in a critical condition.

Husband Simon's eulogy was punctuated by silences as he held back tears in unison with hundreds of mourners at the Maronite Catholic church in western Sydney.

"Vanessa was a special person. Her smile was infectious ... she had a pure heart ... every day we grew strong together. She was our protector," he told the congregation, mostly comprised of Lebanese and Egyptian Australians.

"To my beautiful wife, I will always love you no matter what challenges face us. I know you'll always be with me. Rest in peace, beautiful."

But amid the pain of farewelling his wife of 12 years, Mr Tadros found room for lightness.

"If you knew my wife, she'd call me rude if I didn't thank everybody, so thank you for coming," he said.

Mr Tadros will travel to the Gold Coast on Monday evening after Ms Tadros' burial to be with his son as he continues his slow recovery.

Vanessa's mother Rita was consoled by family members, in front of a hearse adorned with a massive bouquet of white flowers and sealed with a cross in the church's courtyard.

Pierre, a congregant in his 50s, said Ms Tadros embodied the ideal of a loving family.

"We feel so much pain. Vanessa was so pure-hearted - simply the best and kindest," he told AAP.

"Her mum is such a lovely lady who is so broken hearted."

The service was conducted in Arabic and English by Coptic Orthodox and Lebanese Maronite priests.

Among those who came to pay their respect was Ranya, a woman in her 40s who grew up with the Tadros family.

"The whole family is humble and they have been such good support to each other amid this terrible tragedy," she told AAP.

An online fundraising campaign to help the family has reached more than $62,000 in donations.

Nicholas, who is a grade 5 student at Bethany Catholic Primary School, is expected to have more surgeries this week. He has served as an altar boy where his mother's funeral was held.

British couple Ron and Diane Hughes and pilot Ashley Jenkinson were also killed in the crash.

Mr Jenkinson's funeral was held on the Gold Coast on Friday.

Air Transport Safety Bureau investigators are not expected to complete their probe into the accident until September, 2024.

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Two teenagers accused of murdering a Queensland mother during an alleged Boxing Day home invasion will remain in custody.

The two boys were charged after 41-year-old Emma Lovell was fatally stabbed were not required to appear during a Children's Court hearing in Brisbane on Monday.

Magistrate Peter Saggers said bail applications could not be made during the brief hearing.

Police allege the two boys broke into a North Lakes house north of Brisbane and attacked Ms Lovell and her 43-year-old husband Lee when they were confronted about 11.30pm on Boxing Day.

Ms Lovell died after suffering stab wounds to the chest while her husband was treated in hospital for a knife wound, police said.

The 17-year-old boys were charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and entering a dwelling with intent in company.

Mr Saggers approved an application from several media organisations for journalists to remain in the courtroom on Monday.

"It is a matter in which there is significant public interest," he said.

"In my view the interest of the children would not be prejudiced in reporting how a matter progresses through the court

"The public should know how the cases proceed through the court."

Mr Saggers on Monday reminded journalists that they were legally barred from publishing any personally identifying details about the accused juveniles.

The matter will be next heard on February 27 for the police prosecution to provide a partial brief of evidence.

A committal mention for the matter will be heard on March 13.

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Dave Rennie has been axed as Wallabies coach, with Eddie Jones set to replace him eight months out for the rugby World Cup.

Former Australia coach Jones was himself relieved from his England coaching duties in December and had been in talks with Rugby Australia for a return in some capacity.

Rennie last week told media Jones would have no involvement with the side at this year's World Cup while also denying he had signed a deal to coach in Japan once his contract expires at the end of this year.

But on Monday Rennie was released from his duties, Jones set to take up a five-year deal - 18 years after he last held the role - while also take on the women's Wallaroos job in a "world-first" appointment.

He'll begin on January 29.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup," Jones said.

"It is going to be an immense period for Australian Rugby - as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years.

"The Wallabies squad is a really talented group of players with good depth - if we can have everyone fit and healthy going into the World Cup this year, I am confident that we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup.

"I saw how gutsy the Wallaroos were in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year - it looks like there is a real spirit in that group that will drive the women's program forward ahead of their next World Cup in 2025.

"I am really looking forward to getting back home and getting stuck in."

Rennie finishes with a winning percentage of 38, the lowest of any Wallabies coach who has overseen at least 30 Tests.

Conversely, Jones was sensationally sacked despite an England-best 73 per cent winning ratio as coach.

The lengthy deal will see Jones at the helm during the Wallabies' home series against the British and Irish Lions in 2025 and 2027 World Cup in Australia.

"It is a major coup for Australian Rugby to have the best coach in the world return home to coach the iconic Wallabies and to oversee the Wallaroos program," RA Chairman Hamish McLennan said.

"Eddie's deep understanding of our rugby system and knowledge of our player group and pathways will lift the team to the next level.

"Eddie instinctively understands the Australian way of playing rugby - this represents an opportunity to secure a coach of immense expertise and experience at the biggest competitions, and we did not want to miss it."

RA chief executive Andy Marinos credited Rennie for building the squad's depth after the New Zealander was hit hard by key injuries during his tenure.

"The work ethic, the spirit within the group, and the way the team carries itself are all a direct result of Dave's input," he said.

"He has made a real mark on this group of players."

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Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek face stern but vastly different early tests as the respective men's and women's top seeds headline the day-one Australian Open action in Melbourne.

Winless in two matches at the season-opening United Cup in Sydney, Nadal won't have the luxury of easing into his Open title defence against rising British star Jack Draper.

Draper, at a career-high 38th in the world after an impressive start to the summer, is among the most dangerous unseeded players in the draw, as the likes of top-10 heavyweights Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz know too well after succumbing to the 21-year-old last season.

"Probably one of the toughest first rounds possible, being seeded. Young, powerful, growing very, very fast on the ranking, playing well," Nadal said of his challenger.

"A big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. Let's see. I'm here to just give myself a chance.

"I know he's playing well. He has a lot of positive things, and probably a great career in front.

"I hope to be ready to fight for that first round and let's see what can happen."

A victor just once in his past six matches, the great Spaniard needs to emerge from a rut that may explain why men's tennis's most prolific major winner surprised onlookers when he hurled his racquet, most un-Nadal like, into the court in frustration during practice on Friday.

"I don't know if I had in the past those results," said the 22-time grand slam champion.

"(But) that's part of our journey. You need to live with your personal momentum. My personal momentum is not bad, I tell you. I am good and happy. I'm practising well.

"Then I need to win a couple of matches. If that can happen here - I hope."

Nadal's vanquished 2022 final opponent Daniil Medvedev is another big name in action on Monday.

Runner-up also in 2021, to Novak Djokovic, Medvedev is somewhat flying under the radar entering his first-round meeting with American Marcos Garon after tumbling from world No.1 to eighth.

Seeded seventh, the Russian is projected to face Nadal in the quarter-finals.

Jason Kubler, John Millman and Rinky Hijikata are the only Australian men playing on Monday, with seeded big guns Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur starting on Tuesday.

Swiatek, the reigning French and US Open champion and bidding for the third leg of a career grand slam, launches her title quest against German Jule Niemeier.

The Polish world No.1 ousted the 68th-ranked Niemeier from the US Open in September in their only previous encounter.

But after withdrawing from the Adelaide International 2 with a shoulder problem, and being thumped by world No.3 Jessica Pegula in her most recent outing at the United Cup, Swiatek's fitness will be under the microscope on Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

Pegula, triumphant United Cup US teammate Madison Keys, last year's Open runner-up Danielle Collins, fellow American seed Coco Gauff and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina also feature on day one.

Wildcards Olivia Gadecki, Storm Hunter and Talia Gibson will fly the Australian flag.

© AAP 2023