Olivia Newton-John has been farewelled with a state memorial service at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.
The service saw friends, family and fans gather to say their final goodbyes to the Grease star, who passed in August 2022 after a 20-year-battle with breast cancer.
Newton-John’s husband John Easterling, described his wife as “a little bit of magic.”
“At her most difficult times, she always had the spirit, the humour and the willpower to move things into the light,” Easterling said.
While most of us know Newton-John for her time in the spotlight, Easterling said, “what made her most happy was being on the ranch, with the horses, chickens, cats, sitting in the courtyard, just listening to bird songs.”
This sentiment was echoed by Newton John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi, who also payed an emotional tribute to her late-mother.
“Mum could find the beauty in everything,” she said.
“My favourite thing to do was watch her watching the birds and the flowers, smelling her roses.
“And the joy it brought to her face was a thing of beauty.”
Lattanzi shared her grief with the thousands gathered to remember Newton-John, telling the emotional crowd, “I feel like a little girl lost without her mother.”
“She was my safe space, my guide, my biggest fan and the earth beneath my feet.”
Lattanzi described her heart as broken in two, explaining, “the other half is with my mamma,” she said, “I know she is holding it for me until we meet again.”
The memorial service was filled with star-studded tributes from famous faces across the globe.
In one video tribute, Dolly Parton thanked the singer for “shining your light on us” and in another, Sir Elton John described the actress as “kind, she was warm and she was talented”, while stating that her bravery and optimism would stay with him forever.
Tributes also came from Hugh Jackman, RuPaul Charles, Pink, Mariah Carey, The Bee Gees’ Sir Barry Gibb, Nicole Kidman and Sir Cliff Richard, who spoke of their love and respect for the late star.
But it was Delta Goodrem’s musical tribute that didn’t leave a dry eye in the hall, with the singer taking to the stage to perform a medley of Newton-John’s songs.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, Newton-John dedicated much of her life to fundraising and promoting cancer research.
The star’s charity work was given special mention, with Matthias Ernst from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute telling the audience how the star “generously donated her time and personally shared her passion” with many of the laboratory staff at the centre.
“It was Olivia’s warmth and her easy going personality, her authenticity that reinforced their conviction to dedicate their careers to one of the most destructive health challenges of our time,” Professor Ernst said.
She also told the audience how critically ill patients were left “beaming” after interacting with Newton-John.
“Not because she’s a superstar but because of the understanding that comes from a shared human experience,” Professor Ernst said.
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