Music legends and fans remember Olivia Newton-John at state memorial at Hamer Hall, Melbourne

There were touching moments at Olivia Newton-John’s star-studded state memorial, including a message from her daughter Chloe who said “I know she’s here, standing beside me, and within me”.

Olivia Newton-John’s memorial was at Hamer Hall, Melbourne. Picture: Jason Edwards. Picture: Supplied

Olivia Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi echoed a nation’s reflective silence and heartbreak as she paid an emotional tribute to her superstar mother at a state memorial in Melbourne on Sunday.

“My heart is broken in two – the other half is with my mumma. I know she’s holding it for me until we meet again,” Lattanzi, 37, said.

“I stand here before you so desperately wanting to feel strong and confident and speak eloquently, but the truth is, 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 added.

Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi. Picture: Jason Edwards

Delta Goodrem performing at the Newton-John’s state memorial. Picture: Jason Edwards

Newton-John’s husband John Easterling. Picture: Jason Edwards

Richard Wilkins and Son Christian Wilkins. Picture: Jason Edwards

Delta Goodrem. Picture: Jason Edwards

Tottie Goldsmith. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I know she’s here, standing beside me, and within me. I can hear her voice, ‘You are safe, my darling, don’t be afraid. You are so much stronger than you think’.”

Newton-John, a pop star, movie star and wellness warrior, died from cancer, after living with the disease for 30 years, last August. She was 73.

Lattanzi and Newton-John’s husband John Easterling attended the state memorial at Hamer Hall. VIP guests included Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, singers Delta Goodrem, Kate Ceberano, Vika and Linda Bull and Mark Seymour, broadcaster Richard Wilkins, showbiz legend Patti Newton, and actor Magda Szubanski.

Newton-John’s niece Tottie Goldsmith (below) also paid tribute.

Elton John described Olivia Newton-John as a ‘wonderful force of nature’.

Celebrities and VIPs paid tribute at Olivia Newton-John’s state memorial. Picture: AFP

Olivia Newton-John performing at Fire Fight Australia in Sydney. Picture: Getty

Olivia Newton-John died in August 2022. Picture: Supplied

Newton-John’s song Grace And Gratitude featured in the memorial. Picture: Getty

Fighting back tears, Lattanzi, a singer-songwriter, shared her favourite moments with her mother.

“I loved laughing with my mum,” Lattanzi said. “She didn’t tell dirty jokes, but she laughed the hardest at them.”

She said they loved watching trashy TV, but would flip the channel whenever Easterling appeared. Lattanzi loved to make her mother tea, then do it five more times, until she got it right.

“My mum could find the beauty in everything. My favourite thing to do was watch her watching the birds and flowers, smelling her roses an inch away form her face,” Lattanzi said. “It was a thing of beauty.”

She added tearfully: “I love how she loved, fully and completely. This life experience is temporary, and my mother is a perfect example of a life truly lived.”

Goodrem performed a medley of Newton-John’s songs, including Physical, You’re The One That I Want, Let Me Be There, and Hopelessly Devoted To You.

Goodrem told the Herald Sun on Sunday: “Olivia was a positive and joyous human who brought love and light to us all. For me, it’s about celebrating the songs that are the soundtrack to our lives.”

Easterling, a businessman and environmentalist, said Newton-John was a healer.

“Every day with Olivia was a bit of magic,” he said at the memorial service.

“I carry and feel Olivia’s presence, her sense of humour and her spirit of adventure. That gives me the strength to carry on until I find her again in that ultimate space of love and light.”

He added: “Olivia, our love for each other transcends our understanding. Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural.

“We never had to work on it. We were in all this great mystery, and just accepted the experience of our love is past, present and forever.”

Sir Elton John, Dolly Parton, Nicole Kidman, Cliff Richard, Pink, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman, Richard Marx and Barry Gibb paid homage to Newton-John via video messages.

Professor Matthias Ernst, from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and Debbie Shiell, of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, vowed to continue her work.

Goldsmith said her famous aunty was unpretentious and a magical being. “Thank you for your love, your sunshine and your deep wisdom,” Goldsmith said.

Wilkins said Newton-John remained humble, and defiantly Aussie, even after conquering the music and movie world.

“She will not only be remembered for the wonderful music, the fabulous films and all those awards, record sales, chart positions and the box office receipts, but for the love and light she brought into the world and received in return.

“We love you Liv, we honestly do.”

Why gardens gave Olivia ‘solace and peace’

It was one of Olivia Newton-John’s favourite places in the world — a peaceful paradise far removed from Hollywood and the showbiz lifestyle.

Throughout her celebrated career Newton-John always returned to Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens where she found “solace and peace” and to connect with nature.

“It was a very private place for Olivia,” Royal Botanic Gardens director and chief executive, Professor Tim Entwisle said yesterday. “My feeling is, it was a place for her to be anonymous. That’s why the garden had a very special place in her heart.”

Olivia Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi and husband John Easterling, before the star’s Melbourne memorial. Olivia loved being surrounded by nature. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Herald and Weekly Times chair Penny Fowler, John Easterling, Chloe Lattanzi and Royal Botanical Gardens chief Tim Entwistle, at the place Olivia loved. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Her mother, Irene Born, would take young Olivia to the gardens at every opportunity. “She was always very concerned about trees in the Botanic Gardens,” Olivia said two years ago. – “We lived next door to the gardens and we used to walk there every day.”

Irene passed away in 2003. A memorial bench, dedicated to Newton-John’s mother, overlooks Tennyson’s Lawn, at the Anderson St end of the garden.

Newton-John would visit the garden every time she returned to Melbourne. She would always start at the top end and usually walk the entire length and breadth of the peaceful parklands.

“It was easy for her to find something new and different with each season,” Professor Entwisle said.

“Melburnians are very proud of their garden, and Olivia was no different. It’s not uncommon that people see the garden as an essential part of Melbourne. And when they return, they always go back.”

A state memorial for Newton-John will be held at Hamer Hall from 4pm on Sunday.

Mr Easterling, Ms Lattanzi, and Olivia’s niece Tottie Goldsmith, will pay tribute at the event on behalf of Newton-John’s family.

Pop star Delta Goodrem will perform at the state memorial, and David Campbell is the master of ceremonies. Australian PM Anthony Albanese will also attend the event.