Patti’s tribute to Bert: ‘He lived to be loved’

Patti Newton has paid tribute to her showbiz king husband on the eve of his state funeral, saying Bert was a “wonderful, fun man” who just wanted to be loved.

Patti Newton says her husband showbiz king Bert Newton lived to be loved — but never thought he was — and would be stunned by the outpouring of grief and affection over his passing.

“He would be overwhelmed by the response,’ Patti told the Herald Sun. “I’m overwhelmed by it, because I find myself thinking: I hope I appreciated him enough. I hope I told him how fabulous he was.”

Patti added: “Bert wanted to be loved and he never thought he was. He wanted more than anything in the world to be loved. He always said, ‘Do you love me?’ I’d say, ‘Don’t be stupid, of course I love you.’ Nothing was enough. It had to be more.”

Patti is braced for more love, support, prayers and tributes from around the nation, as she, daughter Lauren, son Matthew, son-in-law Matt and grandchildren Sam, Eva, Lola, Monty, Perla, and Alby, farewell Bert at a state funeral in Melbourne on Friday.

Patti and Bert Newton on opening night of Chicago in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

Bert Newton, a TV, radio and theatre icon, passed away on October 30 from complications after having his leg amputated. He was 83.

“Personally, as far the family, we want him remembered as a wonderful, loving fun man who lived with us at home,” Patti said. “Lauren used to say, as a girl, ‘I’m so lucky, I’ve got two dads, one on tele, and one at home.’ That’s how it was. He was a family man, more than anything. Bert loved being around his grandkids.”

Patti understands Bert’s professional peers will acknowledge him differently.

“As far as his career goes, Bert was the ultimate, really,” she said.

“But, out of everything Bert did, he would want to be remembered as somebody that people knew they could rely on. Bert was a very caring man, probably to a fault. He loved to spread the champagne and chocolates. He didn’t just do it with the people he worked with, he did it as home, too.”

Brave Patti also faced the heartbreak of marking her 47th wedding anniversary without Bert on Tuesday.

Newton and Patti McGrath, a singer, actor and dancer, tied the knot in Camberwell on November 9, 1974.

“We were together for over 50 years,” Patti said.

“On our wedding rings we’ve got (inscribed), ‘No longer two, but one.’ And really, that’s how it was, that’s how we were as a couple.

Bert Newton and Patti Newton on The Don Lane Show. Picture: Channel 9

“We had our ups and downs. The thing is, we always stuck together and we did it as a team. We always worked it out, and we did it as a couple, and that’s why we lasted.

“It was our wedding anniversary (on Tuesday), and you think, it’s such a long time. I was 21 when I started going out with Bert, and I’m now 76.

“It’s a long time to spend with somebody and it will be hard not to have him around.”

Patti said, even in illness, Bert was planning for the future. That was his strategy to forward focus and beat obstacles.

“He loved life, and if I may say, he had no intention of going,” Patti said.

She said Bert had plans to write a book about “all the funny stories that happened to him,” and jokes he was eyeing off Eddie McGuire’s quiz show, Millionaire Hot Seat.

“Bert was watching Eddie on TV, and he’d say, ‘You know, I think I could do that show well.’ I’d laugh and think, ‘Hang on, you’ve got one leg, and you’re not looking the best, I don’t think it’s you they’d choose,” Patti said, with a laugh.

Bert and Patti Newton were once immortalised on a Heinz beans can as part of a new art collaboration. Picture: David Caird

“For Bert, a big thing in life was always having something to look forward to. That’s what he’d think about when he was on his own.”

They had planned for a new life if Bert recovered and left hospital. The family built a new room, with ensuite, downstairs for easy access.

“We put a big wall up with shelves for his memorabilia, so he could lay on the bed and have something to look at,” Patti said.

But when Patti began putting Logies on the shelves, there were only 17. “I think he had about 36,” she said. “I can’t imagine where they’ve all gone.”

She suspects Bert gave them away, adding: “I think there’s a lot of people out there with Bert’s Logies that I don’t know about. If it gives them pleasure, great.”

Patti Newton says she has a picture filled with hopes, dreams and love hanging over her bed. It is her wedding photo with Bert Newton, her king, and our national treasure.

“I see that picture every night and every day,” Patti said.

“Now I have good reason to look at Bert to say good morning and good night.”