Emotional scenes as Bert Newton funeral comes to an end
Images captured the emotional moment Bert Newton’s beloved wife Patti sobbed as she walked beside her husband’s casket as his state funeral came to an end.
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The state funeral for Australian icon Bert Newton has come to an emotional end, with his beloved wife Patti crying as she approached her husband’s coffin.
The 76-year-old could be heard quietly sobbing as she walked beside her husband’s casket as it was taken out of the cathedral after the ceremony.
Outside the church, she hugged her granddaughter closely as they said a final farewell to Newton before doves were released.
The legendary showman died last month aged 83. He died while undergoing palliative care at a private clinic in Melbourne after having his leg amputated earlier this year due to a life threatening infection.
A state funeral was held for Newton at St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne today, coming to an end shortly after 12pm.
Touching letters from icon’s children
A letter from his son Matthew, who lives in New York and was unable to attend the funeral due to the pandemic, was read out by Peter Smith.
In the letter, Matthew said a final conversation he had with his father in the days before his death was “different from the usual, and we both knew it”.
“The change was never directly stated but we just said how much we loved each other. During this wonderful chat, my mother was pottering around in the background, adding her two cents every now and again and doing lovely things for dad, as usual,” he said.
“At one point, she took something into another room and the second she left, dad leaned into the phone camera and whispered, I think she is poisoning my food, Matthew!
“Well, we both laughed and laughed until we cried.”
In his letter, Matthew said while his dad was a great entertainer, he wasn’t only around “for the laughs”.
“Those close to him experienced how he’d show up in the tough times too. No one more than me,” he said.
Matthew said his mum Patti was a “lioness” who loved, supported and cherished her husband.
“You two were a team, are a team, and even though your partner isn’t on stage any more, the show goes on and you’ll be OK. Mainly because you’ll have Lauren’s 97 children to take care of you,” he said.
He said the grandchildren gave Newton a “new lease on life” in his seventh and eight decade.
Earlier this month, Patti rubbished media reports suggesting there was any sort of “rift” between Matthew, who is an actor and director, and Bert before his death.
Speaking to Daily Mail reporters, the showbiz icon’s widow said Matthew wouldn’t be able to attend his father’s funeral due to the pandemic, adding that “the press are just desperate to find a little glitch into (their relationship).”
Matthew’s relationship with his parents was understood to have been quite strained over the years in the wake of alleged domestic violence claims against him.
Newton and Patti spoke of their heartbreak to A Current Affair in 2010 following two alleged domestic violence incidents involving then fiance Rachael Taylor at a hotel in Rome.
Newton’s daughter Lauren also wrote a letter, which was read by Mr Smith, in which she said she could “never put into words” how much she loves her dad.
“From the love I felt as a child to watching him laugh and play games with my own children, he made us feel so special and always brought laughter and fun to everything we did. When I was a little girl I always felt I was so lucky, I had two dads – one on TV and one at home,” she said.
“He was the same funny, warm, wonderful person everyone watched on TV, but at home he was even better.”
Lauren recalled how her dad would spend hours playing with his grandchildren, even when he was in the hospital.
“Saying goodbye has been heartbreaking for us all, especially mum. They loved one another so much and I know how he waited until she left the room to take his last breath because while she was with him he couldn’t have gone,” she said.
“My beautiful dad will be with us forever in our hearts and memories, but life will never be the same without him. I love you dad.”
Patti other family members arrived at St Patrick’s Cathedral shortly after 9am on Friday.
A sweet photo taken ahead of the service shows Newton’s granddaughter, being held by his daughter Lauren, reaching out to touch his coffin.
Patti was seen looking sombre walking into the Cathedral holding the hands of her grandchildren.
Wearing a sequined black jacket, the 76-year-old said nothing as she was led to the front of the room with her family, instead nodding to those in attendance.
The dimly lit cathedral quickly filled with mourners – among them family members, close friends, TV personalities and politicians.
Patti and the family were ushered quickly for the front of the church. She held her grandchildren's hands and nodded at those who had turned up to show respect to Bert.
There were lots of smiles and laughter from those in attendance as people caught up before the service, brought together by the loss of one of Australia’s greatest ever entertainers.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived at the church, walking straight to the front where he greeted Patti and Lauren Newton warmly.
Mr Morrison and Patti spoke for several minutes, even sharing a laugh behind face masks. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews followed soon after the Prime Minister.
Some other notable arrivals so far include Molly Meldrum, Peter Costello, Andy Lee, Rhonda Birchmore, Eddie McGuire, Anthony Albanese.
Around 500 people are expected to attend the funeral in person, including dignitaries and those who were personally invited by Patti and the Newton family.
Australian presenter, Eddie McGuire, will be performing the eulogy at Newton’s funeral, telling The Herald Sun was “deeply honoured” by the request.
“It comes to me as a kid who used to beg mum and dad to stay up late to watch Bert’s Wheel (on the 1970s variety program The Don Lane Show),” he said.
“I’m deeply honoured that Patti asked me to speak on her behalf, and that Bert was keen for me to do it.
“I hope in the short time frame I’ve been allowed by the office of protocol, I do it justice for Bert’s family and friends.”
How to watch the funeral
For those wishing to view the service, the ceremony will be live streamed on Channel 7, Channel 9 and Channel 10 from 9.15am AEDT on November 12, with official proceedings to begin at 10am.
You can also follow live coverage of the funeral here on news.com.au.
The event will also be live-streamed on the Victorian Government website, after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews offered a state funeral for Newton shortly after news of his death on October 30.
Those who wish to pay tribute to Newton have been asked to consider making a donation to Villa Maria Catholic Homes, in lieu of floral tributes.
Premier honours ‘clever, cheeky’ Newton
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the Australian entertainer would be “honoured to be farewelled with a full Requiem Mass” at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
“He was always there, omnipresent, on our screens and in our homes. To Australia, Bert wasn’t just a man on a screen or an actor on a stage, he was someone we all felt we knew,” Mr Andrews said.
“Like a fire place on a cold night, families would gather around their TV sets, drawn in by Bert’s warmth and sustained by his inviting ease. Bert was more than talent. He was trust.
“His story is the story of Australian television, and while he was first beamed into our homes in black and white, Bert was colour TV long before the technology arrived.”
Mr Andrews branded Newton as a “supreme talent”, describing him as witty, clever and cheeky.
“He was a pioneer, an icon, a legend,” he said.
“On behalf of all Victorians, I offer sincere condolences to Patti and the Newton family. We are all richer for his life and poorer for his passing.
“Still, ladies and gentlemen, I think we can be certain that his credits will roll on and on and on. Vale Bert Newton.”
Eddie McGuire delivered a moving eulogy, paying tribute to Newton’s “generosity of spirit.”
“He gave himself to make a show work, a segment pop, to give everything for his beloved audience,” he said.
“Bert was a giant, among the givers of the world, he stands tallest. He has more than paid rent for the space he occupied on this planet.”
Order of Service
The service is expected to begin at 10am. Below is an overview of the proceedings.
• Welcome and Gathering, delivered by St Patrick’s Cathedral’s Very Reverend Werner Utri.
• Australian National Anthem, performed by Silvie Paladino.
• On behalf of the people of Victoria, delivered by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
• Words of remembrance, delivered by Eddie McGuire AM
• The Prayer, performed by Anthony Callea and accompanied by John Foreman OAM
• Tribute on behalf of the Newton Family, delivered by Peter Smith OAM
• Requiem mass
Originally published as Emotional scenes as Bert Newton funeral comes to an end
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