Former prime minister Bob Hawke visits Melbourne, says he is ‘not too bad’ after health scare

FORMER prime minister Bob Hawke has been spotted at Melbourne’s Southbank in a wheelchair but is still smiling, saying he is feeling all right after his fall and hospital stay earlier this month.

FORMER prime minister Bob Hawke is out of hospital and visiting Melbourne after a fall earlier this month.

The 88-year-old was accompanied by his wife, Blanche d’Alpuget, as he left the Langham Hotel in Southbank on Wednesday night to attend a function.

Flanked by an entourage of security, Mr Hawke was pushed in his wheelchair from the hotel into a waiting van about 5.30pm.

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Asked how he was feeling since falling and bumping his head over a fortnight ago, Mr Hawke smiled and said he was “not too bad”.

He is also expected to be the star turn at Victorian Labor’s State Conference at Moonee Valley racecourse this ­weekend. Ms d’Alpuget said: “Bob is out of hospital and is attending a private function in Melbourne.”

The couple flew down to Melbourne on Tuesday after he checked out of a rehabilitation facility that morning.

Former prime minister Bob Hawke leaves the Langham. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Hawke was admitted to Sydney’s Royal North Shore hospital for “minor tests” after his fall. He was transferred for rehab amid reports he had suffered concussion. But Ms d’Alpuget said he remained as sharp as a tack.

“He astonished an occupational therapist by getting 100 per cent in a cognitive test, first time in her life she had come across that,” she said.

After the fall, sources said: “Hawkie is fine and anxious to get home and back to his cigar and crosswords.”

Mr Hawke was driven to a function. Picture: Mark Stewart

But the busy octogenarian did not take time out for that, jumping straight on a plane to Melbourne the moment he was discharged.

The former ALP leader served as Australia’s 23rd prime minister from 1983-1991 and led Labor to four consecutive election victories.

Mr Hawke’s place in the Labor pantheon was formally acknowledged in 2009 when he became only the third person to be awarded national life membership of the party.

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