Bob Hawke state memorial service: Former Prime Minister farewelled in Sydney
Bob Hawke’s widow Blanche d’Alpuget spoke of enduring grief at his memorial service, which offered the most Aussie farewell ever for the former PM.
Bob Hawke’s state memorial was barely a few minutes in when laughs erupted inside the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House, and the roars of cackling only continued.
Thousands of dignitaries, politicians and ordinary Australians have gathered inside and outside the Opera House, with the flags on the top of the Harbour Bridge at half-mast, to honour the life of the iconic former prime minister, who died on May 16 aged 89.
Craig Emerson was one of Mr Hawke’s closest advisers and friends and served as the service’s MC, getting things off to a hilarious start.
Mr Emerson introduced himself as “former economic, environmental and horse racing adviser” to Mr Hawke, drawing laughs from the crowd.
It was one of several times that the event was punctuated by laughter, perhaps none bigger than when Mr Hawke made a special cameo appearance to conduct the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Symphony Orchestra in its rendition of Hallelujah.
Mr Hawke’s wife of 24 years, Blanche d’Alpuget, delivered a stirring farewell to the love of her life — the final of nine speakers to pay tribute to the iconic Australian.
“Thank you for coming today to honour the life of a wonderful man,” Ms d’Alpuget said. “Four weeks ago there was a national outpouring of grief when Australia learned Bob Hawke had died. That grief has continued until today.
“Today, this memorial service marks the transition from the grief of loss to the celebration of a life triumphantly well lived.
“With today’s transformative service, we smile again, we glow with pride for the presence among us for almost 90 years of a great human being.”
Echoing the political giant’s larrikin nature, one of Mr Hawke’s favourite songs, Men at Work’s Down Under, closed the memorial, played on a didgeridoo and accompanied by the orchestra.
The @sydsymph and featuring the didgeridoo perform Men At Work's 'Land Down Under' to conclude #BobHawke’s memorial service. #auspol pic.twitter.com/OH8YTpKzK0
— ABC News (@abcnews) June 14, 2019
KEATING PRAISES FRIEND, SOMETIMES FOE
Mr Hawke’s long-time political partner and then replacement, former PM Paul Keating, spoke fondly of their shared legacy and friendship, as well as their difficulties.
The pair had an up-and-down relationship over the years but mended their rift in the final years of Mr Hawke’s life.
“Bob and I would have private skirmishes over this policy or that, even criticise one another to immediate staff, often heavy criticisms,” Mr Keating said to laughter.
“But by instinct and a very large dollop of friendship, we always remained wielded to the same objective, a point even the closest of our staff sometimes fail to comprehend. I’m not sure they knew how stuck together we were.”
HAWKE AT SEA
The eulogy was delivered by Kim Beazley, a member of the Hawke government, a former Labor leader and US Ambassador, and now the Governor of Western Australia.
Mr Beazley described him as a mentor and friend, but devoted his remarks to Mr Hawke’s long list of political reforms and achievements.
But there was one fond story that had the crowd of mourners in stitches, about the time he convinced Mr Hawke to hold a Cabinet meeting on board a ship at sea.
“As I sat weeping on my porch as I absorbed the news of his passing, the oddest memory came to mind. It was back at the time of the navy’s 75th birthday. I nagged Bob into taking the Cabinet to sea for a meeting.
“The biggest ship, HMAS Stalwart, had enough space but no Cabinet table. One was put aboard. We all came aboard. “The Stalwart passed through the Sydney Heads and began to roll. The table started to move. It pinned the PM to the bulkhead, then it retreated and then it came back harder as momentum gathered.
“‘F this’ he said repeatedly as he fought the beast and continued the meeting.
“Afterwards, pretty cross, he said to me: ‘You know, cabinet is the heart of our government, we cannot have the cabinet table running away and killing a couple of us on the way through’.”
Today’s two-hour memorial included a number of speeches, including from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.
Mr Morrison gave the first speech, beginning by saying: “Australians all let us rejoice for the life of Robert James Lee Hawke.”
“Unlike those who will follow me today, and although we did meet on a few occasions, I only knew Bob from a distance,” he said.
“But in that way I can reflect and share with you the common remembrance and speak of the affection he inspired from millions of Australians who only knew him in this way. Today, I come to speak on behalf of a nation Bob Hawke loved and that deeply loved him in return.
“It was a great romance played out in the shopping centres, with journalists tripping over cables, sporting ovals, grandstands, schools, town halls, beaches, parks, outback stations and, of course, indigenous communities all around the country.”
Mr Albanese followed the PM, sharing his memories of the man “beneath that cloud of hair”, including funny anecdotes about his larger than life character.
“Bob, as we know, is no shrinking violet,” he recalled. “After a conversation with Margaret Thatcher in 1983, he reported to the media that she thought they would both be around for a while in their respective positions.
“‘She certainly is right in one respect,’ he modestly observed.”
‘HE WAS JUST DAD’
Mr Hawke’s daughter Sue spoke about spending a lot of her childhood in her father’s very public spotlight.
“You all know that families are complex beasts at the best of times and that there can be some tough passages,” she said. “Our family is no exception. But I do count us as fortunate because, ultimately, love, laughter and deep bonds have prevailed and expanded as we’ve been enriched by partners, kids, their kids, and our stepfamily.”
Earlier, ABC News spoke to his son Stephen Hawke, as well as Sam and Kel Corbett, and Sophie Taylor-Price, the grandchildren of Bob Hawke, on the steps of the Opera House this morning.
Stephen recalled Mr Hawke “simply as my dad”.
“It’s really not much more complicated than that — he was me old man,” he said.
“You know, he wasn’t the perfect father but he was very much a loving father and was loved in return by all of us. So, yeah, he’s just my dad, nothing more than that.”
Sophie, who was born in 1985, recalled her memories of her grandfather at the height of his political power in Canberra.
“My fondest childhood memories are with my grandma and grandpa,” she said.
“I remember spending time in the Lodge and Kirribilli House. I remember, we would all get thrown in the bath together after rolling down the hill on Kirribilli Lawns, the itchy buffalo grass.
“I remember sitting on my grandfather’s knee. I remember Whisky the cat. And I just, I remember them as, like, really special grandparents, with lots of people around them.
“But I had no concept of it being public life or public office. It’s only in the, sort of, later years that I really comprehended that.”
LABOR MOURNS ICON
Earlier this morning, Mr Albanese described his involvement in the memorial as “a tremendous honour”.
“Bob Hawke is in my view Australia’s greatest prime minister ever,” Mr Albanese said on the Today show.
“He taught Labor that you need to bring people with us on change. He transformed the economy, he transformed social policy through the creation of Medicare — there is no question that he is Australia’s greatest ever environmental protector because the Daintree, Kakadu, the Tasmanian wilderness and indeed Antarctica all exist thanks to Bob Hawke’s Government.”
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten, accompanied by wife Chloe, was also in attendance, making one of his first public appearances since last month’s election loss.
Former PM Julia Gillard paid tribute via a video message as she’s in Stockholm, chairing a board meeting of the Global Partnership for Education.
“For me, the essence of the Bob I knew is caught by one word — inspiration. He inspired the Labor Party to govern and govern well,” Ms Gillard said.
“He inspired the nation to embrace a new and better future. He inspired me as Prime Minister, as I sought to live up to his example, and he will go on inspiring those who believe in Labor values for generations to come.”
The week after the May 18 poll, which Mr Hawke just missed, his wife Ms d’Alpuget gave her first interview on ABC’s 7.30.
In an often emotional appearance, Ms d’Alpuget revealed the final tragedy of Mr Hawke’s life was that he didn’t get the chance to vote in the election.
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But she said she took comfort in the fact the Labor great didn’t live to see the party’s shock loss.
“He decided he wasn’t going to postal vote,” Ms d’Alpuget revealed. “He was going to go up in his wheelchair and vote, but he didn’t get there.
“He said to me, ‘I can’t make any further contribution. I’ve got no contribution to make now.’ Which was one of the reasons he wanted to die, because he thought of his life as contributing to society.”
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