Final wish to support the Indigenous voice to parliament: Simon Crean’s widow at funeral

The wife of the late Labor luminary says his final message to Australia would be to back the Indigenous voice to parliament.

The late Simon Crean with his wife Carol.

The wife of late Labor luminary Simon Crean says one of her husband’s last wishes would be for Australians to support the Indigenous voice to parliament.

Carol Crean’s voice broke as she told St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne on Thursday that she would miss her late husband’s happy smile and his sense of fun and playfulness.

“He has left a huge hole in our lives but also a huge legacy,” she said.

“If he could be asked one last question, ‘What would you wish for Australia now?’, he would say the FTA is agreed and signed and that Australians support the voice as a positive step for all.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews during the state funeral for Simon Crean at St Pauls Cathedral in Melbourne.

Mrs Crean said her husband had the capacity to be able to fight after being wounded as well as the humbleness to forgive and let go.

She added he enjoyed taking the family to Disneyland, decorating the Christmas tree and that the song “Climb Every Mountain” was the perfect track for her late, energetic husband.

As the funeral concluded, pallbearers carried Crean’s coffin, covered by an Australian flag and pale yellow roses, from St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne just before 1.15pm on Thursday.

Mr Albanese arrives for Crean’s state funeral.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remembered Crean as a “great Australian” and a “beloved son of the Australian Labor Party”.

Mr Albanese said Crean greeted the world with “a crinkled eyed geniality” who was guided by principle, pointing to his fierce opposition to the Iraq war.

“Today we express our respect and gratitude to Simon, the man who held the same values throughout his entire career,” he said.

Mr Albanese declared Crean served his country until the end and said he was sad to arrive in Berlin just a week after the Labor luminary suffered a heart attack.

“My hope now is our sadness can give way to a sense of celebration to a life very well lived,” he said.

Former premier Jeff Kennett was also in attendance.

Before the Prime Minister spoke the service was played a cover of Amazing Grace by Gurrumul and Paul Kelly.

Among the 100 attendees were Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Also in attendance were Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, and former premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu, Steve Bracks and Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

Former premier John Brumby arrives at St Paul’s Cathedral.