Gold Coasters reminisce about meeting Olivia Newton-John after Aussie icon’s sad passing

A Gold Coast yoga instructor has revealed the time Olivia Newton-John booked incognito, how they hit it off and ended up going for coffee.

Gold Coasters are reminiscing about their favourite moments with Australian sweetheart Olivia Newton-John while the world comes to terms with her passing.

The Grammy Award-winning actor and singer passed away “peacefully” at her ranch surrounded by family and friends.

“Olivia has been a symbol of triumph and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” her husband John Easterling said in a statement.

Olivia Newton-John. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.

“In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.”

Gold Coaster Lauren Hassard, a dear friend of Newton-John, said she woke up to a stack of messages from friends and family breaking the news.

Ms Hassard said she met Newton-John 30 years ago when the actor was staying at the Sheraton Mirage in Main Beach while her then husband, Matt Lattanzi, was filming Paradise Beach.

Lauren Hassard and Olivia Newton-John - Christmas card to friends

“She had called my humble Ashmore yoga studio to book in for a class," she said.

“She said her name was Mrs Lattanzi and I didn’t know who that was.

“Halfway through the yoga class I realised who she was and then she asked me to go have a coffee.”

Ms Hassard said they not only bonded over their love for all things spiritual but they both had seven year olds.

“She was wanting company for Chloe while they were staying here,” she said.

Pictures posted to Chloe Lattanzi’s Instagram account as a tribute to her mum Olivia Newton -John, who died aged 73. Picture: Instagram

Ms Hassard described Newton-John as the “personification of kindness, goodness and joy”.

“She was completely unpretentious, the most generous spirit and a deeply spiritual person,” she said.

While tearing up, Ms Hassard said she was sitting in her garden next to an alter she had made.

“I am sitting in the sun and have picked camellias from my garden,” she said.

“She (Newton-John) loves candles, so I have pictures, candles and plants all around.

“She’s free now and she will continue to touch the lives of so many.”

Ms Hassard said the last time she saw Newton-John was 2020 when they were visiting for her birthday.

“She was already battling this wretched disease but she was still amazing and wonderful,” she said.

“It’s just impossible to believe that she’s gone.”

Wings Public Relations managing director and founder Deanna Nott shared a photo of her meeting Ms Newton-John in Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast.

“I am terribly sad that beautiful, talented Olivia Newton-John has passed away,” she said.

“So many memories listening to mum Marilyn Ialacci sing her hits as I was growing up.

“Buying Physical in 1981 ‘with my own money’.

“Watching Grease and Xanadu over and over and meeting her at Versace with mum and Kellie Luck.

“Such a legend and we will all miss her,” Ms Nott said.

Philip Wockner, a former Gold Coast real estate salesman from Brisbane, did a stint as her driver during a film shoot in the United States.

Mr Wockner, who lives in Los Angeles, told 94.1 breakfast radio king Richard Fowler on Tuesday: “What you saw on the TV was what she was like in real life.”

Deanna Nott with Olivia Newton-John at Versace on the Gold Coast.

“The first time I met her she jumped in car and we go to a film studio – and she didn’t have any money. So I bought her a cup of coffee in Starbucks. She paid me back,” he said.

Mr Wockner said during the shoot he babysat Newton-John’s daughter Chloe and she was a wonderful person to work for.

Mr Wockner said while other similarly big stars like Barbra Streisand and Cher had various scandals come their way, “Olivia had no scandal whatsoever – she was just an angel. That’s for sure.”

Gold Coast author Karen Phillips said she met Newton-John in May 2010, when she was helping to create a fundraising event for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. Ms Phillips said three events over 36 hours raised $200,000.

Later, Newton-John wrote the foreword and featured in Ms Phillips’ best-selling International Women’s Day centennial book.

“The world has lost one of its shining stars with the passing of Olivia Newton-John,” Ms Phillips said.

“A truly remarkable, talented and inspirational Australian who was loved and cherished by so many.

“I was honoured to have known her, worked with her and supported her fundraising.

“She was the timeless girl next door who lit up every room with her smile and grace.”

“She wrote the foreword for my first book dedicated to Australian women and her story has given so many thousands hope of a better day ahead.”

Ms Phillips said there would “never be an artist or Australian like Olivia”,

”She represented the very best of us all, and for that we will be eternally grateful,” she said.

“Singing on stage with her and interviewing her at our women’s breakfast at Palazzo Versace will remain one of the highlights of my life.”

Ord Minnett stockbroker and financial advisor Lynda Woods, who once served Newton-John on a domestic flight between the Gold Coast and Melbourne, said she was struck by the star’s humility.

“It was during the 80s, and Olivia was up the front in business class, but in economy was the head of CBS Records who was out from LA to check out Midnight Oil,” Ms Woods said.

“My friend was manager of the ‘Oils and alerted the head of CBS that Liv was on the flight, and he gave me a note for her requesting a few minutes of her time.

“She might as well have screamed like she’d won a car – she couldn’t believe it, even though she was a global star.

“It was an example of the humility that she always maintained – nothing got ahead of her, she was gracious kind and always made time for people.”

A young Ms Woods helped the pair find a discreet corner of the plane to conduct the high-profile meeting.

“We put them in the galley with the curtains crossed and they had their meeting right there on the flight,” she said.

Tributes also flooded Facebook and other social media platforms just after the news broke with many saying “the world needs more people like her”.

“She did so much to help other’s while battling with her own awful disease,” Vanessa Nellestein commented.

“OMG simply wasn’t ready for this,” Katherine Dumbleton said.

“Deepest condolences to family, friends and to the music industry,” she said.

Lynni Neal said: “Very much part of my life. Iconic legend will always live on through music and dance”.

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Originally published as Gold Coasters reminisce about meeting Olivia Newton-John after Aussie icon’s sad passing