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Delta Goodrem has fought back tears as she paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John ahead of a state memorial service to celebrate the life of the late iconic singer.
The Australian singer fought hard to control her emotions as she described Newton-John as a ‘light of the industry’ outside Hamer Hall in Melbourne on Sunday.
The service comes six months after Newton-John died in August at the age of 73, after a brave and decades-long battle with cancer.
A livestream began half an hour earlier with a personal photo tribute showcasing her life under the spotlight and away from the cameras with family and children.
Some 2,300 people were expected to attend the service with Premier Daniel Andrews and showbiz legend Paul Hogan among the guests.
Goodrem apologised as she spoke about her mentor with the loss particularly painful for her after she played the singer in a 2018 miniseries.
Delta Goodrem has fought back tears as she paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John ahead of a state memorial service to celebrate the life of the late iconic singer
The Australian singer fought hard to control her emotions as she described Newton-John as a ‘light of the industry’ outside Hammer Hall in Melbourne on Sunday
Husband John Easterling said their friendship developed over the following months before he finally asked Newton-John to be ‘my girl’
A livestream began half an hour earlier with a personal photo tribute showcasing her life under the spotlight and away from the cameras with family and children
‘It is beautiful to see everybody coming out and… It’s beautiful. Sorry,’ she told reporters outside the venue.
Goodrem described Newton-John as a ‘light for all of the industry’ who had ‘taught me so much’.
‘I’m so happy to see everybody coming together on a day to celebrate someone who touched all our lives.
‘I think that is really what it is. Seeing everybody just come together and being able to honour and celebrate Olivia is incredibly special.’
‘Kath and Kim’ star Magda Szubanski said Newton-John had ‘transformed Australian society’ with not only her career but charity work and philanthropy.
‘What she did for health, for cancer, is just extraordinary,’ she said.
‘A really, you know, wonderful person and one of the most humble people you could ever meet.’
Noongar woman and singer Bumpy and Jake Amy opened the state memorial service with a moving rendition of Newton-John’s hit song, ‘Grace and Gratitude’.
The song was followed by the national anthem which was led by the Christ Church Grammar School Choir – the same school attended by Newton-John.
Husband John Easterling recalled the moment he met Newton-John.
‘I met Olivia through my friends Jim and Nancy about 30 years ago. And I remember she came to a presentation I was doing in Malibu.
Fans hold up signs paying tribute to Newton-John with some 2,300 expected to attend the memorial service on Sunday
Christian and Richard Wilkins were among the stars who turned up to state memorial to celebrate the life of the late Newton-John
Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Di Kerr led the ‘Welcome to Country’ recalling how Newton-John had left a lifelong impact on her
Molly Meldrum was spotted among the raft of stars who turned up to the state memorial to pay tribute to Newton-John
Patti Newton was seen attending the service and wearing a necklace with her late husband’s name Bert attached to it
‘Afterwards we talked for a while about rainforest ecology and national plants and medicines and recognised there was a lot of commonality in our thoughts and philosophies.
‘The day got late and she asked me to stay overnight in the guesthouse and I did.’
Mr Easterling said their friendship developed over the following months before he finally asked Newton-John to be ‘my girl’.
‘It was pretty corny but I actually said those words,’ he said.
‘We were talking about how lucky we were to have found each other. And how in love we were. And how much happiness we were experiencing. We thought maybe we should feel guilty because we were so happy.
‘But we decided, we feel gratitude and just let the happiness run at full throttle.’
Mr Easterling said his late wife was the most courageous person he had ever met and described her as a ‘healer’ after watching how her music had brought people together.
‘Her bandwidth for genuinely caring about people, about animals and creatures of all kinds, eclipses almost what is humanly possible,’ he said.
‘It was all the grace of God allowed me to share the depth and passion of her being for so long. At her most difficult times she always had the spirit, humour and willpower to move things into the light.
‘And as her spirit soars, the pain and the holes in my heart are healed by the joy of her love and that light which shines forward and onward.’
Goodrem was among the stars who shared tributes immediately following the news of Newton-John’s death in August.
‘A force for good. A force of nature. Strong and kind. My mentor, my friend, my inspiration, someone who always guided me … I love you forever,’ she said of the acclaimed singer following her death.
Newton-John moved to Melbourne from the UK at a young age and showed an early passion for performance.
Her big break was playing the role of Sandy in the 1978 film Grease, opposite John Travolta.
The film, featuring hits including You’re The One That I Want and Summer Nights, became the soundtrack for a generation and remains one of the most successful musicals of all time.
‘My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,’ Travolta posted online following her death.
‘We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the moment I saw you and forever. Your Danny, your John!’
Newton-John’s career spanned more than 60 years, during which she made 28 studio and six live albums.
Some 2,300 people were expected to attend the service with Premier Daniel Andrews and showbiz legend Paul Hogan among the guests
Newton-John moved to Melbourne from the UK at a young age and showed an early passion for performance
Noongar woman and singer Bumpy and Jake Amy opened the state memorial service with a moving rendition of Newton-John’s hit song, ‘Grace and Gratitude’
‘Kath and Kim’ star Magda Szubanski said Newton-John had ‘transformed Australian society’ with not only her career but charity work and philanthropy
She won four Grammys with numerous No.1 hits, and sold more than 100 million records.
Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and began fundraising for research and promoting cancer awareness.
A treatment and research hub in Melbourne, the Olivia Newton-John Wellness and Research Centre, opened in 2012 and its services have helped thousands.
In 2019 she was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia and also named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
She is survived by her husband John Easterling and only daughter Chloe Lattanzi.
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