Key Points
- Olivia Newton-John was farewelled on Sunday at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.
- The Grease star died following a 20-year battle with cancer at the age of 73.
- Following her cancer diagnosis Newton-John began fundraising for research and promoting cancer awareness.
She had been living with breast cancer for 20 years.
“At her most difficult times, she always had the spirit, the humour and the willpower to move things into the light.”
Australian performers, dignitaries and fans packed Hamer Hall for the service, while international stars Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey and Sir Cliff Richard were among those who sent video tributes.
Australian singer Delta Goodrem performs during a state memorial service for Olivia Newton-John at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, Sunday, February 26, 2023. Source: AAP / James Ross
Delta Goodrem, who played Newton-John in a 2018 miniseries, also held back tears as she performed a medley of the singer’s greatest hits including Let’s Get Physical and Xanadu.
Her big break came when she played the role of Sandy in the 1978 film Grease.
She won four Grammys and had numerous number-one hits, selling more than 100 million records.
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, Newton-John was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia and also named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
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