Bob Hawke arrives at Hazel memorial

FORMER prime minister Bob Hawke is at the Sydney Opera House where a memorial service for his former wife Hazel Hawke is about to get underway.

As the rain cleared and the sun came out, a procession of political figures past and present alighted from cars at the entrance of the Opera House, including John Howard and his wife Janette and Paul Keating and his former wife Annita.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her predecessor Kevin Rudd have also arrived for the event, with Mr Rudd on his way in hailing Mrs Hawke as "a great Australian".

Others present include deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop, feminist Anne Summers, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and former Queensland premier Anna Bligh.

Thousands of members of the public have come to pay tribute to Mrs Hawke, who was Australia's popular first lady while Mr Hawke was in power from 1983 to 1991.

Mrs Hawke's close friend Wendy McCarthy said the turnout was "a measure of the woman whose life we are celebrating".

"She redefined the role of prime minister's wife but I think her legacy ... is her capacity for friendship, and that is very special," she told reporters.

Mrs Hawke died on May 23 aged 83 after succumbing to dementia.

A selection of Australian artists will join the SSO in a musical tribute to her patronage of the arts and work as a dementia advocate.

Journalist Margaret Throsby remembered Mrs Hawke as a champion of many causes and endeavours and a lover of music as well as an accomplished musician herself.

"The arts generally and music in particular were her passions," Ms Throsby told the service.

"She not only loved music, she was a fine musician in her own right.

"She studied piano from an early age, she continued playing through her adult life until the 'big A' (Alzheimer's disease) got her."

Ms Throsby's tribute was followed by Mozart's piano concerto which Mrs Hawke had herself performed in the Opera House in 1990.

Tuesday's performance featured the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and pianists on three grand pianos including Simon Tedeschi.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Bob Hawke arrives at Hazel memorial

Dengan url

http://beritasementara.blogspot.com/2013/06/bob-hawke-arrives-at-hazel-memorial.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Bob Hawke arrives at Hazel memorial

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Bob Hawke arrives at Hazel memorial

sebagai sumbernya