Bob Carr shares heartbreaking tribute to his beloved wife of 50 years 'She was the light of my life'
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In a moment of profound grief and monumental loss, former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of his beloved wife Helena Carr.
Bob and Helena were together for 50 years.
On Saturday evening, Bob confirmed Helena’s tragic passing in a statement and shared that Helena succumbed to a brain aneurysm on Thursday while in his arms. They were on holiday together in Vienna.
He called the loss of his life partner as 'the journey no one wishes'.
'The light has gone out of my life,' Bob said in a statement.
'She was the light of my life, the little friend always there. No one ever smiled more, or with more spirit.'
'It is inconceivable I could have won office for my party and held the Premiership for over 10 years without the steadiness of her companionship, her sense of fun and her lambent eyes.'
Bob Carr is well-known for his decade-long tenure as the NSW Premier between 1995 to 2005 and later as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Rudd/Gillard federal Labor governments.
According to Bob, the tragic event occurred rather abruptly, just when they were basking in the delight of their holiday in the beautiful Austrian city, which involved enjoying a scenic stroll, having lunch with Australian friends, and even visiting an opera.
'She was full of zest and jokes as we walked back to our hotel,' Bob recalled.
'Within a few minutes, she referred to an odd back pain, then a headache and nausea.'
'Our 50-year partnership ended in the hotel bathroom when she sunk into my arms, and I broke her fall to the floor. Her eyes closed for the last time while I begged her not to leave me.'
'Her little heart continues to beat but her brain has haemorrhaged with a massive amount of blood.'
Helena was born in Malaysia in 1946 and later migrated to Sydney in 1965 to study.
Bob shared that as a girl from Taiping, Malaysia, Helena wrote letters to Australian schools and was accepted to Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta. Helena later pursued economics at Sydney University.
'I met Helena on a trip back from the United States during a stopover in Tahiti in early 1971,' Mr Carr said.
'She was an accomplished businesswoman. Her first job in business was with CSR.'
'She later became an expert in security printing and was appointed to the board of the biggest company in the field before becoming the half-owner and manager of a sizeable print company that specialised in high-quality commercial work.'
Chris Minns, the current NSW Premier said that 'the entire Labor family' is devastated by the news and that they await Bob’s return to Australia to offer friendship and support.
'Bob and Helena were a wonderful partnership with Helena offering unconditional support to Bob and Labor during his years in the Premiership,' Premier Minns shared.
'Helena was also a very successful businesswoman in her own right.'
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bob Carr as he navigates through this personal devastation. Helena's loss is indeed a poignant reminder of life's ephemeral nature, but her radiant smile, buoyant spirit, and unyielding support will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew her.
May Helena Carr rest in peace.
Bob and Helena were together for 50 years.
On Saturday evening, Bob confirmed Helena’s tragic passing in a statement and shared that Helena succumbed to a brain aneurysm on Thursday while in his arms. They were on holiday together in Vienna.
He called the loss of his life partner as 'the journey no one wishes'.
Former NSW Premier Bob Carr’s wife, Helena Carr, has passed away during their holiday in Vienna, Austria. Image source: X/@bobjcarr.
'The light has gone out of my life,' Bob said in a statement.
'She was the light of my life, the little friend always there. No one ever smiled more, or with more spirit.'
'It is inconceivable I could have won office for my party and held the Premiership for over 10 years without the steadiness of her companionship, her sense of fun and her lambent eyes.'
Bob Carr is well-known for his decade-long tenure as the NSW Premier between 1995 to 2005 and later as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Rudd/Gillard federal Labor governments.
According to Bob, the tragic event occurred rather abruptly, just when they were basking in the delight of their holiday in the beautiful Austrian city, which involved enjoying a scenic stroll, having lunch with Australian friends, and even visiting an opera.
'She was full of zest and jokes as we walked back to our hotel,' Bob recalled.
'Within a few minutes, she referred to an odd back pain, then a headache and nausea.'
'Our 50-year partnership ended in the hotel bathroom when she sunk into my arms, and I broke her fall to the floor. Her eyes closed for the last time while I begged her not to leave me.'
'Her little heart continues to beat but her brain has haemorrhaged with a massive amount of blood.'
Helena was born in Malaysia in 1946 and later migrated to Sydney in 1965 to study.
Bob shared that as a girl from Taiping, Malaysia, Helena wrote letters to Australian schools and was accepted to Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta. Helena later pursued economics at Sydney University.
'I met Helena on a trip back from the United States during a stopover in Tahiti in early 1971,' Mr Carr said.
'She was an accomplished businesswoman. Her first job in business was with CSR.'
'She later became an expert in security printing and was appointed to the board of the biggest company in the field before becoming the half-owner and manager of a sizeable print company that specialised in high-quality commercial work.'
Chris Minns, the current NSW Premier said that 'the entire Labor family' is devastated by the news and that they await Bob’s return to Australia to offer friendship and support.
'Bob and Helena were a wonderful partnership with Helena offering unconditional support to Bob and Labor during his years in the Premiership,' Premier Minns shared.
'Helena was also a very successful businesswoman in her own right.'
May Helena Carr rest in peace.
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are with Bob Carr and his family that they are given strength 
