A little bit of magic will forever be associated with singer, songwriter, and actress Dame Olivia Newton-John, who passed away from cancer in August 2022.

On Sunday, February 26, family, friends, and fans finally gathered at Melbourne's Hamer Hall for a state memorial service in memory of Newton-John.


Her passing at 73 came after a life rich with many accomplishments, including a successful career in the entertainment industry and service as an advocate for breast cancer awareness, animal rights, and the environment.

Even months after her passing, her impact and presence were still felt at Hamer Hall as people gathered to honour her and say their final goodbyes.


‘Every day with Olivia was a bit of magic’

After an introduction by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Di Kerr, a performance of Newton-John’s song ‘Grace and Gratitude’ by singer Bumpy and pianist Jake Amy, and a rendition of the Australian National Anthem sung by the Christ Church Grammar School Choir, host David Campbell turned over the floor to Newton-John’s husband John Easterling.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Easterling recalled their life together as full of happiness and gratitude.

'In an order of magnitude where we thought maybe we should feel guilty because we were so happy,' he said. 'But we decided we'd feel gratitude and just let the happiness run at full throttle.'

Easterling and Newton-John met in the mid-90s and married in 2008. At the memorial, he took time to share how he fell in love with her.

'You have to understand I wasn't an Olivia fan, I didn't know any Olivia music, I hadn't even seen Grease and this was a small, intimate theatre in Miami and the lights went down and I heard Peruvian flutes and she started singing “Pearls on a Chain”,' he said.

'And there was healing in the audience, people around me were crying. I got it. It hit me like a laser beam in the chest that Olivia was a healer and this is one of her mediums of healing.'



Newton-John was a woman of many talents, and her accolades are a testament to that — among them, four Grammy awards, an Oscars nomination, and beyond entertainment, an Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Companion of the Order of Australia.

Despite all of it, according to Easterling, her happiness lay in simple pleasures at her ranch.

'She's been honoured by prime ministers and presidents and the Queen and recognised with every possible award and accolade for her talents,’ he said.

'But what made her most happy was being at the ranch, being with the horses, being with the chickens and the dogs and the cat, or sitting in the courtyard just listening to bird songs.’

Now, after losing his other half, Easterling shared a realisation.

'Every day with Olivia was supernatural. Every day with Olivia was a bit of magic,’ he said.

'I carry and feel Olivia's presence, her sense of humour and spirit of adventure, the commonality of purpose we shared, and that gives me the strength to carry on until I find her again in that ultimate space of love and light.’



Meanwhile, Chloe Lattanzi, Newton-John’s daughter with her former husband, Matt Lattanzi, also felt like a chunk of her heart was now missing.

‘I stand here before you so desperately wanting to feel strong and confident and speak eloquently, but the truth is I feel like a little girl lost without her mother,’ she said.

‘She was my safe space. My guide, my biggest fan, and the earth beneath my feet.’

Lattanzi also took time to issue words of gratitude to those who took time to remember her mother with them.

‘I love how she loved, fully and completely, and I know that she would want me to tell each and every one of you how grateful she was for each individual special relationship,’.

‘She cherished her friends and her family and she was so grateful to her fans and she loved you all so dearly. She would want us all to laugh and reminisce together enjoy and celebrate her life… My mother is the perfect example of a life truly lived.’


‘She was just a light in this world’

Outside of Newton-John’s immediate family, many personalities from the world over also shared kind words.

Dolly Parton, who is among the singers featured on Newton-John’s posthumous album Just The Two of Us: The Duets Collection, said Australia should be proud of how beloved she is across the world.

‘The world lost one of its greatest talents when she left us,’ she said. ‘I consider her a great friend…to quote one of her great songs, Olivia, “I Honestly Love You”. Thank you for shining your light on us.’

‘She was just a light in this world… I grew up with her, listening to her… When I saw Grease, I was like, “I want to be Olivia Newton-John.” We all send you our love, Livvy,’ actress Nicole Kidman added.



And for Elton John, Olivia left a lasting impact not just for him, but for many others whose lives she touched with her philanthropic work.

'She was such a wonderful force of nature but she was funny, she was kind, she was warm and she was talented and every time we got together we laughed and laughed and laughed,' he said.

'The ONJ Centre in Melbourne is a testament to what she did for so many millions of people. She fought her disease with the most incredible courage and bravery which stays with me forever.’

'She was never down, she was always optimistic, she was fun, she was beautiful, she was kind. Those kinds of people don't come along very often, so we should treasure her memory and never forget what she gave the world.'
Other entertainers such as Hugh Jackman, Mariah Carey, P!nk, RuPaul, Sir Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, and Sir Cliff Richard also sent in their remembrances for Newton-John, offering their love, respect, and admiration for her warmth and kindness.

After statements given by friends and loved ones, singer Delta Goodrem capped off the state memorial with a medley of Newton-John’s popular songs, like ‘Physical’, ‘Magic’, ‘Xanadu’, and ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’.



In lieu of flowers, attendees were kindly requested to instead direct their tributes to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre.

In the meantime, you might want to find out which of her iconic roles she almost said ‘no’ to.

We are one with Australia in mourning the loss of such a shining star and extending condolences to Newton-John’s loved ones.

How do you remember Olivia Newton-John? Were you able to attend the memorial? Tell us in the comments below.