Melbourne entertainment legend Bert Newton is being farewelled at a state funeral at St Patrick’s on Friday morning. Watch it here.
TV icon Bert Newton will be farewelled at a state funeral in Melbourne on Friday.
A list of dignitaries, celebrities and TV industry heavyweights will soon arrive for the Catholic requiem mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, starting at 10am.
Among the 500 mourners will be premier Daniel Andrews, former federal treasurer Peter Costello, Molly Meldrum and Andy Lee.
Singers Anthony Callea and Silvie Paladino will perform at the service while performer Rhonda Burchmore will do a reading.
All hymns and prayers have been chosen by Newton’s wife of 46 years, Patti.
Newton’s lifelong TV friends Phil Brady and Pete Smith are also in attendance.
Bert’s children, Lauren and Matthew, will have written messages read for them at the service.
Matthew, an actor and director who is based in New York, will not attend the funeral.
Eddie McGuire will deliver Newton’s eulogy and said he hoped to do the TV legend justice.
“I’m deeply honoured that Patti asked me to speak on her behalf, and that Bert was keen for me to do it. I hope in the short time frame I’ve been allowed by the office of protocol, I do it justice for Bert’s family and friends,” McGuire said.
McGuire said Newton should be remembered as a broadcasting and entertainment giant who transcended media.
“He was the boy from Fitzroy who became our first Moomba king who was also on the TV, radio and stage,” McGuire said.
“He imbued Melbourne and at the same time, he drove it, culturally, and with a sense of humour.
“The thing I learned mostly from Bert was his professionalism.
“He was gun, he was a master.”
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