They don’t make politicians (and certainly not prime ministers) like Bob Hawke anymore, and this official state memorial service will no doubt also feel like a farewell to an altogether more hopeful and innocent era in Australian life.
Hawke was PM from 1983 – having become the Labor leader on the same day the unfortunate Malcolm Fraser called an election – to 1991, when he was rolled by Paul Keating in a leadership challenge. During his reign he introduced Medicare and APEC, brought in mandatory superannuation, and deregulated the financial system. A leader of great personal principle, he was also extraordinarily popular thanks to his warm, empathetic and fun-loving personality – not mention his famed fondness for beer.
The State Memorial Service is being held at the Sydney Opera House, which is where Hawke launched his successful election campaign in February 1983. Tickets sold out quickly, but the service will be broadcast on a screen in the forecourt (register your interest at the website). The service will also be broadcast live by the ABC.