A casket covered in flowers and TV royalty in sombre black: Broadcast legend Mike Willesee is laid to rest in full Catholic mass after he died from throat cancer aged 76
- Legendary broadcaster Mike Willesee, 76, has been remembered at a full Catholic mass on Friday morning
- The TV veteran died after a lengthy battle with throat cancer last Thursday. He was 76-years-old
- His large family, many friends and Sydney's media elite attended the service at St Mary's Cathedral
- Son Michael Willesee Jr told mourners in eulogy: 'When he was at his best, he was the best'
- He died last Friday surrounded by his six children Michael, Katie, Amy, Josh, Jo, and Rok
Broadcast legend: Over his life, Mike Willesee duelled with the country's most powerful people on air, married three times, raised six kids, battled alcoholism, survived a plane crash and proselytized the Catholic faith
Legendary television journalist Mike Willesee has been remembered as simply 'the best' by family, friends and Australia's media elite at a full Catholic mass.
Mourners gathered to celebrate the life of Willesee at the city's St Mary's Cathedral on Friday morning. He died aged 76 last week following a long battle with throat cancer.
His third wife Gordana Willese, fellow broadcaster son, Mike Willesee Jnr, and journalist daughter-in-law Allison Langdon led a huge crowd of mourners draped in black.
It has been a particularly momentous week for Willesee Jr and Langdon. She gave birth to their second child, daughter Scout, on Sunday, just two days after Mike passed away.
In his eulogy, Willesee Jr told mourners his father's final hours were spent at home surrounded by his six children - Michael, Katie, Amy, Josh, Jo, and Rok.
Each told Mike, lauded by the public for his spellbinding interview technique, how much they loved him.
'It is now up to each of us how we remember Dad,' Willesee Jr said.
'I'm going to remember him as he was, at his best.
'When he was at his best, he was the best'.
A son's goodbye: Mike Willesee Jr rested a hand on his father's coffin shortly after delivering a eulogy to a crowd of about a hundred mourners at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral
'When he was at his best, he was the best': Willesee's son, Mike Willesee Jr, during his eloquent eulogy to his father on Friday morning
It was a momentous week for Willesee Jr and wife Allison Langdon. The couple welcomed their second child, daughter Scout, into the world on Sunday, just two days after Mike's death
Willesee, who rediscovered the Catholic faith later in life, received a full pontifical service, presided over by Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher
Praying in the front pew was Gordana Poljak (left and right), Willesee's third wife, who sat with her son, Willesee's youngest, Rok
His casket arrived at the cathedral draped in yellow roses, eight days after he died following a battle with throat cancer
Arriving: Poljak was joined by Father Chris Riley, the founder of Youth off the Streets, and her son, Rok
A Current Affair anchor Tracey Grimshaw greeted long-time TV executive Peter Meakin outside the cathedral
Nine Network entertainment editor Richard Wilkins (left) and Sunday Night host Melissa Doyle were in attendance. Willesee's final broadcast role was as a contributor to Doyle's program
Journalist George Negus, a longtime colleague of Willesee's, mulled about with members of Sydney's media elite
Willesee Jr recalled how his father would regale the kids with tales of being chased by the likes of Gaddafi in Lebanon and Pablo Escobar in Colombia.
'The good guys got away,' Willesee Jr recalled.
'We grew up on this stuff, and loved it. These were our bed-time stories.'
His father was 'introverted, thoughtful, tender, faultlessly loyal and full of contradictions', a household name but at the same time, an intensely private person.
'He was shy, solitary even, and more often than not, preferred to be in his own company. But he also loved an audience.
'He loved telling stories: usually about himself.'
The clan 'always had to share dad ... he is public property,' Willesee Jr said.
But they were never left with any doubt that they were 'the most important thing in his life.'
The youngest of Willesee's sons, Rok, also gave brief remarks, remembering Mike not only as his father, but a father of Australian journalism.
Willesee led a colourful life - including a battle with alcoholism, a plane crash and a domestic violence incident with his first wife - and the priest presiding over the ceremony told mourners: 'He was no plaster cast saint and I'm not here to sanitise him.'
But Willesee, who rediscovered his faith later in life, wanted those gathered to 'pray to God for his eternal soul'.
His casket was draped with yellow roses and carried into the imposing sandstone church by pallbearers dressed in matching navy suits and hats.
Nine entertainment editor Richard Wilkins, Seven's Melissa Doyle and longtime TV executive Peter Meakin were among those in attendance.
The casket was slowly led up the steps by pallbearers, all six in matching navy suits and hats
Willesee Jr and wife Allison Langdon arrive at the funeral service on Friday morning hand-in-hand
The casket is led into the sandstone church for the full pontifical mass. Media were welcome at the newsman's service
Willesee Jr accepts a hug from a mourner after telling the crowd about his 'shy, solitary even' father
A newsman's smile: Willesee's final 'TV presenter' portrait is led out of the service by a mourner
Family man: Willesee and his second wife Carol with their three children Jo, Amy and Lucy. Carol was an actress cast in the role of Pippa Fletcher in Home and Away. She had filmed scenes for the pilot episodes but she died in 2006, aged 59, from Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Her scenes were later reshot with Vanessa Downing
Two of the loves of Mike Willesee's life. On left is Miss Australia Joan Stanbury, the mother of his two eldest children, Michael and Katie. On right is Willesee with his second bride, Carol Willesee, who starred on Home and Away
The best meets the greatest: In 1975 Willesee interviewed legendary boxer Muhammad Ali for the Seven Network
Willesee is pictured here behind the desk in the early 1970s
Over the course of his colourful life, Willesee duelled on air with the country's most powerful people on the Seven, Nine and ABC TV.
He was best known for his masterful interviewing style, including an interview with former Opposition Leader John Hewson on the GST's effect on the price of a birthday cake.
Mr Hewson's garbled answer was widely credited with changing the course of the 1993 federal election, which Prime Minister Paul Keating supposedly 'couldn't win'.
He married three times - first to a pageant queen, then an actress and finally, a make-up artist.
None of the relationships lasted.
He owned the Sydney Swans, started a radio station and rediscovered his Catholicism late in life after surviving a plane crash.
His final farewell today was overseen by Sydney's Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher.
FROM A SCEPTIC TO BELIEVER IN MIRACLES: HOW PLANE CRASH LED MIKE WILLESEE BACK TO CHURCH
A plane crash (pictured) changed legendary television journalist Mike Willesee's (pictured) life after his chilling pre-take off premonition became reality
A plane crash changed legendary television journalist Mike Willesee's life after his chilling pre-take off premonition became reality.
Willesee survived the 1997 light plane crash along with cameraman Greg Low.
The experience led the 75-year-old to rediscover Catholic faith and he began travelling the world investigating religious miracles.
'I couldn't understand it. I had this fight in my own head before I got on the plane. How do I tell Greg that it's going to crash?' Willesee told Australian Story.
'I had a premonition but I did not believe in premonitions. But did I believe it was going to crash? Absolutely.'
The plane plummeted to earth in a game park after taking off from Nairobi, Kenya, on the way to southern Sudan.
Emerging unhurt from the crash, Willesee was a changed man, becoming a devout follower of his childhood faith within two years.
The transformation came as a surprise to the journalist's family, and Willesee's daughter Amy said her upbring was atheist and the family 'very sceptical'.
Willesee then devoted his life to investigating Catholic miracles, travelling across South America.
He appeared on Signs From God, broadcast on American TV in 1999, in which he interviewed Katya Rivas.
The Bolivian woman claimed to experience Stigmata, bleeding from the crucifixion injuries suffered by Jesus, and said she had no doubt Rivas was authentic.
RIP Sir, you was such a huge part of our evening T...
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