Back to where it ALL began: Poignant picture showing a carefree Bob Hawke and wife Hazel kicking off the 1983 campaign that would propel him into our hearts - as the nation prepares to mourn the great Aussie larrikin
- Australians will come together at the Sydney Opera House to honour Bob Hawke
- The state memorial service for Mr Hawke will be broadcast from 11.30am
- The 89-year-old died peacefully in his Sydney home on May 16 2019
Bob Hawke launched his successful 1983 campaign to become prime minister under the banner 'Bringing Australia Together' at the Sydney Opera House.
The political giant and larrikin Labor leader will bring the nation together again one last time on Friday morning as thousands gather for his memorial service.
The state memorial service for Mr Hawke, who died peacefully at his Sydney home on May 16 aged 89, will begin at 11.30am and be broadcast live on television.
More than 1,000 tickets were offered to the public free of charge for the service - and were snapped up in less than 25 minutes, while a further 1,000 were offered to dignitaries, friends and family.
Every living prime minister aside from Julia Gillard - who is overseas - will be in attendance, including Mr Hawke's successor and sometime rival Paul Keating.
Mr Hawke and Mr Keating had a long-running political feud but reunited in later years. Mr Keating is due to speak at the service.
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Bob Hawke and his wife Hazel outside the Sydney Opera House in 1983. Mr Hawke, who died on May 16, launched his campaign to become prime minister at the landmark under the banner 'Bringing Australia Together' and will be farewelled there on Friday in a memorial service
The state memorial service for Mr Hawke, who died peacefully at his Sydney home on May 16, will be broadcast from 11.30am on Friday
His wife, Blanche d'Alpuget (pictured right) said the final year of Mr Hawke's life was both difficult and one of the best time of their lives because of how close they were
His widow Blanche and daughter are both also expected to speak at the service, while his former staffer and adviser Craig Emerson will be the MC for the day.
Mr Emerson said described the service as 'a joyous occasion. 'There'll be tears of joy.'
Memorials and tributes dedicated to Mr Hawke were shared across Australia following his death.
Mr Hawke was the longest-serving Labor prime minister and introduced historical reforms into parliament during his time as the nation's leader.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten described Mr Hawke as a personal, party and national hero.
'He was my inspiration, then he became my friend,' Mr Shorten said outside the Sydney Opera House where Mr Hawke launched campaigns in the 1980s.
Memorials and tributes dedicated to Mr Hawke were shared across Australia following his death
Mr Hawke was the longest serving Labor prime minister and introduced historical reforms into parliament during his time as the nation's leader
Mr Hawke (left) and Mr Keating (right) had a long-running political feud but reunited in later years. Mr Keating is due to speak at the service
People from across the political divide also paid tribute.
'It was his ability to connect with everyday Australians with a word, with that larrikin wit, with that connection and an understanding of everyday Australian life that we will most remember Bob Hawke,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Mr Hawke made the Guinness Book of Records for downing a yard glass while a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.
But he gave up the drink in politics and boasted he 'didn't touch a drop' while in parliament.
The former ACTU leader rose through union and Labor ranks and won the party four elections, with his late first wife Hazel by his side.
The memorial will be televised from the Opera House from 11.30am
But in 1991 his treasurer Paul Keating replaced him as leader, his marriage hit the rocks, and eventually he and Hazel divorced.
He married his biographer Blanche d'Alpuget in 1995.
Mr Hawke was farewelled at a private family funeral but the public remembrance will see more tributes from his loved ones and major political figures.
Former South Australian premier and Labor national president Mike Rann celebrated Mr Hawke and his lifetime of achievements in a letter last week.
'If there is a heaven I'd like to think that they've now got a larrikin up there, still carousing, chatting up the angels, or puffing on a giant cigar, a beer in hand while reading the form guide... still campaigning, still winning and still getting things done,' Mr Rann wrote.
Former prime minister Bob Hawke will be honoured at a state memorial service at the Sydney Opera House on June 14. Mr Hawke, who has been praised as one of Australia's greatest leaders, died peacefully at home on May 16, aged 89
