A State Memorial Service will be held to honour the extraordinary life of Dame Olivia Newton-John AC DBE at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, at 4pm this Sunday, with the ceremony to also be live streamed.
The Service will be an opportunity for Victorians to honour Dame Olivia’s memory and her achievements.
Dame Olivia passed away on 8 August last year at age 73 following her own 30-year journey with breast cancer.
She had moved to Melbourne from the United Kingdom with her family at a young age and showed an early passion for performing.
At age 15, Dame Olivia won a trip to London during a contest on the ‘60s TV show Sing, Sing, Sing, but her big break was in the role of schoolgirl Sandy in the 1978 film Grease.
Still one of the most successful movie musicals of all time, Grease is a cultural icon and the soundtrack of a generation. It included hits such as ‘You’re the One That I Want’ and ‘Summer Nights’ and earned Dame Olivia a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy).
Across a career spanning six decades, Dame Olivia released 28 studio albums and six live albums, won four Grammy awards, reached #1 on the music charts numerous times and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
Dame Olivia was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She used her own cancer journey as a way to raise research funds and promote cancer awareness, including the benefits of early detection and wellness.
She began working in partnership with Austin Health, in Melbourne, in 2003 and the Olivia Newton-John Wellness and Research Centre (ONJWRC) opened in 2012. The ONJWRC offers treatment, education, training and research, and features a dedicated wellness space for mind, body and spirit. The services have helped thousands of people and Dame Olivia’s own journey has served as an inspiration for many more.
In 2019, Dame Olivia was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia (General Division) (AC) for her eminent service to community health, particularly people living with cancer, through support for medical research, and for her work as a songwriter and performer. That same year, Her Majesty the Queen named Dame Olivia a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to music, cancer research and charity.
Dame Olivia leaves an incredible legacy, not only through her work on the stage and screen, but also as a philanthropist and advocate. In addition to ONJWRC, and among other passions, she founded National Tree Day in Australia and established the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, which sponsors global research into plant medicine to help find kinder treatments for cancer.
The live stream of the State Memorial Service for Dame Olivia Newton-John AC DBE will begin at 3:25 pm AEST on Sunday 26 February on Network Ten.
Donations
In lieu of flowers and at the request of Dame Olivia’s family, memorial tributes may be made in the form of contributions to the Wellness Programs at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre.
Event details
Date
Sunday 26 February 2023
Time
The service will commence at 4:00pm sharp. Doors will open at 3:00pm.
Location
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Southbank.
Attire
You are encouraged to wear a touch of orange, in celebration of Dame Olivia’s favourite colour, if you are attending the State Memorial Service.
How to get there
By car
Parking is available at Arts Centre Melbourne at 4 Sturt Street Southbank. This is a 300 metre walk to Hamer Hall (about 4 minutes).
More information about parking is available on the Arts Centre Melbourne website (artscentremelbourne.com.au/visit/parking).
There is also very limited street parking in the area.
By public transport
If you are taking public transport, the closest train station is Flinders Street. The nearest tram stop is number 14. Hamer Hall is serviced by several tram routes: 1; 3; 3a; 5; 6; 16; 64; 67; and 72.
Please check the PTV website for up-to-date information about public transport scheduling on the day.
Accessibility
Hamer Hall has a Hearing Loop available. Devices that allow access to this Loop – neck loops for people with hearing aids, or standard headphones for people without hearing aids – are available free of charge. To borrow one of these devices, please speak to a member of Hamer Hall staff. You will be asked to leave a driver’s license or similar identity card, for the duration of the loan.
Closed captions will be available on the live stream of the service.
If you require other accessibility assistance at the venue, please check artscentremelbourne.com.au/visit/access for more information.
You can also call the venue at (03) 9281 8000 or use the online form at www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/contact-us.
Tickets
Tickets were released at 12pm (noon) on Friday 10 February.
A limit of 2 tickets per booking applies. Seats will be allocated on a best available basis at the time of booking.
The fee to collect tickets from the venue has been waived for this event.
You will need an account with Arts Centre Melbourne to book your tickets. To register an account with the Arts Centre you will need to provide your name and email address.
