The family, friends and colleagues of legendary TV, radio and stage star Bert Newton have gathered in Melbourne to farewell the entertainment giant at a state funeral.
Follow the service as it unfolded in our blog and read your tributes to an Australian icon.
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Live updates
By Joseph Dunstan
By Joseph Dunstan
Vale Bert
Graham Kennedy may have been dubbed "King of Australian television", but there's no doubt his on-air partner Bert Newton rose to become entertainment royalty in a league of his own.
Thanks for your company this morning and sharing all your memories of Bert through his stellar on-screen career.
You can catch up on all the tributes shared during today's state funeral in the posts below and in our wrap story here.
By Joseph Dunstan
'Bert was more than talent, he was trust'
You can catch up on some of the highlights from the service in our wrap story here.
By Joseph Dunstan
Another gem of a story about Bert's humble nature
While working as an usher at QPAC during Bert's performances in The Producers, we had one memorable pre show interaction of Bert's kindness and awareness of others. Bert had just entered backstage through the green room and was heading for the changing rooms when he sighted a group of us ushers meandering toward him from 10 or so metres away. Despite having both arms full, Bert with a smile stuck out an errant leg to hold the door open for us, ironically, while we filed on past.
-Greg
By Joseph Dunstan
By Joseph Dunstan
A star-studded farewell comes to a close
From the Prime Minister to the thousands watching live from their homes, Australians have bid goodbye to a legendary entertainer.
Whether he was scripted, off-the-cuff, on stage, TV or radio, Bert Newton knew how to reach people.
His service was told it wasn't an artifice: he was a man who loved to share generously with those around him, and it's that warmth that radiated through his every performance.
If you want to leave a special message of your own for the Newton family, you can do so at the Victorian state funeral page here.
By Joseph Dunstan
The backstory on GMA's 'Belvedere'
Robert Mascara was just 19 years old when he started working on Good Morning Australia in 1992.
Bert Newton invited him to taste a meal that had been prepared on the show, and read a limerick that he had written on a sheet of paper, which started a long partnership.
ABC Radio Melbourne's Jacinta Parsons and Brian Nankervis spoke to Robert about working with Bert, and found out how he got his nickname.
By Joseph Dunstan
A 'cheeky' part of the TV landscape forever remembered
Beautiful, what a dignified delightful celebration for Bert, you are loved and cherished. You will be remembered, forever in our ❤️. Than you. The best is yet to come. Have fun. Keep smiling.
-Felicity
I was one of the many school kids who would watch the banter between Bert and Belvedere on GMA when I was off sick- he was a part of TV landscape for those of us growing up in the 90's
Back in 2015, my wife and I saw Bert perform in Wicked, the musical and we were right up in front of the stage a few rows back. When the cast were all bowing at the end, everyone applauded loudly for Bert but being a big fan of Bert, I gave a standing ovation.
He saw me, smiled and waved... something I will always remember and something my wife jokingly contests never happened.
-Chris
As a child of the 80s and 90s, it is definitely GMA during my sick days that I remember the most. The cheeky jokes, always pulling out a Patti and Bert album, always acknowledging the music team and crew. You always felt so safe and secure watching Bert, you could feel the care and love for his audience radiating from him. Thanks for the memories Bert. Love to Patti and family.
-Belinda
By Joseph Dunstan
Doves have been released outside
Bert's grandchildren released doves outside St Patrick's Cathedral in a symbol of peace and hope, as Patti looked on.
By Joseph Dunstan
With Patti by his side, Bert leaves St Patrick's Cathedral
The cathedral bells are tolling loudly as his flag-covered, yellow-rose adorned coffin is taken to the hearse.
By Joseph Dunstan
Ok, there are a few GMA viewers among us
At the start of the blog, I shared that as a kid of the 90s I often caught Bert on Good Morning Australia on Channel 10 if I was home sick from school.
As Eddie McGuire noted, there was something infectiously fun about the way Bert pulled in the crew and contributors to build them up and bring them in front of the camera.
Turns out I was in good company.
I’ll always remember sick days home from school watching Bert on GMA, where he always seemed to have a copy of the Bert and Patti family album on hand, and turn it around to show the “back side” to camera.
-Good Morning, Australia!
Rest in peace, mate. I think a bunch of young people remember Bert on their sick days watching GMA. Much love to his family and his friends in this time.
-Loz
By Joseph Dunstan
More tributes are coming in from blog readers
Vale Bert
You gave us all so much joy
-Michelle Connors
Rest In Peace Bert. You have given joy laughter and integrity to Australians and to me since I was a child. Deepest sympathy’s to your family and friends.
-Dale Doughton
Thank you Bert Newton for all the years of entertainment. May you RIP with no more pains and suffering. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten. Deepest sympathy to the Newton family 🌹
-Bin
By Joseph Dunstan
A COVID-safe communion
Arcbishop Comensoli gives some instructions about hand-sanitising stations before the communion begins.
It's accompanied by a version of Bach's Prelude No. 1 set to Italian lyrics sung by Silvie Paladino.
By Joseph Dunstan
Some long-time followers of Bert among you
i grew up watching Bert on tv how wonderful that he should have the best send off with all who remember him.
Rest well dear Bert your family will miss you dearly and Australia will miss you too.
-jen
There cannot ever be anyone as versatile and professional as Bert. Have followed his life since 3xy
-Ross Barker
By Joseph Dunstan
By Joseph Dunstan
A man of 'humble faith' who lived 'the good life'
Archbishop Peter Comensoli said "for an entertainment man … Bert was at heart a man of humble faith, of family love and of unassuming care for the least".
"These characteristics are each features of the Christian life, of the three things that last - faith, hope and love - Bert had, in his own particular way, found a way of making these the truths of his life."
Archbishop Comensoli said these were elements of the "good life" lived by Bert, who lived in "unassuming yet extraordinarily generous ways".
By Joseph Dunstan
Please keep the memories coming
You can comment on the blog, I'd love to hear from more of you with Bert Newton stories to share.
In case you missed it we heard this lovely tribute earlier from someone who used to serve Bert his lunch at the deli:
I remember Bert coming into the deli I worked at in the 90’s. He’d pop in from Channel 10 after the lunch rush, and it was often just him standing in the shop while I made him the usual. Clearly he was enjoying the quiet (so used to seeing him ‘on’ when he was performing, to see him ‘off’ was quite a privelege) I absolutely loved hearing his radio voice, smooth as velvet and I would desperately wish for him to say more than “cheese and onion sandwich”. Then when I was a new mum feeding my baby in front of GMA, as for lots of new mums, Bert became my new best friend. I remember my parents laughing at his antics on the Don Lane show and understanding none of it!
RIP to a gentleman who brought joy to so many.
-Bert’s lunch lady
By Joseph Dunstan
A Catholic mass for a man of faith
Scripture readings, hymns (including The Lord is my Shepherd) and rich organ music are filling St Patrick's Cathedral as the Prime Minister, Victorian Premier and Australia's entertainment industry farewells Bert Newton.
Our reporter Stephanie Ferrier says there is "not a dry eye in the cathedral", which sounds about right after that very stirring tribute from Lauren.
By Joseph Dunstan
Bert delighted in watching his grandchildren perform
In her speech, Lauren recalled how much Bert loved to be surrounded by his grandchildren, who enjoyed putting on concerts for him.
"He was their most captive audience," she recalled.
"He even got the job of introducing them, and I'd laugh to myself thinking they had no idea how lucky they were.
"He even put his good voice on as if he was doing the Logies, he loved it and I could tell it was one of his favourite gigs ever."
By Joseph Dunstan
'I love you, Dad'
"Saying goodbye has been heartbreaking for us all, especially mum," Lauren said, as relayed by Peter Smith.
"They loved one another so much and I know how he waited until she left the room to take his last breath.
"Because while she was with him, he couldn't have gone.
"My beautiful dad will be with us forever, in our hearts and memories, but life will never be the same without him.
"I love you, Dad."
