The front pages of Australia’s papers all pay tribute to Bob Hawke today, calling him a larrikin, a legend, a fearless reformer and the people’s PM.
The Fairfax/Nine papers are using a striking image of Hawke, hands clasped on his walking stick, staring down the barrel of the camera.
The portrait takes up the full front page of the Canberra Times, with just his name and the dates of his life, as well as a quote from Bill Shorten: “The Australian people loved Bob Hawke because they knew Bob loved them. This was true to the very end”.
Today's front page #BobHawkeRIP pic.twitter.com/REwFucKI0k
— Canberra Times (@canberratimes) May 16, 2019
The Age’s headline also quotes Bill Shorten’s tribute to Hawke: “‘He knew he was loved, to the end’” and previews its obituary on the front, in which the former PM is described as “Labor’s golden boy who transformed a nation”.
Vale Bob Hawke - The Age front page today: pic.twitter.com/ePPDccmW3G
— The Age (@theage) May 16, 2019
The Sydney Morning Herald calls him “The fearless reformer” and says he was “one of the nation’s greatest public figures and a hero of the Australian Labor Party”.
Good morning. Here is today's front page of the Herald https://t.co/eEH8m1plEu pic.twitter.com/hIFeE5Lxyf
— The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) May 16, 2019
The West Australian runs a portrait of Hawke smoking a cigar: “Here’s to Bob”, is their headline, as the paper pays tribute to “the tough-talking, boozing larrikin who many rate our best prime minister”.
The front page tribute to Bob Hawke in tomorrow's The West Australian plus exclusive polling shows Libs on track to lose crucial seat of Swan and others pic.twitter.com/FRBD4uvbi8
— Anthony De Ceglie (@AnthDeCeglie) May 16, 2019
Under the headline “See ya mate”, the Mercury in Tasmania celebrates Hawke’s connection to their state, celebrating his work to save the Franklin River and featuring photographs of him on visits to Hobart in 1989 and 2012.
#Frontpages 🗞 Friday @themercurycomau pic.twitter.com/CNopXNgYzi
— John (@John_Hanna) May 16, 2019
The NT News also just has Hawke’s name and dates on the front, and has chosen a photograph of the former prime minister, who was famous for his love and beer and ability to down it quickly, raising a glass.
TOMORROW’S FRONT PAGE pic.twitter.com/pPInAwi1z5
— The NT News (@TheNTNews) May 16, 2019
The Daily Telegraph shows Hawke, beer in hand, with his wife Blanche d’Alpuget. Its headline is: “Larrikin. Leader. Legend.”
#Frontpages 🗞 Friday @dailytelegraph pic.twitter.com/KZB9edJikq
— John (@John_Hanna) May 16, 2019
The Courier Mail has the same photograph and headline but adds a line riffing on Hawke’s famous comment about the America’s Cup: “Anyone who doesn’t celebrate Hawkie’s life today is a bum”.
The @couriermail #BobHawke special edition: Anyone who doesn't celebrate Hawkie's life today is a bum #RIPBobHawke pic.twitter.com/dM6vrbWMCg
— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) May 16, 2019
The Advertiser calls him “One of a kind”, and links the death to tomorrow’s election. “On the eve of a likely return to power for his beloved Australian Labor Party, Bob bows out,” says the paper.
#Frontpages 🗞 Friday @theTiser pic.twitter.com/n0xhI8owvf
— John (@John_Hanna) May 16, 2019
The Herald Sun runs a quote from Hawke’s wife Blanche d’Alpuget in which she called her husband a “great Australian – many would say the greatest Australian of the postwar era” under a striking photograph of the former prime minister and the headline “Legend”.
Tomorrow’s @theheraldsun Bob Hawke 8-page tribute edition #RIPHawkie @J_C_Campbell @rharris334 @Gallo_Ways #auspol #ausvotes19 pic.twitter.com/2V2HJOuw7C
— damon johnston (@damonheraldsun) May 16, 2019
The Australian headline is: “From larrikin to legend” and says the nation is mourning “the everyday man who rose to be the people’s PM”.
RJL Hawke tribute edition of The Australian #aupol pic.twitter.com/SZHeIfnV7a
— Christopher Dore (@wrongdorey) May 16, 2019
