Olivia Newton-John remembered as great teacher by Delta Goodrem

Chloe Lattanzi puts on a brave face but admits ‘I feel like a little girl lost without her mother’ at the star-studded memorial for Olivia Newton-John – as emotional Delta Goodrem fights back tears

The daughter of Olivia Newton-John has admitted she feels like a ‘little girl lost without her mother’ as she paid tribute to the late singer and other stars fought back tears talking about the Aussie icon at her state memorial.

An emotional Chloe Lattanzi, 37, was assisted by her husband as she walked on stage and broke down in tears at Hamer Hall in Melbourne on Sunday.

Newton-John is being farewelled in an emotional state service six months on from her death at the age of 73 in August, following a brave and decades-long battle with cancer. 

‘I stand here before you so desperately wanting to feel strong and confident and speak eloquently, but the truth is I feel like a little girl lost without her mother,’ Ms Lattanzi said. 

‘She was my safe space, my guide, my biggest fan and the Earth beneath my feet. I know she is here standing beside me and within me. I can hear her voice.

‘I love laughing with my mum. We shared the same cackle. She didn’t tell dirty jokes but she laughed the hardest at them.’

Chloe Lattanzi (pictured) fought back tears as she paid tribute to her mum

Ms Lattanzi said her mum was the ‘perfect example of a life truly lived’ even if her life was tragically cut short by cancer.

‘My mum could find the beauty in everything,’ she said. 

‘I loved our snuggles. I would crawl into bed with her late at night even until I was 20 years old. I loved the way she smelled. Nothing felt safer to me. I loved writing music and singing with her and how she would always notice if I was slightly off key. 

‘I loved how she loved fully and completely. And I know that she would want me to tell each and every one of you how grateful she was for each individual special relationship.’

Singer Delta Goodrem was among the attendees who fought back tears as she paid tribute to Newton-John outside of the venue as she arrived shortly before the start of the memorial.

Delta Goodrem has fought back tears as she paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John ahead of a state memorial service to celebrate the life of the late iconic singer

The Australian singer fought hard to control her emotions as she described Newton-John as a ‘light of the industry’ outside Hammer Hall in Melbourne on Sunday

Husband John Easterling said their friendship developed over the following months before he finally asked Newton-John to be ‘my girl’

Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi said her heart was broken in two with the other half left with her mother

A livestream began half an hour earlier with a personal photo tribute showcasing her life under the spotlight and away from the cameras with family and children 

‘It is beautiful to see everybody coming out and… It’s beautiful,’ she told reporters.

Goodrem described Newton-John as a ‘light for all of the industry’ who had ‘taught me so much’. 

‘I’m so happy to see everybody coming together on a day to celebrate someone who touched all our lives. 

‘I think that is really what it is. Seeing everybody just come together and being able to honour and celebrate Olivia is incredibly special.

‘She was a force for good. A force of nature. Strong and kind. My mentor, my friend, my inspiration, someone who always guided me … I love you forever.’

Speaking to Channel 9 outside Hamer Hall, Dannii Minogue revealed she was able to tell Newton-John how she felt about her during her lifetime.

‘Olivia is so important to me. She is literally the reason why I started performing and I was lucky enough to tell her that the first time we met,’ she said.

An emotional Dannii Minogue revealed she was able to tell Newton-John how she felt about her during her lifetime

Becoming emotional, the Australian pop star and television host admitted she was on the verge of tears. 

‘My hands are shaking. I’m all over the place,’ she said.

Some 2,300 people were expected to attend the service with Premier Daniel Andrews and showbiz legend Paul Hogan among the guests. 

Noongar woman and singer Bumpy and Jake Amy opened the state memorial service with a moving rendition of Newton-John’s hit song, ‘Grace and Gratitude’. 

The song was followed by the national anthem which was led by the Christ Church Grammar School Choir – the same school attended by Newton-John.

Husband John Easterling recalled the moment he met Newton-John.

‘I met Olivia through my friends Jim and Nancy about 30 years ago. And I remember she came to a presentation I was doing in Malibu.

Fans hold up signs paying tribute to Newton-John with some 2,300 expected to attend the memorial service on Sunday

Christian and Richard Wilkins were among the stars who turned up to state memorial to celebrate the life of the late Newton-John

Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Di Kerr led the ‘Welcome to Country’ recalling how Newton-John had left a lifelong impact on her

Molly Meldrum was spotted among the raft of stars who turned up to the state memorial to pay tribute to Newton-John

Patti Newton was seen attending the service and wearing a necklace with her late husband’s name Bert attached to it 

‘Afterwards we talked for a while about rainforest ecology and national plants and medicines and recognised there was a lot of commonality in our thoughts and philosophies. 

‘The day got late and she asked me to stay overnight in the guesthouse and I did.’

Mr Easterling said their friendship developed over the following months before he finally asked Newton-John to be ‘my girl’.

‘It was pretty corny but I actually said those words,’ he said.

‘We were talking about how lucky we were to have found each other. And how in love we were. And how much happiness we were experiencing. We thought maybe we should feel guilty because we were so happy. 

‘But we decided, we feel gratitude and just let the happiness run at full throttle.’

Mr Easterling said his late wife was the most courageous person he had ever met and described her as a ‘healer’ after watching how her music had brought people together.

‘Her bandwidth for genuinely caring about people, about animals and creatures of all kinds, eclipses almost what is humanly possible,’ he said.

Some 2,300 people were expected to attend the service with Premier Daniel Andrews and showbiz legend Paul Hogan among the guests

Human Nature singer Phil Burton was spotted among the stars who turned up to pay tribute to Newton-John

Noongar woman and singer Bumpy and Jake Amy opened the state memorial service with a moving rendition of Newton-John’s hit song, ‘Grace and Gratitude’

‘Kath and Kim’ star Magda Szubanski said Newton-John had ‘transformed Australian society’ with not only her career but charity work and philanthropy.

‘What she did for health, for cancer, is just extraordinary,’ she said.

‘A really, you know, wonderful person and one of the most humble people you could ever meet.’

Newton-John moved to Melbourne from the UK at a young age and showed an early passion for performance.

Her big break was playing the role of Sandy in the 1978 film Grease, opposite John Travolta.

The film, featuring hits including You’re The One That I Want and Summer Nights, became the soundtrack for a generation and remains one of the most successful musicals of all time.

‘My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,’ Travolta posted online following her death.

‘We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the moment I saw you and forever. Your Danny, your John!’

Newton-John’s career spanned more than 60 years, during which she made 28 studio and six live albums.

Newton-John moved to Melbourne from the UK at a young age and showed an early passion for performance

‘Kath and Kim’ star Magda Szubanski said Newton-John had ‘transformed Australian society’ with not only her career but charity work and philanthropy

She won four Grammys with numerous No.1 hits, and sold more than 100 million records.

Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and began fundraising for research and promoting cancer awareness.

A treatment and research hub in Melbourne, the Olivia Newton-John Wellness and Research Centre, opened in 2012 and its services have helped thousands. 

The director of fundraising at the centre, Debbie Shiel, described Newton-John as a ‘pioneer’. 

‘For 20 years Olivia wholeheartedly led every fund raising campaign to ensure people would receive the wellness program she knew would help them,’ she said at Sunday’s memorial.

In 2019 Newton-John was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia and also named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

She is survived by her husband John Easterling and only daughter Chloe Lattanzi.

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