Olivia Newton-John’s family has accepted the offer of a state memorial service for Australians to publicly mourn the beloved entertainer.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed Newton-John’s niece Tottie Goldsmith had accepted the offer on the family’s behalf.
Mr Andrews said it would be more of a concert rather than a traditional service.
“The family was quite touched at the prospect of Victorians being able to come together and celebrate Olivia’s life,” the premier told reporters on Thursday.
The British-born, Melbourne-raised performer died in her sleep at her California home on Monday aged 73.
Newton-John, best known for her role alongside John Travolta in the smash movie musical Grease, endured a recurring battle with breast cancer.
Her husband John Easterling posted a tribute on Newton-John’s Instagram page overnight.
“Our love for each other transcends our understanding. Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural,” he wrote.
“We never had to ‘work’ on it. We were in awe of this great mystery and accepted the experience of our love as past, present and forever.
“At Olivia’s deepest essence she was a healer using her mediums of song, of words, of touch.
“She was the most courageous woman I’ve ever known. Her bandwidth for genuinely caring for people, for nature and all creatures almost eclipses what is humanely possible.”
Mr Easterling ended his message thanking the “vast ocean of love and support that has come our way”.
Famous Melbourne landmarks, including Flinders Street Station, the Arts Centre, the MCG and other sporting venues, were lit up in pink on Tuesday night to mark Newton-John’s contribution to cancer awareness and research.
