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Bert Newton's state funeral details released
After the heartbreaking news of Bert Newton's death at the age of 83 last week, it was revealed that the Aussie TV legend would be farewelled with a state funeral in Victoria.
Now the details have been revealed by the Victoria State Government, with a funeral service set to be held for the late icon at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne on Friday 12th November.
The service will begin at 10am and is expected to run for 90 minutes. It will be live streamed through the government website and a link to view the stream will be made available closer to the event.
"Seating will be reserved in the Cathedral for official guests, family, friends and colleagues," the website reads.
In keeping with COVIDSafe guidelines, all attendees at the service must be fully vaccinated.
In lieu of flowers, Bert's family have requested contributions be made to VMCH’s O’Neill House in Prahran.
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Entertainment journalist Peter Ford first shared the details to his Twitter page, writing: "Bert’s state funeral will take place next Friday at 10am at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
"There is cap of 500 guests. The Mass will shown on screens at Federation Square and will be live streamed."
In response to a Twitter user questioning whether the funeral would be available to watch on live television, he said, "No. Only a live stream."
It was previously revealed that Bert's son Matthew Newton wouldn't attend the funeral as he is currently based in the US.
While some believed this was due to a 'rift' in the family, Patti Newton, Bert's wife of 46 years, slammed the rumours, saying Matthew wouldn't be attending because he simply cannot make it to Australia.
"It’s just the logistics of it all, and with Covid, and with everything else," she told the Daily Mail.
While their relationship in the past might have been strained, Patti stressed that was behind them.
"I’ve had so many conversations with [Matthew]. We had a conversation last night and all the family were here. [The media] want to make it a rift, but there was no rift. There was never a rift with Bert," she added.
The major dramas were when Matthew was in Sydney and he had his major dramas, but it was really nothing to do with us and as most parents say: ‘You can only be there for your children’. And we’ve always been around.
"And Bert more than me really. He was always saying ‘have we spoken to Matthew, have we done enough and have we said enough’."
Patti added that maybe Matthew "needs to put a statement out to stop everybody thinking that there’s a rift or something".
Sydney's Confidential first reported that Matthew Newton, 44, was 'unlikely' to attend his father's funeral, after Bert passed away at the age of 83 on Saturday at a private clinic.
Bert had been receiving palliative care at the time of his death following a long health battle that led to one of his legs being amputated in May due to a life-threatening infection.
Matthew moved to New York in 2012, when it was believed his relationship with his parents Bert and Patti became strained. He has previously battled with addiction and mental health issues and has a tumultuous past.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Patti said Victorian Premier Dan Andrews called her on Sunday morning to offer a state funeral for Bert.
“I said yes to a state funeral because as I said, a little boy from North Fitzroy and having success in show business and having all these wonderful accolades go his way,’’ Patti said.
“And then a state funeral — Bert would love it. His mum and his sister, they would be so thrilled — and I’m thrilled for him. It’ll be very nice and it’s a wonderful gesture because he’s very Melbourne, Bert. Even though he’s worked in all different states, Melbourne was his state and his love so that was a very nice thing.”
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