Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam has been remembered as a visionary leader of Australia.
- Thousands of mourners turned away from Gough Whitlam memorial
- Organisers under fire over lack of seating for mourners
- Former Labor PMs get standing ovation as they enter
- Tony Abbott and John Howard booed
THE memorial service for Gough Whitlam has turned weird, with former Labor prime ministers receiving standing ovations and former Liberal PMs getting booed. Oh, and then there was Kevin Rudd.
A procession of former leaders entered Sydney's Town Hall this morning, taking their places among the 1700 people who were waiting for the state memorial service to start.
Paul Keating and Bob Hawke were first, and both were applauded raucously by the Labor faithful inside. But it was a very different story for Kevin Rudd, who entered to the sound of deafening silence.
Some of our most famous leaders from Hawke to Howard receive rounds of applause or haunting boos at Gough Whitlam's memorial in Sydney.
John Howard and current prime minister Tony Abbott were both booed. The latter reacted to his reception with a wry grin, before walking over to Mr Hawke for a chat.
Ultimately, the loudest and warmest cheers didn't go to any of the old Labor favourites - they were reserved for Julia Gillard.
Former prime ministers Tony Abbott and Bob Hawke meet at the service. Source: Supplied
ABC presenter and journalist Kerry O'Brien opened the memorial.
"Gough's very substantial legacy is now carved into this country's history," Mr O'Brien said.
"Gough chose this venue — of course he did, the people's hall. But it wasn't his first choice. His first choice was a funeral pyre in the Senate. He wanted to take the Upper House with him."
The memorial's Welcome to Country by Aunty Millie Ingram honoured Whitlam's work to further the rights of indigenous Australians.
The town hall was at capacity for the Gough Whitlam memorial. Source: News Corp Australia
"Mr Whitlam you were a brave and inspiring man. You will live on in our memories," she said.
Political historian Graham Freudenberg said speaking at the memorial was the greatest privilege of his very privileged life.
"He saw that only the nation's parliament could be bring quality and equality to areas of Australian life where Canberra had never before dared or cared," Mr Freudenberg said.
"The Whitlam agenda remains part of the Australia agenda.
"Paul Keating was right: There was an Australia before Whitlam and there was a different Australia after Whitlam. He was the bridge."
Cate Blanchett, who was three when Whitlam was swept to power in 1972, paid tribute to his initiatives that shaped her generation.
"When I heard that Gough Whitlam had died, I was filled with an inordinate sadness, a great sorrow," she said.
Cate Blanchett speaks at the memorial. Source: Supplied
"The loss I felt came down to something very deep and very simple: I am the beneficiary of a free teritary education.
"The culture around women and the right for woment to work as equals in Australia had also been raised by Gough Whitlam."
Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson praised Mr Whitlam for bringing about great change that finally outlawed the 'discrimination my father and his father lived under ... and to which I was subjected to for the first 10 years of my life".
"Without this old man the land and human rights of our people would never have seen the light of day.
"Only those who have known discrimination have truly known its evil.
"This old man was one of those people who never suffered discrimination but understood protection from its malice."
The music played at the memorial was chosen by Gough himself and includes pieces by Paul Kelly.
Earlier, organisers of the memorial were overwhelmed as mourners began queuing three hours before the service. Some were refused entry.
More than 5000 applications were received for just 1700 places inside the town hall, with the overflow directed to a public viewing area outside where a large screen was installed.
Mourners wait to gain entry to the memorial this morning. Picture: AAP/Paul Miller Source: Supplied
Mourners began gathering outside the town hall from 8am for the service attended by seven prime ministers, the Governor General, a battery of Labor luminaries and a number of Mr Whitlam's old political foes.
Former PM Malcolm Fraser who ousted Mr Whitlam from power in 1975 was expected to attend along with current Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former PM John Howard.
Former Labor leaders Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard headed the ALP contingent.
Crowds continued to gather outside the town hall this morning. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia
Actress Cate Blanchett, Aboriginal activist Noel Pearson, former political speechwriter Graham Freudenberg, Labor stalwart John Faulkner and Whitlam's son Tony are said to be speaking at the ceremony.
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Four F/A-18 Horner fighter jets will conduct a flyover above George Street in the CBD after the 11am service.
Sydney Harbour Bridge flags at half-mast ahead of the Gough Whitlam memorial. Picture: Twitter/@702Sydney Source: Twitter
But Ron Miles blasted the 'shambolic organisation' of the memorial service after he registered to attend but was refused entry this morning.
"I arrived at the Town Hall at 8.00 am and joined a queue on George St of equally confused members of the public," Mr Mills said.
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"After 10 minutes, we were all ushered around to Druitt St where the security people informed us that unless we had a confirmation email, we would not be admitted."
While Mr Miles hadn't travelled far into the city, he said others who had been turned away had come from all over the country.
Gough Whitlam will be honoured today with a memorial in Sydney following his death aged 98 two weeks ago. Source: News Limited
"I had come from Leichhardt but people around me were from Melbourne and Townsville and were in the same situation," Mr Mills said.
"It was an insult to us who had done the right thing early and a travesty that we could not participate in an event about which we felt so strongly."
Ohers suggested the town hall was a poor venue given its lack of seating, with some people suggesting arenas like the SCG and ANZ Stadium could have been filled by mourners wanting to honour Whitlam.
The Governor-general's emissary David Smith announces the sacking of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975. Source: News Corp Australia
Meanwhile, flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge are being flown at half-mast. A huge screen has been erected outside Town Hall to accommodate the thousands expected to attend.
Another mourner, Stella Chapman, who travelled from Bulli, south of Sydney described Whitlam as a great man.
"To me he meant trying to make life better for the working class," she said.
MPs from all sides of politics are expected to attend the service.
"Heading to Sydney Town Hall to farewell the great Gough Whitlam - a visionary who improved lives and modernised Australia," federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese wrote on Twitter.
Greens leader Christine Milne also tweeted on Wednesday she was on her way to Town Hall.
Labor Leader Gough Whitlam, who would later become prime minister, with singer Little Pattie during the ALP 'It's Time' campaign in 1972. Source: News Corp Australia
Even the Pope has reportedly paid condolences to the Whitlam family at a special memorial mass in Rome.
In his brief few years in office from 1972 to 1975 Mr Whitlam changed Australia, instigating sweeping social, cultural and economic reforms including free access to health care and university, indigenous and women's rights and recognition of China.
He died on October 21 aged 98.
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