Australian entertainment celebrities flocked to Sydney Town Hall on Friday to attend ABC star James Valentine’s public memorial.
Valentine battled cancer for two years before passing away in April at the age of sixty-four.
Leading the celebrity arrivals was TV host Gretel Killeen, who made a rare public appearance to honor the late entertainment veteran’s life.
The 63-year-old former Big Brother star, who hosted the show from 2001 to 2007, wore a black cardigan and her natural grey hair down for the memorial.
Julia Morris, who appeared especially dejected as she joined the mourners, trailed closely behind her.
The 58-year-old host of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! covered her face with large sunglasses and wore a black coat to protect herself from the bitter cold.
When Australian entertainment icons gathered at Sydney Town Hall on Friday to attend the public memorial of ABC actor James Valentine, Gretel Killeen, 63, made a rare appearance.
Valentine used voluntary assisted dying to pass away at home in April at the age of 64 after battling cancer for two years.
Kirk Pengilly was spotted engrossed in a discussion with another guest.
The 67-year-old INXS member put on his typical black shoes and sported a blue paisley button-up underneath a matching sports coat.
Hamish Macdonald, another ABC star, also appeared elsewhere, wearing a black trench coat.
Valentine was a stalwart of the entertainment world for nearly 40 years, and mourners could be seen lining the street to pay their respects.
Simon Burke, star of The Devil’s Playground, Camp Quality CEO Deborah Thomas, and Independent MP Allegra Spender were among the guests.
On April 22, Valentine used voluntary assisted dying to pass away at home in Sydney.
In a statement released last month, Valentine’s family wrote, “James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him.”James followed his own path during his sickness, which continued to the very end when he decided to choose voluntary assisted suicide.
Julia Morris, 58, followed Gretel and appeared especially dejected as she joined the mourners.
The 67-year-old Kirk Pengilly was engrossed in a discussion with another guest.
Hamish Macdonald, a 45-year-old fellow ABC star, also made an appearance, wearing a black trench coat. He and his family are appreciative that he was allowed to go out on his own terms. He was still making us laugh while remaining composed and dignified as usual.
Valentine’s wife, Joanne, and children, Ruby and Roy, survive him. Valentine hosted ABC radio and television programs for nearly forty years.
In order to pursue treatment, he took a leave of absence from the broadcaster after announcing in March 2024 that he had oesophageal cancer.
Valentine later made a comeback to 702 ABC, but he hasn’t been seen since June of last year due to the discovery of additional tumors in his belly.
In order to concentrate on continuing treatment, the veteran of the entertainment industry announced his retirement in February.
“What a huge buzz of enjoyment I got when you called in, in response to something I’d suggest,” Valentine remarked. “I could ask callers to make stuff up, to invent stories, to go with any sort of fanciful notion of the city that we had going on.”
The national network has praised him as “more than a presenter.”
Pictured leaving the memorial are radio host Fran Kelly (left) and Valentine’s wife Joanne Corrigan.
Joanne is seen with Roy, Valentine’s son.
Ruby, Valentine’s daughter, was also present.
The street was lined with mourners paying their tribute to Valentine.
Simon Burke, 64, star of The Devil’s Playground, was seen among the guests.
Australian chef Matt Moran and his spouse Sarah Hopkins are shown on the left.
Deborah Thomas, 74, CEO of Camp Quality, is shown.
Allegra Spender, 48, an independent MP, is shown.
Dr. Norman Swan, 73, an Australian doctor and journalist, is shown.
Pictured: 74-year-old musician and artist Reg Mombassa
Richard Roxburgh, 64, an actor and filmmaker, is shown.
TV personality Tony Squires, 64, is shown.
James O’Loghlin, 60, a comedian and presenter, is shown.
David Anderson, a former managing director of ABC, is shown.
Hugh Marks, the managing director of ABC, is shown.
Comedian Mark Humphries and his spouse Yulia are shown.
Richard Fidler, 61, a radio host, and his spouse, Khym Lam, are shown.
Wendy Harmer, a children’s book author, is shown.
“He has been a trusted companion for so many people, part of the rhythm of everyday life for generations of our Sydney audience,” said Hugh Marks, managing director of ABC. “He brought warmth, wit, and humanity to radio as an exemplar of radio craft.” His approach was always about connecting rather than confrontation or loudness.
Only a few days after receiving a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), Valentine passed away.
The appointment was recently granted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who gave it to Valentine’s kids last weekend so they could offer it to him in private.
We were able to work incredibly fast. “I was able to present it to Ruby and Roy at Admiralty House on Saturday, so that it could be given to James quietly and privately, with his family, so that he knew the community in Australia regarded him as someone who truly belonged on the honors roll,” she told ABC Radio. “I knew how sick James was, and working with his family, we were able to have the medal struck and engraved with his name.”
