Professor and Executive Director of the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre at The College of Melbourne Colin McLeod with the late Olivia Newton-John.
Swathes of Australia’s small business and philanthrophic community are in mourning today after the news that pop icon, actor and philanthropist Olivia Newton-John has died aged 73 pursuing a extensive fight from breast cancer.
In a assertion posted early on Tuesday on social media, Newton-John’s partner John Easterling reported she experienced “passed absent peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends”.
Newton-John was originally identified with cancer in 1992, quietly fought a recurrence in 2013, and in 2017 she verified the cancer experienced returned and unfold. Despite this, Newton-John expended yrs tirelessly campaigning for cancer investigation, commencing an eponymous most cancers foundation and opening a investigate and wellness centre in Melbourne.
Next her analysis, Newton-John also turned a passionate product or service spokesperson for the Liv-Package, a breast self-assessment product, and a partial proprietor of the Gaia Retreat and Spa in Byron Bay, New South Wales.
Earlier this 12 months, Newton-John teamed up with Australian enterprise Willie Creek Pearls to co-design an 18-karat gold Australian South Sea Pearl Pendant, with a third of the proceeds to go to The Olivia Newton-John Basis Fund for cancer study.
“I am so thrilled to spouse with Willie Creek Pearls and grateful that they are serving to me raise resources to investigation kinder solutions for cancer with plant medication by way of my ONJ Foundation Fund,” Newton-John reported at the time.
“As a home-grown Aussie it just felt correct to collaborate with an Australian spouse and children company who sustainably produce the very best pearls in the world — which is also so critical to me! I couldn’t be happier to be a element of this household who share my aspiration to uncover an conclusion to cancer.”
‘Shared in her marriage, business enterprise and health and fitness heartbreaks’
In the wake of her demise, customers of the Australian enterprise community took to social media to share recollections and ideas.
Enterprise development manager ANZ at Fluence Bioengineering David Franklin claimed he appreciated Newton-John’s support for health care cannabis, which she overtly utilised in her fight in opposition to cancer for suffering aid.
“Don’t commonly do this but quite unhappy information today, Olivia was a warm and empathetic advocate for medicinal hashish here in Australia and around the world,” Franklin wrote.
“She was a legend on the display and off it and she will be skipped.”
Govt director of the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre at The College of Melbourne Colin McLeod said he labored with Newton-John for about 10 several years on a fundraising appeal for The Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre.
“She was specifically what you thought she would be — charming, compassionate, articulate, funny,” he wrote.
“I know there is an old stating about hardly ever conference your heroes since they will disappoint you, but Olivia was anything you considered she would be and much more. She was also a person of the most tenacious and resilient people today I have at any time met, but as a US pal of hers pointed out to me, they are prerequisites for a job in display small business, in particular around five many years.
“She was also quite intellectually gifted, but this is probably no shock — her grandfather won the Nobel Prize for Physics (Max Born, 1954) and her father was a Professor of History at the University of Melbourne, the Master of Ormond Faculty, The College of Melbourne and the initially Vice Chancellor of the College of Canberra.”
McLeod posted a photo of himself and Newton-John in the lobby of a lodge in Beijing just after the pair experienced embarked on a trek of the Terrific Stroll in China to increase funds for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.
“I glimpse like I have just invested a few weeks wandering the Gobi Desert, Olivia appears to be radiant, as regular,” he wrote.
Max Quantity founder and Metaverse expert Miriam “Miz” Feiler reported Australia was reeling from dropping two worldwide new music icons in the earlier couple of days, subsequent the death of musician Judith Durham this 7 days.
“As we grew into youngsters and grownups, we shared in her connection, organization and health heartbreaks. She became the Nationwide symbol of power in the face of breast cancer. Olivia Newton-John was resilient, she took action, she was open up with all her challenges.
“She was both equally simple and spiritual. Her radiant elegance and optimism under no circumstances pale. Her legacy is solid and enduring. Could she Rest In Peace.”
Politicians respond to the reduction
The information of the late Newton-John — who was born British but lived in Australia — also affected Australia’s politicians.
“Very unhappy information about Olivia Newton-John this early morning — an awesome entertainer and an remarkable legacy to aid cancer exploration,” Minister for Little Small business Julie Collins stated.
Meanwhile, shadow spokesperson for Finance, Improved Regulation, and Integrity in Federal government Fiona Simpson shared her sombreness for the news.
“Saddened to have read that right away we lost our beautiful Olivia Newton-John. My feelings and prayers are with her family members at this difficult time,” she wrote.
“Australia liked you.”
