There were many reasons Dame Olivia Newton-John was widely adored and admired. She was a world-renowned entertainer, cultural icon, activist, philanthropist and pillar of hope for cancer sufferers.
But her kind heart and genuineness were the foremost reasons many turned out to celebrate her at a state memorial in Melbourne on Sunday.
"She was a genuine, beautiful person. She was a perfect role model as a human - always spreading love and light," Melburnian Chloe Xuereb, 26, told 9News.com.au.
READ MORE: The most extraordinary person': Family and friends remember the late Olivia Newton-John
"She was an angel who was way ahead of her time," Mark O'Dea, a friend of Olivia's and supporter of the Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre, said.
About 2500 people turned out at Arts Centre Melbourne to appreciate the star, with most donning a touch of orange - Newton-John's favourite colour - in tribute.
The bursts of orange on floral accessories, jackets, handbags, earrings, ribbons, scarves and pocket squares created a feeling of warmth throughout the theatre, in line with organisers' goal for the event to be more of a celebration than a memorial.
"Dame Olivia loved orange because it radiated optimism and energy," singer, actor and Today Extra co-host David Campbell, who hosted the event, explained.
Jokes told by Campbell and funny stories shared by Newton-John's husband, John Easterling, also created a sense of cheer amongst the mourning.
Ian Kerr, who worked with Newton-John on publicity in Melbourne for the film Xanadu, said he thought the service being held more than six months after her passing further allowed it to be a joyous celebration.
He believed the service was a "wonderful" event and couldn't have better honoured Newton-John.
Fans desperate to attend
Tickets to the service, which were free but limited in numbers, were highly sought after, with many fans and admirers missing out.
Scott Whittley, 49, and his mother Barbara Whittley, 73, had to search to find tickets, then made the trip down from Sydney to attend.
Whittley, wearing one an ONJ concert Tshirt, said he had been lucky enough to meet his idol several times during her visits to Australia.
To him, it was like the experience some had meeting the Queen.
The 49-year-old grew up in the '80s admiring Newton-John.
"Most young boys growing up wanted to marry Olivia and most young girls growing up wanted to be Olivia," he said.
Whittley said she was so lovely as a person that he had no doubt "she would be everyone's friend".
Sara Stiliano, 33, donning an orange belt and scrunchie, said she had desperately scoured social media to find someone who would give her a ticket to the memorial.
"It's an honour to be here," she said.
"I love Olivia Newton-John. I grew up watching her. Grease is my all time favourite movie."
She said that alongside Olivia and Delta Goodrem were her two idols, and she was overjoyed to be able to see Goodrem while showing her appreciation for Newton-John.
The Grease star and Delta Goodrem are two of her idols, so she was overjoyed to see the Born to Try singer belting out a medley Newton-John.
Goodrem, who was a longtime friend of Olivia's and performed with her, sung a medley of Olivia's hit songs at the memorial.
She also went a step further to delight and support grieving fans by arriving through the public entrance - on the orange carpet - taking the time to chat and take photos.
https://twitter.com/serena_seyfort/status/1629705504573526019Goodrem, who also played Olivia in a 2018 miniseries, was tearful and clearly mourning the loss of her friend as she comforted and greeted appreciative attendees.
"I deeply loved Olivia, the woman and the icon," she just said on the orange carpet.
"We all want to have a tear together and talk about how much we love her."
'Just a Melbourne girl'
Sue Gell, who travelled from regional Victoria to attend the service, said the thing she admired about Olivia, who grew up in Melbourne after moving from the UK as as young child, was her humility.
"I've always just followed and admired her, even before she started her breast cancer fundraising," Gell said.
"She just treated people naturally and normally and she didn't treat herself as a movie star or anything special.
"She was just a Melbourne girl."
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