Blanche d'Alpuget dies aged 82

0:00Well, she was talented and accomplished, polarising and unapologetic. Blanche del Pugey is being remembered for a remarkable life and her controversial affair with Bob Hawke. That affair led to a public backlash, but the acclaimed writer was unfazed, described by her family as someone who lived fearlessly and took delight in living. The author, biographer, journalist, activist, cancer survivor, but she will always be known as the woman at the centre of one of the nation's greatest love stories. I think about him all the time. He was Bob Hawke. He was good. Labour's longest-serving Prime Minister, and theirs was a romance the longest time in the making. 1971, the first sighting. Around the corner walked this vision. A beautiful brown skin, blonde hair, short white dress. I had a carnal inflammation.

1:03Within years, an affair had begun. Yeah, if that's how it sounded off, it was just going to be a very casual thing. Despite both being married, Union boss Bob De Hazel and Blanche, the journalist Tony Pratt, he promised to leave the marriage, but Renegde, fearing it would destroy his chance of becoming Prime Minister. I was absolutely beside myself with grief, and I really thought about committing suicide. Born 1944, Blanche Dalpoujé began professional life in the hard-eaged world of tabloid journalism the Daily Mirror before chasing her dream, professional writer. She'd pen more than a dozen acclaimed fiction and nonfiction works, winning a string of awards, one turtle beach later adapted for the big screen. A biography specialist, but never her own. Yes, that wasn't interested enough in myself. But her most famous book became Australia's best-selling biography on a then-secret lover,

2:05Hawk. She really introduced Australians to the Bob Hawk that she thought could be a great Australian Prime Minister, when just about everybody else saw him in her words as a drunken loud. The affair was rekindled, but always denied. Do you think it's been put out by his enemies? No, I think people make it up. Just make it up. It wasn't until four years after he'd left office, he also left Hazel. Rumour of their relationship has been rife since the announcement of the Hawk Marital Split. Now it seems the secret is out. Finally marrying in 1995. Did I cry? I had a couple of tears in my eyes. But for a time she became the most hated woman in Australia, a home wrecker. Very miserable. I hated it. It split the family. There was even a physical fight with Hawk's daughter. She gave me a good one too. I walked away. But on the face, or what was it? Yeah, yeah. Just open hands or thing.

3:06But the couple continued a very public life. Until Hawk's death in 2019. The life triumphantly well-lived. A year later, Blanche was fighting her own battle, breast cancer. Oh, I didn't think I was going to die. But her latest challenge, more difficult, influenza complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Our heart's right now with her family and all who loved this much-loved Australian. She left this message. Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life. Love one another. She was 82. For this reason, seven news.