Blanche d'Alpuget dies aged 82

0:00Good afternoon. We begin with breaking news this lunch time. A claimed Australian author and widow of Bob Hawke, Blanche Del Pugey has died aged 82. She's being remembered as someone who lived fearlessly. Her love story with the former Prime Minister remains one of the most talked about in Australian politics. Blanche Del Pugey and Bob Hawke, a love story, lived largely in the public eye. But before Blanche became part of one of Australia's most famous political couples, she made a name of her own. Born in Sydney in 1944, an award-winning author, works included monkeys in the dark, the lion's torment and turtle beach later adapted for the big screen. But this book would change her life. Her biography of Bob Hawke published in 1982 before he became Prime Minister. Hawke was still married to his first wife Hazel and for years, rumours persisted, Blanche and Bob were having an affair.

1:11Years later, they reunited. In 1995, they married a simple ceremony in Sydney. They had a couple of tears in my eyes, the bunks, they were very nice. No, well, I guess I was in the other people's hand. But once we started walking in together, I think. No, once we got to the old one. She would tell their story herself in a deeply personal on-longing. I was in a light plane crash and he thought I'd died. When anybody comes face to face with death, it really made some Maria's sense. She remained firmly by Hawke's side, still campaigning together decades later. Until Hawke's death in 2019. A year later, Blanche was fighting her own battle, breast cancer, months of chemotherapy and major surgery.

2:14I didn't think I was going to die during any of it. I knew I was going to survive. After Bob's death, Blanche spoke openly about a belief that gave her comfort. They know they're going to be dying soon and as they go closer to the spiritual worlds, which I deeply believe in, that infuses them with a kind of glow. Perhaps believing they'll be walking side by side once more.