True believers farewell Bob Hawke 'Australia's best prime minister' at Sydney ...

Any boss who sacks a worker for turning up to Bob Hawke's memorial service does not understand what he meant to the country.

Thousands gathered at the Sydney Opera House on Friday to celebrate the life of the larrikin Labor leader who became Australia's third-longest serving prime minister.

Hawke, who died at his Sydney home on May 16 aged 89, was a Rhodes scholar, former trade union boss and world champion beer drinker and womaniser.

He had been prime minister just six months when he made his famous declaration after Australia II won the America's Cup in 1983: 'Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum.'

Robert James Lee 'Bob' Hawke (pictured) has been farewelled at a memorial service inside the Sydney Opera House on Friday

Aussie icons: Thousands gathered on the steps of the Opera House, with the Harbour Bridge in the background, to celebrate the life of Australia's third-longest serving prime minister

Aussie icons: Thousands gathered on the steps of the Opera House, with the Harbour Bridge in the background, to celebrate the life of Australia's third-longest serving prime minister

Hawke, who died at his Sydney home on May 16 aged 89, was a Rhodes scholar, a former trade union boss and world champion beer drinker and womaniser - and one of Australia's most popular PMs

Hawke, who died at his Sydney home on May 16 aged 89, was a Rhodes scholar, a former trade union boss and world champion beer drinker and womaniser - and one of Australia's most popular PMs 

The following year he recorded an approval rating of 75 per cent – the highest ever for any Australian leader.

On Friday he had an approval rating of 100 per cent on the steps of the Opera House forecourt.

Among those gathered was Isabel, who would not give her last name because she was supposed to be at work.

'I'm having a sickie,' the welfare worker said. 'Hawkey would have liked that.

'I'm here to honour an extraordinary prime minister, one of the best leaders we've ever had who stood up for social justice.'     

Hawke won four elections for Labor: in 1983, 1984, 1987 and 1990. 

The Concert Hall of the Opera House was the site of his first campaign launch which Hawke won under the 'Bringing Australia Together' banner.

On Friday he brought them all together again, including Labor prime ministers Keating and Kevin Rudd and Liberal PMs John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison.

But it was in the faces on the forecourt of the Opera House that Hawke's love affair with the Australian people was best explained. 

Those crammed into the forecourt watching the service on a big screen were farewelling a rock star politician. Crowded House, Sting, Oprah and The Wiggles have all performed here over the years. 

His wife, Blanche d'Alpuget (pictured right) said the final year of Hawke's life was both difficult and one of the best time of their lives because of how close they were

His wife, Blanche d'Alpuget (pictured right) said the final year of Hawke's life was both difficult and one of the best time of their lives because of how close they were

Ms d'Alpuget speaks reminisced about her time with Hawke, including their special final days

Ms d'Alpuget speaks reminisced about her time with Hawke, including their special final days

Ms d'Alpuget (left) was joined on stage by Hawke's granddaughter Sophie Taylor-Price (right)

Ms d'Alpuget (left) was joined on stage by Hawke's granddaughter Sophie Taylor-Price (right)

Ms Taylor-Price said one of her youngest memories was joining her grandfather at a talk about climate change, a moment that inspire the rest of her life

Ms Taylor-Price said one of her youngest memories was joining her grandfather at a talk about climate change, a moment that inspire the rest of her life

The memorial service and stories about Hawke's life proved an emotional affair for one man

The memorial service and stories about Hawke's life proved an emotional affair for one man

Those who remembered his days in office well listened intently as speakers including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Labor leader Kim Beazley talked about the impact Hawke had on the country

Those who remembered his days in office well listened intently as speakers including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Labor leader Kim Beazley talked about the impact Hawke had on the country

As well as attracting plenty of Labor's true believers there were no doubt representatives of Howard's battlers and Morrison's quiet Australians in the crowd.

Labor voters Bruce and Tanya Morton had come from Breakfast Point and were seated in the front row.

'I'm here because I firmly believe he is the greatest prime minister we've every had,' Mr Morton, 78, said.

'His social justice programs were outstanding. I have great admiration for his capacity to be fully inclusive.

'Everybody loves the fact that he was a man of the people. He had that wonderful way of drawing people together in harmony.

'His concern for all areas of our society and his capacity to harmonise various sections of our society was an extraordinary ability.'

Hawke also famously had an extraordinary capacity for alcohol. 

As a student in 1954 he entered the Guinness Book of Records by downing a yard of ale (about 1.4 litres or 2.5 pints) in 11 seconds at the Turf Tavern in Oxford.

'This feat was to endear me to some of my fellow Australians more than anything else I ever achieved,' he wrote in his autobiography.

His widow, with whom he was married 24 years, was joined by Hawke's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren inside the service

His widow, with whom he was married 24 years, was joined by Hawke's

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