Meeting Olivia throughout the years - Honey

Olivia Newton-John and Natalie Oliveri in 2010. (Supplied)
Mum's signed program from Australia's Bicentenary Concert at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 1988. (Supplied)
1990 Newcastle Earthquake Relief concert, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, featuring Olivia Newton-John. (Supplied)

Olivia Newton-John. You were truly an icon for us all

By Natalie Oliveri

I have my mother to thank for introducing me to Olivia Newton-John.

Like the many women in Australia and around the world who dreamed of being her, I grew up pretending to be Sandy during sing-a-longs and re-enactments in our family's lounge room, always winning the fight with my sister over who would play the leading role.

In my household, my mum Janelle had been a fan of Newton-John's long before the 1978 film.

Just days before Newton-John's death, mum and I were singing along to The Main Event CD – a concert starring Newton-John, John Farnham and Anthony Warlow that toured in 1998.

During the Sydney Olympics, we lined up for hours to see Newton-John take part in the torch relay lighting at the Opera House.

Every Christmas now includes Newton-John's albums of duets with both Farnham and Travolta.

In 2006, I was working at Nine on the Kerri-Anne show and Newton-John was the guest that day. Mum and I were going to see her concert at the Sydney Opera House later that night.

My mother was beside herself and thrilled I was finally going to meet her idol. Mum asked me to give Newton-John a hand-written letter and a copy of a photograph she had taken at the Newcastle Earthquake Relief Concert, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

The photo was of Newton-John and her mother, Irene, from the concert in 1990.

It was a story my mother would tell over and over, a chance meeting between her and Newton-John at the height of her fame.

I had two photos left on my camera, it was film back then, Janelle explains. I asked Olivia if she would mind posing with her mum and I took the photo.

Mum made a copy of the photo for me to pass on to Newton-John, knowing that she might like it following Irene's death in 2003.

That photo remains a precious memory for my mother, too, so much so that she has put it away for safe keeping and could not find it by the time this story was published.

That was not the first time my mum met Newton-John.

Two years earlier, also at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, mum and dad somehow found themselves inside the VIP after party of the star-studded concert celebrating Australia's Bicentenary in 1988.

Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Charles were the guests of honour and Kylie Minogue was then a little-known actress-turned-singer.

I had never been able to see Olivia before, so that was my big thing chance, she explains.

I was determined to get in to meet her. As soon as I spotted her I went straight over, put my hand out and introduced myself saying, Hi I'm Janelle.

Olivia replied, Oh hi... she shook my hand.

I asked her, How's Chloe? [Olivia's daughter, who would have been around two at the time] and she said, She's good... Oh actually, she's not so good. She's had a bit of an ear infection at the moment.

She was really sweet. We chatted for a little while.

But I didn't have any film left to take photos.

Mum met Newton-John again in 1998 after The Main Event concert in Sydney.

My parents were among the hundreds of fans waiting at the fence near the backstage exit after the show when Newton-John emerged.

She shook my hand and I told her that my mum had recently gone through breast cancer, too – she then took my other hand and said, Oh no, I hope she is going ok.

I just remember how caring and considerate she was.

When my nanna was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1990s, Newton-John's fight and recovery would no doubt have given my mum, and my nanna, hope that things too might work out for our family.

They did... but much like Newton-John, the unrelenting disease would return for a second attempt, this time taking a bigger toll on my nanna's body and health.

Like so many women affected by breast cancer, Newton-John would use her own experience to fight for change.

She created the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, following her diagnosis in 1992.

Newton-John not only raised awareness for the disease but millions of dollars that have since aided research, care and recovery for thousands of women and their families.

Before then, Newton-John had created Koala Blue – a retail outlet selling Australian-themed products including clothing, food and wine.

I remember bottles of Koala Blue wine at home thought they were never opened because they were the special 'Olivia Newton-John wine'.

Her final performance was to support Australia's bushfire recovery, singing alongside John Farnham at the Fire Fight Australia concert on February 16, 2020.

Dedicated to her country, and the natural environment she held so dear, Newton-John was selfless to the very end.

We often remember odd things from our childhood. For me, one of my 'Olivia' memories is listening to her introduce the story of Thumbelina for a Hallmark TV series in 1990.

Her message that still runs through my head today: turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth to help save the planet. Why that was included before the Thumbelina story, I cannot remember.

That same year, in 1990, saw her star as a shop mannequin brought to life in heart-warming festive flick, A Mom For Christmas. Not a massive hit, but if you know, you know.

Her passing hit so many so hard because she truly was an icon and an inspiration.

Down to earth and genuinely kind, Newton-John was an Australian legend. It's a word that gets thrown around all too often but in this case, there was simply no better way to describe her.

This just my story. The beauty about Newton-John is that so many others will have their own fond memories.

Thank you Olivia, you were truly loved and appreciated by all.