Derryn Hinch Remembered: A Life of Conviction and Controversy Honoured at State Funeral

Crowds gathered in Port Melbourne today to pay their final respects to Derryn Hinch, the trailblazing broadcaster and former senator who passed away on July 10 at the age of 82. The state funeral service honored his decades-long career in media and politics, focusing on his significant triumphs while gently passing over his legal battles, which included jail time for contempt of court regarding sex offenders.

Tributes from Close Companions

Annette Philpott, Hinch's long-time assistant and friend, delivered a moving eulogy. She expressed gratitude to the loved ones who supported her after his passing, highlighting actor Jacki Weaver, who travelled to Melbourne to stand by her side. Reflecting on his parliamentary career, Philpott spoke of his pride in his political tenure. "Senator Hinch, that was his proudest achievement. He called it magical," she said, referencing achievements such as implementing passport restrictions on convicted paedophiles to prevent child sex tourism. She concluded with classic Hinch phrases: "So Derryn, thank your mother for the rabbits. You're Derryn Hinch and that's life."

Weaver, who was married to Hinch as his third wife, was unable to attend the service in person but sent a pre-recorded video eulogy. Describing herself as "Derryn's third wife and close friend for almost half a century", Weaver shared that Hinch had sent her a text message on the night of his death. She warmly acknowledged the other women in his life, noting, "I won't mention you individually. We don't have the time," before adding, "And in the immortal words of Steven Spielberg, 'we're going to need a bigger boat.'"

Weaver also shared a written tribute from her son, Dylan Walters, who met Hinch at the age of 10. Walters recalled Hinch's striking style and carefully kept beard, as well as an honest conversation they had regarding his drinking after Hinch underwent a liver transplant. Weaver read from her son's words: "You taught me the importance of honesty, integrity and standing up for what you believe in," and further quoted, "You were intelligent, passionate, cheerful and loving as well as obstinate, grumpy, impossible and frustrating, with a self-destructive streak which mystified your nearest and dearest as to where it came from, and we loved you for all of it." Ending with her own personal message, Weaver declared she loved him "from the very start to the very end" and wished him a tearful "good night, sweet dreams".

A Legendary Journalist Remembered

Veteran journalist Ray Martin, who worked alongside Hinch as a foreign correspondent in New York, remembered his former colleague as a bold, loud force of nature. "He was born with a megaphone for a voice, his typewriter was just about as loud." Martin remarked, adding, "He was brave and brash, with an ego that could light up a small city." He also joked about Hinch's authorship of 15 books: "Two of them were about Scrabble because he loved words. Six were about himself ... because he quite liked himself as well," causing laughter among the attendees.

Martin declared Hinch to be the finest tabloid reporter he had ever encountered. "He had a great nose for a story. He wrote quickly and he wrote colourfully and he wrote well." He illustrated this with a story of how Hinch scooped a rival reporter on the arrest of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs in Brazil by tricking the reporter into staying at a bar while Hinch rushed to the airport. Martin closed his speech by requesting a standing ovation from the congregation, a tribute he felt Hinch thoroughly earned.

Airwaves and Musical Farewells

Tardio, who was inspired to enter radio because of Hinch's 1980s broadcasts, reflected on how the late broadcaster dominated the airwaves like no other, challenging the powerful and championing major causes. The funeral also featured several emotional performances. Rhonda Burchmore sang "They Can't Take That Away From Me," humorously glancing at the casket during lyrics about singing off-key. Hinch's goddaughter, Ellie O'Connell, sang an original tribute piece, ending with the emotional line: "Hear your words, Mr Derryn Hinch, you tried." The final performance of the service was Bob Valentine singing Frank Sinatra's "That's Life," a song closely linked to Hinch due to his famous broadcast sign-off.

The service was wrapped up by Darren James, who suggested Hinch's own directions for the event would have been to keep things simple, short, and to express gratitude to the audience, noting that Hinch would say "it's being telecast around Australia you know, that doesn't happen for everybody". James concluded by saying Hinch would want everyone to share a drink, exchange stories, and recall that "he tried". Close friends and former colleagues served as the pallbearers to carry him out.