Australian media titan Ita Buttrose had to be helped out of a wheelchair and down the church steps as she joined a mix of Sydney’s A-List to say goodbye to her sister-in-law on Tuesday.
Robyn ‘Elizabeth’ Buttrose was remembered at a funeral at St Mary Magdalene Church in Rose Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on what would have been her 79th birthday.
Mourners included Richard Pratt’s lover Shari-Lea Hitchcock, fashion designer Charlie Brown, Sydney’s character Fadi Ibrahim, narrator Rick Walton, chocolate heiress Darrell Lea, Carissa Lea and her partner Jamie, and the socialite and wife of artist Charles Billich, Christa.
The mother of three children and grandmother of six, who everyone knew as ‘Elizabeth’, suffered multiple strokes almost a decade ago that left her with significant health problems.
Passed away peacefully in an eastern suburbs care home on Friday 20 September.
Elizabeth was the widow of economist and banker Will Buttrose, mother of fractured siblings Lizzie, Richard and Yvie, and sister-in-law of Ita, a veteran journalist and former ABC chairwoman.
A diverse crowd of mourners flocked to St Mary Magdalene Church in Rose Bay for a Catholic funeral as warring brothers gathered to say goodbye to their late mother.
Buttrose arrived through a back entrance in a lightweight red wheelchair and sat separately from the congregation in a side room, even though several other guests also arrived in wheelchairs.
Media titan Ita Buttrose arrived through a back entrance in a lightweight red wheelchair.
They had to help her out of her wheelchair and down the church stairs to the service.
Lizzie Buttrose arrives at St Mary Magdalene Church in Rose Bay
Sydney Identity Fadi Ibrahim, younger brother of King of the Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim, also attended the funeral among high-profile members of Sydney’s eastern suburbs social set.
Fashion designer Charlie Brown (pictured left) with Richard Pratt’s former lover Shari-Lea Hitchcock (right)
Much-loved artist Maria Venuti was also seen in a leopard-skin-covered wheelchair alongside her daughter Bianca and granddaughter Allegra.
Elizabeth was the widow of the late William Buttrose, a high-profile banking figure who held senior positions at Macquarie Bank, Lloyds Bank and NatWest, and was a respected commentator on Nine’s Today programme.
William passed away in 2006 at the age of 62 after a two-year battle with cancer.
The couple, who met at a party they both attended when they were in their 20s, raised three children: Richard, socialite Lizzie and Evie, director of law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
The mother of three children and grandmother of six, who everyone knew as ‘Elizabeth’, suffered multiple strokes almost a decade ago that left her with significant health problems. Passed away peacefully in an eastern suburbs care home on Friday 20 September.
In a statement, Ita Buttrose expressed her grief, saying: “My sister-in-law (pictured) endured a long illness and is now at peace. “Everyone loved her and we have wonderful memories from when we were younger.”
Elizabeth was the widow of the late William Buttrose, a high-profile banking figure who held senior positions at Macquarie Bank, Lloyds Bank and NatWest, and was a respected commentator on Nine’s Today programme.
In a statement to the Daily Telegraph, Ita Buttrose expressed her grief, saying: “My sister-in-law endured a long illness and is now at peace.”
“Everyone loved her and we have wonderful memories from when we were younger.”
The sad news comes after Ita resigned as ABC president in March after five years in the role.
His tenure at ABC was seen as steadying the ship following the sudden departures of his predecessor Justin Milne and CEO Michelle Guthrie.
‘Five years is a long time to serve at ABC. “I know some presidents have gone on and served a second term, but I’m aware that I’m a woman of a certain age,” she told Stellar Magazine in March.
‘Sometimes you need to examine yourself and say, “Well, I’m a person of a certain age and everything is fine, and cognitively I’m fine,” but still weigh it.
‘Another five years. What would it be like? You have to know in yourself when you should step aside. I felt that. It had nothing to do with any current events.
Much-loved artist Maria Venuti was also seen in a leopard-skin-covered wheelchair alongside her daughter Bianca and granddaughter Allegra.
The Rocks gallery owner and socialite Christa Billich is pictured arriving at the funeral.
Darrell Lea chocolate heiress Carissa Lea and her partner Jamie, pictured.
Lizzie Buttrose’s youngest son, James Spira, and a companion are seen arriving.