Bill Hayden funeral: Anthony Albanese, Pauline Hanson and Annastacia Palaszczuk lead a Who’s Who of Australia’s political world in paying tribute to one of the country’s most respected political figures

Universal healthcare champion and Labor giant Bill Hayden has been honored by friends, family and dignitaries at a state funeral.

Former Governor General, Labor leader and architect of universal healthcare, Bill Hayden, is remembered as an unassuming giant in a field rich in ego.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley were among the dignitaries, diplomats and political figures at his farewell ceremony at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Ipswich on Friday.

Members of the public, including the Australian Federation Guard ceremonial unit, retired police members and children from St Mary’s Primary School, also gathered to honor Mr Hayden.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at a state funeral for former ALP leader Bill Hayden

Bill Hayden gave Labor ‘the chance for a future’, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

The Prime Minister remembered Mr Hayden as a luminary of the political landscape.

“With his quiet, powerful character, this legend of the Labor movement shone the light that showed us the way ahead,” Mr Albanese said.

‘Bill Hayden gave the Australian Labor Party the chance for a future.’

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating said his late Cabinet colleague had “succeeded in achieving a calm that would remain an asset throughout his life in the chaotic world of federal parliamentary life.”

“Unhindered by a higher sense of self or driven by an innate sense of destiny, Bill was able to continue his long and effective work – despite periodic self-doubt and occasional thwarted inner confidence – but his momentum persisted,” said Mr. Keating.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and partner Reza Adib arrive for Bill Hayden’s state funeral

In a eulogy, former Prime Minister Paul Keating said: ‘Bill Hayden saved the Labor Party and revived it as a national force’

One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson arrives at a state funeral for Bill Hayden

Born in 1933, Mr Hayden grew up in Queensland, where he worked in government and law enforcement.

He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1961 for the seat of Oxley, before being appointed Social Security Secretary and Treasurer under former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

Bill Hayden laid the foundation for Medibank, the predecessor of Medicare.

When Labor came to power in 1972, Hayden championed the basis for Medibank, the predecessor to Medicare.

While most Australians will remember him for this, Keating said Hayden’s greatest achievement was his re-establishment of the federal Labor Party.

After the infamous 1975 resignation, Mr Hayden was the last Labor MP from Queensland remaining in the House of Representatives.

Although Labor at the time was still driven by aspiration and altruism, it was plagued by confusion between ends and means, Keating said.

It was against this backdrop that Mr Hayden emerged as Labor leader.

“From the chaos of previous years, he brought order, focus and policy consistency to the Shadow Cabinet and assembled a talented frontbench committed to the principles of rationality and responsibility,” Mr Keating said.

“Bill Hayden saved the Labor Party and revived it as a national force.”

Mourners including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during the service at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ipswich

Dallas Hayden (center, wife of Bill Hayden) and daughter Georgina (right) are seen at the funeral of their late husband and father

In 1983 he became Secretary of State under Bob Hawke before retiring from parliamentary service in 1988.

Bill Hayden ‘saved and resuscitated the Labor Party as a national force’, said Paul Keating.

He became Australia’s 21st Governor-General and served from 1989 to 1996.

Mr Hayden died at the end of October at the age of 90, exactly nine years after Mr Whitlam’s death.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Dallas and his children Georgina, Ingrid and Kirk.

“He is our father, he is our father and we still love him,” Georgina said in her tribute.

Mr. Hayden left the church to the bittersweet melody of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again, one of his favorite songs.