Blanche d’Alpuget, writer and wife of Bob Hawke, dies aged 82

Blanche d’Alpuget, Australian writer and widow of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, died at the age of 82. She was renowned for her biographies, particularly her acclaimed work on Hawke, which won the New South Wales Premier’s Award. Her final message, shared with the ABC by her family, emphasized love as her life’s highest calling.

Born in Sydney, she lived in England, France, Indonesia, and Malaysia. She was survived by her son Louis Pratt and three step-children from her first marriage. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed grief, calling her a unique writer who excelled in both fiction and non-fiction, capturing the humanity of her subjects with precision.

Her novels, including the bestselling biography *Robert J Hawke: A Biography*, and historical works, reflected her deep connection with Hawke, whom she married in 1995 after an affair during his first marriage. She wrote that her muse inspired her early work, and her books often included vivid depictions of relationships, including her own. Blanche’s final message resonated widely: 'Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life.

Love one another.'

Source: The Guardian