Key Points
- Olivia Newton-John is being remembered as an icon in Australian migrant communities.
- The Grease star passed away on Monday following a long battle with spinal cancer.
- She was a 'great example of resilience' to the Spanish-speaking community.
Olivia Newton-John is being remembered as a "pioneer" and an "inspiration" to members of the Filipino and Spanish-speaking communities in Australia, following her death from cancer at the age of 73.
She died "peacefully" at her ranch in the US, surrounded by family and friends, her husband John Easterling confirmed on Monday.
The British-born star was best known for her role as Sandy Olsson in the hit 1978 film Grease, starring opposite John Travolta, while she also amassed five No.1 hit songs on the US Billboard charts.
Her death has seen a huge outpouring of emotion from celebrities and politicians in Australia and abroad.
SBS Spanish journalist Marcia De Los Santos was 11 when she was first introduced to Newton-John while watching Grease on the big screen in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The family was a month away from migrating to Australia, Ms De Los Santos recalls.
“It was a very emotional period for me, I was leaving my school, all my friends, my home, my dog and my entire extended family.
“Olivia, in those last weeks of complete sadness, became a symbol of opportunity and gave me hope that life can actually be good in Australia and that I would eventually be happy.
“I think that happened because although I knew it was just a movie, the story was really powerful and her character, was really desirable to someone of my age at that time.”
She says Newton-John’s character “brought on a lot of excitement and hope” in those final weeks in Argentina.
“I will always remember Olivia with love and fondness, and I will forever be thankful for [her] filling my heart with joy and happiness on that balmy afternoon in 1978 in Buenos Aires, it was something I really needed.”
It is for the same performance that the Filipino community in Australia will always remember Newton-John as a "young girl who blossomed into a woman," says SBS Filipino journalist Edinel Magtibay.
"She was also the woman who encouraged everyone to be active in the ‘80s with her song 'Physical' and the magical voice behind 'Xanadu' and 'Hopelessly Devoted to You', this a favourite karaoke song for many Filipino fans."
Newton-John battled and defeated breast cancer in 1992 before its reappearance in 2013, and again in 2017 when it was categorised as stage four.
She underwent chemotherapy, breast reconstruction and a partial mastectomy before entering remission.
Over the three decades since her first diagnosis, Newton-John’s advocacy extended to the foundation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre (ONJ Centre) in Melbourne, to support people with cancer, and the Olivia Newton-John Foundation to fund research into cancer therapies.
"She was an amazing singer and an inspiration for many Filipino fans because she's known to promote breast cancer awareness and right now many local entertainers are posting videos of their tribute for Olivia, especially those people who are touched by her songs through the years,” Ms Magtibay says.
It's a sentiment shared by SBS Spanish journalist Carlos Colina, who believes Newton-John’s "real impact" was made on people battling cancer.
"She was a great example of resilience and perseverance and she will be remembered as a person who brought hope of new possibilities.
"Olivia Newton-John had an important impact on the Spanish community, she's not only the icon as an actress and a musician, but artists from the community also regard her as a pioneer and an inspiration."
On Tuesday night landmarks including the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Flinders Street Station turned pink in honour of Newton-John's legacy.
She is survived by her husband and daughter.