Former athletes, prime ministers and premiers are among hundreds of mourners paying tribute to rugby great Sir Nicholas Shehadie at a state funeral in the heart of Sydney.
In a ceremony that spilt out of St James' Church and into King Street, the former Wallabies captain, former Sydney lord mayor and husband of former NSW governor Dame Marie Bashir, who died last week aged 92, is being remembered as a loving father and husband.
Former prime ministers John Howard, Paul Keating and Bob Hawke were among those in attendance on a wet Wednesday morning as well as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Former political rivals and NSW premiers Mike Baird and Kristina Keneally arrived at the service together, while federal Defence Minister Marise Payne represented Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Former NSW governor Marie Bashir (centre) arrives to the state funeral of her late husband Sir Nicholas Michael Shehadie at St James' Church Source: AAP
