Long-time NSW premier Neville Wran has died at the age of 87 after a long battle with dementia.
Mr Wran, the Balmain boy who won power in NSW in 1976 and remained the state's premier for the next decade, died about 6pm on Sunday night at the prestigious Lulworth House nursing home in Elizabeth Bay, where the 97-year-old former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam is a resident.
His wife, Jill Hickson, and daughter Harriet were with him. His oldest daughter from his first marriage, Kim Wran, had arrived from Los Angeles to be with her father on Sunday morning.
"I saw him every day last week," said Ms Hickson. "It has been a long, slow process."
He had been suffering from dementia for the past two years.
"This is of course a very sad time for us all, but in fact a blessed release for Neville," Ms Hickson said.
"Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years. But I hope now, especially in this political climate, people will join me in celebrating the life of a great man, a true political hero."
She paid tribute to the nursing staff of Lulworth House who had been caring for the former premier. "They really are angels," she said.
"I would like his farewell to be very significant and a real celebration of the people who admired him," Ms Hickson said. "I want it to be open to all - a people's farewell. I want it to be joyous and celebratory as was everything to do with him - exciting and worthwhile."
Former NSW premier Bob Carr described Mr Wran as possessing an "astute reading of public opinion" and a "vivid and earthy understanding of the political process."
"He showed Labor the way back into government after the huge defeat suffered by Gough Whitlam in 1975," Mr Carr said.
"He delivered a moderate and stable government and was rewarded with landslide victories. He edged new issues into public debate: anti-discrimination laws, access for ethnic communities, and above all environmental protection - his greatest achievement being the protection of the rainforests of northern NSW. This fusion of the Labor and environmental agenda was to have a big influence on me, not least because I was honoured to serve him as minister for planning and environment."
Malcolm Turnbull, the godfather of Mr Wran's son Hugo, said: "Lucy and I are very sad to learn of Neville's death. He was a very dear friend. We were all in business together for over a decade. He is a remarkable man and one of our greatest political leaders.
"In many ways he was the architect of modern Sydney. He was an example of a very activist premier. His style of leadership was very different to the Labor leaders that followed him, who were as successful as Neville at winning elections but were not builders and doers in the way he was.
"Although his last years have been tough, he did live to a great age. It's very sad. We will miss him."
Mr Wran led the Labor government in NSW from May 1976 to July 1986.
He was married twice – first to Marcia Oliver, whose son he adopted before they had two more children, and then to Ms Hickson, with whom he had two children.
Tributes flowed on social media on Sunday night.
Vale The Hon. Neville Wran AC, QC, 1926-2014. Tonight NSW lost a true great. pic.twitter.com/w3acE19FPX — NSW Labor (@NSWLabor) April 20, 2014
Sad news. Neville Wran helped build NSW incl initiating our sister-state relationship with China's Guangdong province in 1979 #nevillewran — Barry O'Farrell (@barryofarrell) April 20, 2014
Vale Neville Wran - Balmain boys may cry tonight — Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) April 20, 2014
Very sad to hear the passing of #NevilleWran. A great @NSWLabor legend who led us back to Govt in NSW in 1975. A humble man & true leader. — John Robertson (@jrobertsonmp) April 20, 2014
Australia has lost a political giant. Labor has lost a legend. Rest in Peace Nifty. — Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) April 20, 2014
Neville Wran was a great man, a true gentleman and a visionary Labor leader. We are all better for his life. God bless. — Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) April 20, 2014
