Gough Whitlam memorial honours Australia's 21st prime minister The latest live news coverage and commentary from Australia's No. 1 media company. Stream 1 Hundreds of mourners turned away from Gough Whitlam memorial Organisers under fire over lack of seating for mourners Former Labor PMs get standing ovation as they enter Tony Abbott and John Howard booed GOUGH Whitlam is being remembered at his memorial as a man who changed Australia for the better in countless ways. Cate Blanchett, who was three when Whitlam was swept to power in 1972, paid tribute to his initiatives that shaped her generation. "When I heard that Gough Whitlam had died, I was filled with an inordinate sadness, a great sorrow," she said. Cate Blanchett speaks at the memorial. The loss I felt came down to something very deep and very simple: I am the beneficiary of a free teritary education. Tony Abbott, John Howard booed at Gough Whitlam memorial Reporter cops flak for outfit choice in Whitlam memorial live cross Gough Whitlam and his life in the public eye in pictures The culture around women and the right for woment to work as equals in Australia had also been raised by Gough Whitlam. Labor Senator John Faulkner, described by Gough Whitlam as "the best prime minister Australia never had," paid tribute to the former Labor leader. He was a great Australian prime minister. Great in every sense of the word," he said. In a time when so many are so cynical about politics, let us remember that this great Australian chose politics as a mission. ABC identity and former Whitlam staffer Kerry O'Brien opened the memorial. Members of the public are brought to tears outside Sydney Town Hall. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and Tony Abbott joined mourners at the memorial. "Gough's very substantial legacy is now carved into this country's history," Mr O'Brien said. Gough chose this venue - of course he did, the people's hall. But it wasn't his first choice. His first choice was a funeral pyre in the Senate. He wanted to take the Upper House with him. Video: Gough Whitlam, a giant of Australian politics The life and times of Australia's 21st prime minister Gough Whitlam The memorial's Welcome to Country by Aunty Millie Ingram honoured Whitlam's work to further the rights of indigenous Australians. The town hall was at capacity for the Gough Whitlam memorial. Mr Whitlam you were a brave and inspiring man. You will live on in our memories," she said. Close friend and political historian Graham Freudenberg said speaking at the memorial was the greatest priveledge of his very privileged life. "He saw that only the nation's parliament could be bring quality and equality to areas of Australian life where Canberra had never before dared or cared," Mr Freudenberg said. Graham Freudenberg speaks at the memorial. The Whitlam agenda remains part of the Australia agenda. Paul Keating was right: There was an Australia before Whitlam and there was a different Australia after Whitlam. He was the bridge. Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson praised Whitlam for bringing about great change that finally outlawed the "discrimination my father and his father lived under..and to which was subjected to for the first 10 years of my life." Crowds watch on from outside on a big screen. Noel Pearson delivers his powerful speech at the Gough Whitlam memorial. Picture: Twitter/@nathanbrown90 Source: Supplied Without this old man the land and human rights of our people would never have seen the light of day. Only those who have known discrimination have truly known its evil. This old man was one of those people who never suffered discrimination but understood protection from its malice. After checking off a long list of reforms enacted by the Whitlam government, Pearson had the crowd in fits of laughter when he asked: "Apart from all of this, what did this Roman ever do for us?" Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former PM Bob Hawke meet at the service. The music played at the memorial was chosen by Gough himself and includes pieces by Paul Kelly. Former Labor prime ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and Julia Gillard got standing ovations at Gough Whitlam's memorial when they arrived while current Liberal PM Tony Abbott and former Liberal PM John Howard were booed. Earlier, organisers of Gough Whitlam's memorial were overwhelmed today as mourners began queuing three hours before the state service at Sydney Town Hall amid complaints some were refused entry. Crowds gather outside the memorial. Picture: Daniel Munoz/Getty Images Source: Getty Images More than 5000 applications were received for just 1700 places inside the town hall with the overflow directed to a public viewing area outside where a large screen was installed. Mourners began gathering outside the town hall from 8am for the service attended by seven prime ministers, the Governor-general, a battery of Labor luminaries and a number of Mr Whitlam's old political foes. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Blanche d'Alpuget arrive. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Corp Australia Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard arriving at the memorial. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Limited Prime Minister Tony Abbott arriving at the memorial. Former PM Malcolm Fraser who ousted Mr Whitlam from power in 1975 was expected to attend along with current Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former PM John Howard. Former Labor leaders Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard headed the ALP contingent. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrives at the memorial. Current Labor leader Bill Shorten arrives at the memorial. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating and Annita Keating arrive. Mourners wait to gain entry to the memorial this morning. Picture: AAP/Paul Miller Source: Supplied Actress Cate Blanchett, Aboriginal activist Noel Pearson, former political speechwriter Graham Freudenberg, Labor stalwart John Faulkner and Whitlam's son Tony are said to be speaking at the ceremony. Four F/A-18 Horner fighter jets will conduct a flyover above George Street in the CBD after the 11am service. Sydney Harbour Bridge flags at half-mast ahead of the Gough Whitlam memorial. Picture: Twitter/@702Sydney Source: Twitter But Ron Miles blasted the "shambolic organisation" of the memorial service after he registered to attend but was refused entry this morning. "I arrived at the Town Hall at 8.00am and joined a queue on George St of equally confused members of the public," Mr Mills said. Crowds continued to gather outside the town hall this morning. After 10 minutes, we were all ushered around to Druitt St where the security people informed us that unless we had a confirmation email, we would not be admitted. While Mr Miles hadn't travelled far into the city, he said others who had been turned away had come from all over the country. Gough Whitlam will be honoured today with a memorial in Sydney following his death aged 98 two weeks ago. "I had come from Leichhardt but people around me were from Melbourne and Townsville and were in the same situation," Mr Mills said. It was an insult to us who had done the right thing early and a travesty that we could not participate in an event about which we felt so strongly. Others suggested the town hall was a poor venue given its lack of seating, with some people suggesting arenas like the SCG and ANZ Stadium could have been filled by mourners wanting to honour Whitlam. The Governor-general's emissary David Smith announces the sacking of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975. Meanwhile, flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge are being flown at half-mast. A huge screen has been erected outside Town Hall to accommodate the thousands expected to attend. Another mourner, Stella Chapman, who travelled from Bulli, south of Sydney described Whitlam as a great man. "To me he meant trying to make life better for the working class," she said. MPs from all sides of politics are expected to attend the service. "Heading to Sydney Town Hall to farewell the great Gough Whitlam - a visionary who improved lives and modernised Australia," federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese wrote on Twitter. Greens leader Christine Milne also tweeted on Wednesday she was on her way to Town Hall. Labor Leader Gough Whitlam, who would later become prime minister, with singer Little Pattie during the ALP 'It's Time' campaign in 1972. Even the Pope has reportedly paid condolences to the Whitlam family at a special memorial mass in Rome. In his brief few years in office from 1972 to 1975 Mr Whitlam changed Australia, instigating sweeping social, cultural and economic reforms including free access to health care and university, indigenous and women's rights and recognition of China. He died on October 21 aged 98. Originally published as "Brave and inspiring" Whitlam honoured