Channel Four Live Cam

Saturday 3 August, 1.30pm

Good afternoon, Jean Acheson with the Live Cam, and up to half a million people have converged on the centre of Sydney for Susan Wright’s state funeral, which is due to get underway here within the hour.

Prominent business people, politicians, and celebrities are still arriving at Saint Mary’s, and police have barricaded roads around the city centre to give mourners easy access to the service. Most of Mrs Wright’s cabinet colleagues have already taken their seats, and Prime Minister Michael Lansdowne’s motorcade is due any minute now.

Meanwhile, giant screens relaying the event have been set up throughout the city in an effort to relieve the crush around the cathedral. And Macquarie Cemetery has placed a strict limit on numbers for the funeral service to be held out there later this afternoon.

For the record, the previous biggest state funeral in Australia was that of Sir John Monash. More than three hundred thousand people lined the streets of Melbourne in 1931 to farewell the World War I leader. This is Jean Acheson. Back with more in a moment.