February 17

Russell arrives at the Sydney Opera House for the Kerry Packer Memorial ~ 2006

Russell reads a tribute to the late Kerry Packer, media tycoon and Australia's richest man, during a state memorial service.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Front row on the western side of the Concert Hall was the immediate Packer family. Assuming his position as the new head of the family, a watery-eyed James Packer and his stoic model girlfriend Erica Baxter. They sat with James's sister Gretel and her husband Shane Murray, her two children Chessie and Ben, Packer's stepmother Lady Florence and Ros Packer, who was moved to tears several times during the service. Joining the Packers in the front row were Packer's close friend Lloyd Williams, Russell Crowe and his pregnant wife Danielle Spencer. One member of the family was not there: Packer's newest grandson, Gretel's baby William Kerry Amadeus, who was born days after Packer died.