Hey Hey it’s Saturday host Daryl Somers, who led the tributes, received a precious gift from his mate’s widow at the emotional send off.
During the service, Blackman’s wife of 52 years Cecile gifted the famous Dickie Knee puppet to the remaining Hey Hey It’s Saturday stars.
“He was so wonderful and he was so sharp and saw humour in everything,” Somers said.
The Melbourne media personality had been fighting bone cancer at the time of his death.
John Blackman’s co-stars from the glory days of Aussie TV – 70s, 80s, and 90s were there, with Wilbur Wilde, Red Symonds and Nine’s Livinia Nixon among mourners.
“There was a whole lotta love in the room, for him, for everything that he’s done for everybody, for the kindness he’s shown everyone,” Nixon said.
John died earlier this month after prolonged health battles including having his jaw removed in 2019 due to skin cancer.
Mourners reflected on his quick wit and most famous character Dickie Knee – who took the mickey out of some of the biggest stars of the time.
“A very sad day though it’s kind of a very special time, all that time in variety. And another one’s gone,” Entertainer Rhonda Burchmore said.
Blackman, who was 76, started his career in radio and veterans on the airwaves paid their respects.
“We became best buddies a long long time ago and had so many laughs together over the years,” veteran 3AW presenter Philip Brady said.
“And I’ll be forever grateful to John for the humour he brought into our lives. He really enriched our lives and we are poorer for his passing.”
