Last Year
On Friday 13 February 2004, Bacon received the diagnosis that he was suffering from inoperable lung cancer. On 23 February 2004, Bacon subsequently announced that he would take a four week leave of absence from his role of Premier so that he could explore treatment options. After news that Jim had little time left, he stood aside as Premier in March 2004, to spend with his family and friends whatever time was left to him. Paul Lennon, who had been Deputy Premier, succeeded Bacon as Tasmania's 42nd Premier.
Bacon, a 35-year smoker, died as a result of the cancer on 20 June 2004, at Calvary Hospital in Hobart. A state funeral was held on 25 June; many state and federal politicians (from both major parties) attended, including Liberal Prime Minister John Howard, all the state Premiers, Opposition Leader Mark Latham, former Opposition Leader Simon Crean, and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
Read more about this topic: Jim Bacon
Famous quotes containing the word year:
“Every year without knowing it I have passed the day
When the last fires will wave to me”
—William Stanley Merwin (b. 1927)
“A man I praise that once in Tara’s Halls
Said to the woman on his knees, “Lie still,
My hundredth year is at an end. I think
That something is about to happen, I think
That the adventure of old age begins....””
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)