The sun shone bright on Friday for Jane Garrett – the larger-than-life Labor loyalist, friend, wife, daughter and, perhaps her favourite role, mother, who was farewelled in a state memorial service.

About 500 mourners, including current and former politicians and trade unionists, gathered at the Brunswick Town Hall – in Garrett’s old stomping ground and electorate – to pay their respects to the 49-year-old who died from breast cancer on July 2.

Jane Garrett on the steps of Parliament in 2018.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

Her friends and colleagues remembered her as a woman who loved life and dedicated it to improving the lives of others.

“It’s not the days of her life and death that are important today,” Labor MP Mark Gepp said in his opening remarks. “As poet Linda Ellis said, it’s the dash in between that matters. ‘For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth’.”

Former premier Steve Bracks said he first met Garrett in 2000, shortly after his shock election victory against Liberal leader Jeff Kennett. He described her as compassionate and courageous with a “brilliant mind” and “the best laugh”.

“Jane knew how to live,” Bracks said, echoing the tributes paid by other speakers.

“She knew every moment mattered. Well before her breast cancer diagnosis, she knew life was precious and precarious. Jane knew the secret to meaningful, profound life is to grasp every opportunity to make the world a better place.”

Former Labor MP Sharon Knight and Luba Grigorovitch, the party’s candidate for Kororoit at the upcoming state election, were the other two speakers for the hour-long event. They regaled the congregation with tales of Garrett’s penchant for fun, laughter and drinking.

In an emotional tribute, Knight said she would always hear Garrett and her infectious laughter, before she saw her.

“Jane always stayed upright even when she wanted to fall. She always stayed fearsome even when she was consumed by fear,” Knight said. “And she always stayed the best, funniest, loudest, feisty and loyal friend you could ever have.”

Premier Daniel Andrews after thhe serviceCredit:Justn McManus

While Grigorovitch said Garrett loved making people happy. “Jane radiated goodness, kindness, optimism and compassion,” the former secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union said.

A childhood friend of Garrett, musician Tim Rogers, performed a tribute song, Heavy Heart, at the service.

Garrett is survived by her children, Molly, 19, Sasha, 15 and Max, 10 and her husband, James.

Garrett was elected to the state seat of Brunswick in 2010, and elevated into cabinet as minister for emergency services, consumer affairs, and gaming and liquor regulation.

Musician Tim Rogers was a childhood friend.Credit:Justin McManus

She resigned from the frontbench in 2016 following an industrial relations dispute, and was the upper house member for the Eastern Victorian Region since the last election.

Premier Daniel Andrews attended the service but did not speak.

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