Good Weekend Talks Bob Carr on grief and 'the left-over life' after his wife's death
Mar 13, 2026
Bob Carr, former NSW premier and foreign minister who wrote a grief memoir after his wife Helena’s sudden death. He talks about shock and obsessive walks through Sydney. He describes the silence of their Maroubra home, relearning everyday tasks, returning to Vienna, and finding solace in opera, reading and a new ‘left-over life’.
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Writing As Grief Therapy And Memory Preservation
- Writing about grief can act as therapy and preserve memories from fading.
- Bob Carr wrote Bring Back Yesterday to externalize panic, anchor Helena's stories, and prevent their image from being covered by time.
Night Walks To Commune With Grief
- Late-night manic walks became Carr's way to commune with Helena and process grief privately.
- He walked from the casino to Maroubra, recalling sites tied to their life and writing mental letters while often weeping unseen.
Leaving The Shared Home After Silence Became Unbearable
- Returning to the shared Maroubra home was both comforting and unbearably silent for Carr.
- He eventually moved to a Coogee apartment after sorting decades of clutter and practical work of leaving the house behind.
