Judith Durham, who was the lead singer of music group The Seekers, died at the age of 79. 

Australian PM Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Durham. 

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“Judith Durham gave voice to a new strand of our identity and helped blaze a trail for a new generation of Aussie artists. Her kindness will be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our nation will never be forgotten,” Albanese said on social media.

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Durham had been admitted to the Alfred Hospital and died as a result of complications from a longstanding chronic lung disease. 

Who was Judith Durham?

Born in Melbourne, Judith Durham joined The Seekers in in 1962. She, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley rose to fame with the folk music group. 

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Durham became the he band’s lead singer the following year, at the age of 20. The singer was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to music in 1995 and the Centenary Medal in 2003.  She was also named the Victorian of the Year in 2015.

In 1967, Durham was the joint recipient of the Australian of the Year award. The Seekers officially disbandeded but reunited several times. Their last performance came in 2014. 

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Judith Durham in 1969 married  British pianist and musical director Ron Edgeworth. He died died in less than 30 years later after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

“Vale Judith Durham – a trailblazer for Australian women in music. Someone who defined not just a generation, but what it meant to be an Aussie. You will never be forgotten. The carnival goes on,” Australian MP Chris Minns tweeted. 

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“What a voice, what a presence, what a star. I find this very sad. The carnival is over,” another Twitter user said. 

“Very sad news that Judith Durham has passed. A lovely person with an amazing voice that is one of the best memories from my childhood 😪😪😪,” a third one tweeted.