‘I’ve had my time’: Bob Hawke reveals he’s in ‘terrible’ health

Former prime minister Bob Hawke has revealed he’s in “terrible” health having suffered numerous health conditions throughout the year.

Speaking exclusively to The Courier Mail this week the 89-year-old admitted he is unwell, hinting he may not be around for much longer.

“I’ve had my time, just stick around for a little while,” he told the publication while enjoying Queensland’s popular Woodford Folk Festival with wife Blanche d’Alpuget.

“It’s (health) been terrible.”

Hawke’s revelation comes months after the much-loved former politician was admitted to the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney for a mystery illness.

At the time reports implied the he suffered a stroke, but the ABC later reported that wasn’t the case. A spokesperson for Hawke also explained he wasn’t in hospital with pneumonia.

According to The Australian, Hawke had been unwell for some time, with his illness said to be serious, although the ABC reported back in May he was just in hospital for “some minor tests” and that he was doing “fine”.

Despite his declining health, the former PM, who served as Labor leader of Australia between 1983 and 1991, is spending his tenth consecutive year at the Woodford Folk Festival.

It’s a tradition for Hawke who normally takes to the stage to deliver a speech or sing along to Waltzing Matilda.

However, according to The Courier Mail, the third-longest-serving prime minister of Australia will enjoy the festival from the sidelines this year and leave the stage to the performers. But fans will not be disappointed as Hawke has recorded a video performance for his much anticipated visit to the festival.

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke has hinted he may not be around to see Labor's possible win at the next federal election, saying his health has been "terrible". #9News pic.twitter.com/715F1RsSxw

— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) December 28, 2018

Read more: Former prime minister Bob Hawke hospitalised

Snippets of the song have been shared online with many Australians taking to social media to share messages of support for the former PM. 

“Hang in there Hawkey. The Australian Prime Minister who best understood and related to the ‘Aussie battler’. We love you, Bob,” one person wrote. 

While another added: “So sad, they don’t make them like Bob anymore. A great Aussie, a great man, & he was a great PM”.

During his time as Australia’s prime minister from 1983 to 1991, Hawke received the highest-ever approval rating at 75 per cent. Kevin Rudd is the only other PM in recent times who has come close to achieving the same status. Hawke famously set a world record for drinking a yard of beer during his studies back in 1955, and even went as far as suggesting that this contributed to his political success more than anything else he had ever done.

Still a keen follower of politics Hawke told The Courier Mail at the festival he believes Labor will win next year’s federal election. He claimed the party will do “pretty well” in Queensland and that Bill Shorten will also receive much support.

Do you have a message for Bob Hawke?