By Andrew Hornery

Copyright smh

They had a $10 million budget and six weeks to do it. After erecting four giant marquees in the Packers’ Bellevue Hill compound, Patrick’s team lined them in silk and filled them with Moroccan antiques, fresh flowers, priceless silverware and crystal. Elton John and his grand piano were shipped in secret to entertain the 700 guests. No noisy bird was going to get in Patrick’s way.

“The bloody bird just wouldn’t shut up … and it wouldn’t budge. The Packers were not happy. Somehow, Mark had it caught. I have no idea how, but the bird was gone by the time the guests started arriving,” says good friend and artist James Gordon, who, along with an army of chefs, waiters and florists, had been enlisted by Patrick to help pull off the extraordinary spectacle.

Patrick’s partner of 40 years Geoffrey Veivers said: “He was a visionary with endless ideas to create something out of nothing, he just loved putting on parties and interesting people.”

Veivers was by Patrick’s side when the 73-year-old died at Gosford Hospital on September 17 following a long period of declining health.