While the country returned to some normalcy after two pandemic-plagued years, 2022 still threw plenty of curve balls our way by taking away some beloved Aussies.

Icon of the screen and pop charts Dame Olivia Newton-John died on August 8 at the age of 73.

The British-Australian double threat is best remembered for her role as Sandy in Grease and for her tireless work as a cancer campaigner.

Australia lost two cricketing icons and beloved figure of the sporting world in the same year when Shane Warne, 52, and Andrew Symonds, 46, passed away this year.

The Australian arts owe a great debt of gratitude to the trailblazing work of actor, author, Stolen Generations survivor and Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Yorta Yorta elder Uncle Jack Charles, who passed away aged 79.

As they do to Uncle Archie Roach, after the beloved storyteller, Indigenous rights activist and Gunditjmara-Bundjalung elder passed away at the age of 66.

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Great Britain and many across the globe mourned the death of Britain's longest serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II after she passed away at the age of 96.

International legends of the screen who passed away in 2022 include Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane, multiple Oscar winner Sidney Poitier, Goodfellas actor Paul Sorvino, Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols, Full House actor Bob Saget, Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta, Murder, She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury and Cheers actress Kirstie Alley.

As well as global musicians like rock'n'roll great Jerry Lee Lewis, The Seekers lead singer Judith Durham, Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie, rapper Coolio and rapper Aaron Carter.

And cultural figures like activist Sacheen Littlefeather, who famously accepted Marlon Brando's 1973 Academy Award, and Ivana Trump, first wife of former president Donald Trump.