Dunstan suffered from sickness in his latter years. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1993 before being diagnosed with incurable lung cancer on February 6, 1999. On February 9, a public memorial ceremony was conducted at the Adelaide Festival Centre to honor Dunstan's passion of the arts. Approximately 5,000 people attended the event which included performances by opera singers, musicians, dancers, and actors. Don Dunstan was one of Australia's most beloved artists. He was an influential force in bringing contemporary art to South Australia and creating opportunities for young artists. At the time of his death, he was working on a new project called "The Natural Order" which aimed to demonstrate that beauty is found everywhere if you look hard enough. He received many accolades for his work including two ARIA Music Awards, three Deadlys, a National Art Award, and a Prince Charles Prize. In 2001, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to music education in South Australia. Don Dunstan was born on January 4, 1945 in Melbourne, Victoria. His parents were Greek immigrants who worked as cooks and servants to make a living. When he was nine years old, the family moved to Woodside, a south side suburb of Adelaide. There, he began taking piano lessons from Mrs. Mary McArthur who became a significant influence in his life. She taught him how to play jazz songs when he was only 11 years old.