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Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has described Ron Walker as "Victoria's ringmaster" as he farewelled the prominent businessman at a state funeral in Melbourne.
Political, business and sporting identities including Premier Daniel Andrews and former prime minister Tony Abbott packed St Paul's Cathedral to pay tribute to Mr Walker, who died on January 30 from cancer.
Mr Kennett praised Mr Walker's success in securing for the state major events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
"He was, in one sense, Victoria's ring master and governments, mine and successors, where appropriate, funded his enthusiasm to Victoria's collective advantage," Mr Kennett said.
"Who were those events delivered for? Not the corporates, many of whom helped Ron fund these activities, but ... the rank and file within our community, people of Victoria who loved their arts and sport, those who saved to buy their entry tickets.
"I well remember the joy Ron felt when we walked or rode in buggies around the Formula 1 track and facilities and the same when inspecting the facilities at the motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, how those attending, men and women, whom he had never met, called out to him by name and thanked him for securing the events."
Mr Kennett also paid tribute to the fundraising work he did for the Liberal Party.
"There has been no single fundraiser for any political party that comes anywhere close to matching Ron Walker's efforts," he said.
Earlier, Mr Walker's son Campbell said his father had told his children to "work hard, get results [and] treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself".
"Dad, we will always love you and miss your daily chats," he said.
"We will fondly remember some of your final words to us, that you were extremely proud of all of your children, and make sure we looked after our mother. We promise we will."
Media personality and Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire said Mr Walker had helped Victoria regain its pride.
"Not since the original Government of Victoria, Charles Latrobe, has one person had an impact on so many varied institutions and it was with his great partner, Jeff Kennett, that he found a Batman to his Superman," Mr McGuire said.
Mr McGuire said it was significant that Mr Walker had continued to work as a "champion of Victoria" through the Labor governments led Steve Bracks, John Brumby and Mr Andrews, as well as under the Liberal administrations of Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine.
"This would never happen anywhere else in Australia, this would rarely happen anywhere in the world," he said.
Topics: community-and-society, melbourne-3000, vic