Australia farewells former PM Faser at state funeral in Melbourne

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser was remembered as a visionary, courageous leader and a passionate family man as he was farewelled at a state funeral in Melbourne on Friday.

Fraser led Australia from 1975 until 1983, having won three federal elections. He died last week, aged 84.

The service was held at Scots' Church, where close friend Reverend Douglas Robertson led an emotional and reflective mass which was attended by family, friends and dignitaries.

Among the grieving were Prime Minister Tony Abbott and deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, former Prime Ministers John Howard, Julia Gillard and Paul Keating as well as current and past cabinet members.

Members of Fraser's family spoke about the laid back, family loving man that he was, and his commitment to making Australia a better place for everyone.

"He was a joker at heart," granddaughter Rachel Fraser said. " It is fair to say that granddad made a great impact and left his mark on each one of his children and grandchildren."

Members of the Vietnamese community came to grieve, showing their thanks for the tireless work Fraser did welcoming more than 50,000 asylum seekers to move to Australia after the Vietnam war ended in 1975.

Revered Robertson also touched on the friendship that former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew shared with Fraser. Lee also died last week at age 91.

While tears flowed, so did the laughs, with former colleagues sharing stories that included mandatory martinis, a cheeky grin, but an unwavering sense of responsibility to a young nation.

Fraser was also remembered as a man whose politics were always liberal - as opposed to stridently conservative - and who invariably stuck up for the underdog. Indeed, his support of some Labor causes, such as asylum seekers and other humanitarian and human rights issues, put him at odds with his own party.

After his retirement, he became a progressive voice in Australian politics, and almost statesmanlike in the way he spoke on sensitive policy issues.

As his coffin, draped in an Australian flag, was slowly carried out of the church, hundreds gathered on the streets to say one final farewell to a political leader who enjoyed greater popularity in retirement than he ever did in office. Endi