John Dorman Elliott got the send-off his son Tom insisted he would have loved, as football identities, politicians, business figures and members of the public joined family in a memorial to Carlton’s longest-serving President at the place he truly cherished.

Around 500 people took their seats in the Legends Stand at the old Carlton ground for the service to the man who died at the age of 79 last September. There they were subjected to touching personal reminiscences from Elliott’s children Edward, Tom, Caroline and Alexandra; taken into the boardroom by business associate Geoff Lord, and on to the political corridors of power by the former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett.

Lord identified in his old friend the qualities of “magnetism” and “leadership” - “an outstanding character, big in every way”, who put Australian business on the world map.

“He (Elliott) was a great lover of many things . . . ,” Lord said. “He loved a beer, so he went out and bought CUB, he loved a meat pie so he went out and bought Elders Pastoral with its lamb and beef, he loved his footy so he went out and took the Presidency of the Carlton Football Club and he loved a party so ‘Why not take the Liberals?’.

“Yes, he could be arrogant and pompous, but he could be very humble and self-deprecating. He was a man of many moods, and he never complained. He was a doer and he did it.”

Former Carlton President Stephen Kernahan – the game’s longest-serving captain – talked of Elliott’s fierce loyalty to the club and his unswerving support of the players through its last successful era.

To quote Kernahan: “There was no more loyal person at the Carlton Football Club than him”.

Elliott, a polarising figure whose 20-year presidency took in Carlton’s last two Premierships before its tumultuous end, was also remembered as a man of the people. An old schoolmate Norm Huon quoted Kipling when he said of Elliott: “He could walk with kings and not lose the common touch” - and pies and beer were fittingly served at the conclusion of the service.

Amongst those in attendance for the memorial was the Carlton President Luke Sayers and CEO Brian Cook, the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula (both passionate Carlton supporters); and former Premier Ted Baillieu.

Also there were former Carlton coaches David Parkin and Robert Walls; former Carlton players Barry Armstrong, Fraser Brown, Jim Buckley, Mike Fitzpatrick, Anthony Franchina, Adrian Gleeson, Peter Jones, Chris Judd, Peter Kerr, Anthony Koutoufides, Andrew McKay and Greg Williams; former Chief Executive Stephen Gough; and former directors John McIntosh, Marcus Rose and George Varlamos.

A little known fact relating to Elliott’s Carlton allegiance was related by his younger brother Ross, who revealed that it all stemmed from their father Frank, who lived next door to the club’s legendary captain of yesteryear Paddy O’Brien, in Newport.

“Frank was taken to watch Carlton from very early on, as a young seven or eight year-old in the 1920s,” Ross said.

“He became a very passionate and loyal Carlton supporter until he died in 2004, and he regaled us with many stories of great Carlton players of the past . . . Vallence . . . Francis . . . Chitty.”

Perhaps Elliott’s youngest daughter put it best when she said of her own father’s unswerving loyalty and love for the club: “The best days at Carlton were when Carlton won”.

“I don’t think he ever looked happier at Carlton than when he was belting out ‘We are the Navy Blues’ after a Carlton win with ‘Kouta’ on one arm and ‘Sticks’ on the other”.