As the sun cast its gentle glow over Sydney, a state funeral was held to honor the indelible legacy of radio legend John Laws. The ceremony drew a constellation of stars from the realms of entertainment, media, and Australian politics, all gathered to bid a heartfelt farewell.

Among those paying tribute was acclaimed actor Russell Crowe, who delivered a poignant eulogy that captured the essence of Laws’ vibrant life. “He had an eye for composition and beauty, a nose for a good story, and the heart of a lion—loyal, warm, and lived life to the full,” Crowe fondly remarked.

Crowe reminisced about a conversation he’d had with Laws many years ago, when the radio icon asked if Crowe would speak at his funeral. “I said yes,” Crowe recalled with a touch of humor. “But he just kept on living, year after year after year. He lived so long, I thought I might have lost the gig.”

“I said yes. But he just kept on living, year after year after year.

“He lived so long, I thought I might have lost the gig.”

Paul Warren, the son of late car king Peter Warren, also paid tribute: “With that unmistakable voice known as golden tonsils, he could sell anything from Valvoline to Toyota.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns, who was in attendance today, said Laws’ broadcasts resonated with millions of Australians over a career spanning seven decades.

“John Laws was a towering figure in Australian radio whose voice resonated across the nation for more than seven decades,” he said.

“John’s career was extraordinary. Few broadcasters have left such a deep and lasting mark on Australian media.”

Media personalities such as 2GB’s Ben Fordham and Nine’s Richard Wilkins, politicians past and present, as well as members of the general public, were in attendance. 

“He was part of your life, whether you’d agree with him or not,” Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said as he arrived at the service.

“He was part of the stable diet that came on after Weet-Bix, especially out in regional areas, you’d turn on the radio and listen to him.”

Former PM John Howard said: “He lived a good life, he enjoyed it, I interviewed him lots of times, he hadn’t lost his spark.

“Australia has produced some great talkback broadcasters and he was top of the pops.”

The state funeral was a special tribute to the voice that earned Laws the nickname the Golden Tonsils as he shaped generations of Australian radio.

Laws’ career began in 1953, aged 18, when he hitchhiked to central Victoria where he took a job as a general hand at a Bendigo radio station.

He retired from radio for the second and final time just last year, after a career spanning more than 70 years.

Those closest to Laws have said that he never fully recovered after the passing of his spouse Caroline, who died after a long battle with ovarian cancer in 2022.

This was the first state funeral to be held at St Andrew’s Cathedral since 2009 and the 49th state funeral to be held in New South Wales.