‘He lived a big life’: John Elliott did it his way

A forthright man, declared Prime Minister Scott Morrison, of the one-time tycoon who made his mark like few Australians have.

John Elliott, the former Elders IXL boss and Carlton Football Club president who has died 10 days short of his 80th birthday. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Flamboyant businessman John Elliott has been remembered by political leaders and sports friends and foes as a robust competitor in all aspects of his life, which ended on Thursday, 10 days before his 80th birthday.

Scott Morrison led the tributes on Friday, ­describing the often controversial one-time brewing and investment tycoon and Liberal president as a “forthright man who said what he meant and meant what he said”.

Mr Elliott, who had been unwell for more than a year, died at Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital to which he was taken after a fall at home a fortnight ago.

“He lived a big life. It was an authentic Australian life,” the Prime Minister said, describing Mr Elliott as perhaps embodying much of the “ambitious, outward looking 1980s” as he globalised Carlton & United Breweries’ most famous brand, Foster’s, led the Carlton Football Club to two AFL premierships and “loyally supported the Liberal Party through what were lean times”.

“Big lives always have their critics, make their fair share of mistakes, but mostly, there is something about them that capture their times. “Such people are leaders. John Elliott was such a leader.”

Josh Frydenberg – who is Carlton’s No. 1 ticketholder – said he was sad to learn of Mr Elliott’s death. “He was a proud Victorian and a larger than life figure,” the Treasurer said.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy agreed, stating: “He made things happen and will be sorely missed.”

Brian Loughnane, the former long-term federal director of the Liberal Party said Mr Elliott “was an important figure in the life of the party nationally and in Victoria during a crucial period”, and said Mr Elliott had always dispensed wise advice.

Victoria’s Minister for Tourism, Sport, Major Events and Trade, Martin Pakula, recalled his first conversation with Mr Elliott about their mutual friend, Greg Sword, then federal secretary of the National Union of Workers.

“You’re Swordy’s mate?” – Yep.

“And you barrack for Carlton?” – Yep.

“And you went to what school?” – Haileybury.

“Well, what are you doing in the bloody Labor Party?”

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, a friend of Mr Elliott’s for many decades, said that many on his side of politics should “very grateful for the leadership and ­enthusiasm and advocacy that he showed during the 1980s, 1990s and early part of the 21st century”.

Carlton Football Club historian Tony De Bolfo recalled the game-day routine of the club’s longest serving president: “Elliott would welcome football identities and VIPs to his dominion, then take his place at his designated seating area in prime position for the first bounce.

“There he’d open the sliding glass, light a cigarette, and take great pleasure in flicking the ash on to the heads of unsuspecting opposition supporters ­filing past on the concourse below.”

Eddie McGuire was president of fierce rival Collingwood and counted himself a good friend of Mr Elliott who, he said, did more that lead Carlton: “He did an enormous amount of the heavy lifting that turned what was a Melbourne-based competition into the national competition we enjoy today,” he told 3AW.