Tributes are flowing in to Sir Vijay R Singh, the former Speaker of the Fiji parliament, cabinet minister and attorney general who died of cancer aged 75.
Sir Vijay had been living in Brisbane for a few years because he needed medical treatment not available in Fiji.
Fiji's prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, has revealed that when he became interim prime minister after the May 2000 coup, Sir Vijay had given him valuable advice.
Sir Vijay also played a pivotal role in the Sugar Industry and was the first CEO of the Fiji Cane Growers council.
The head of the Cane Growers Council, Jaganath Sami, says during that time Sir Vijay was able to help negotiate some conditions to better the lives of the cane farmers.
"What we are enjoying today, the sharing formalised, the provisions of the master award has been a lot of his own contribution."
Mr Sami says there were so many things Sir Vijay took part in to help people.
