John Laws state funeral as it happened: Russell Crowe, John Williamson lead tributes as Australian radio broadcaster farewelled in St Andrew’s Cathedral service

That ends our live coverage of the state funeral for broadcaster John Laws, who died earlier this month aged 90.

Figures from across the spectrum of political and public life gathered at St Andrew’s Cathedral, including actor Russell Crowe, who delivered a eulogy for his former neighbour and “mischievous mate”.

Crowe acknowledged that Laws’ on-air persona was often abrasive, and touched on some of the controversies that punctuated his career, but said this wasn’t his personality in private. “My good friend was a very kind man,” he said.

It was one of several nods to Laws’ signature sign-off, “You be kind to each other”, during proceedings. Laws’ coffin was carried out to the tune of Roger Miller’s 1968 tune, Less of Me – the song Laws’ played in his final broadcast.

So with that, I’ll bid you farewell. Thanks for following along. To those John Laws fans out there, I hope you’re enjoying a bourbon and coke somewhere.

Our photographers Janie Barrett, James Brickwood, and Sam Mooy have been covering the state funeral from inside and outside St Andrew’s Cathedral. Here’s a selection of our favourites.

Former Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser was earlier interviewed outside St Andrew’s Cathedral, where the 88-year-old said she had developed a close relationship with Laws and his family over four decades.

“He had a good family, too ... my daughter has been friends with [Laws’ daughter] Sarah 40 years … I had a lot of fun with him,” Fraser told Nine’s Mark Burrows. “It’s sad to see him go, but, we’ve all got to go ... one day.”

The state funeral finishes with Roger Miller’s 1968 tune, Less of Me – another Laws favourite.

His coffin is being carried out in a procession led by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.

Crowe has finished his tribute to Laws with a poem he and Laws first mentioned at the funeral of Kerry Packer.

The poem is Rudyard Kipling’s “If”, which the Oscar-winning actor delivers with customary heft.

Crowe manages to sneak in a not-so casual plug for his upcoming film before remarking that he and Laws were “often on opposite sides of any issue”.

“We hardly ever agreed on anything, from bike lanes to politics,” Crowe said. “However, we did agree that we liked each other and our differing perspectives never stopped us from making each other laugh.”

Crowe said Laws appeared at his son Charlie’s first birthday with a present.

“After a while, John asked me if Charlie had opened his gift yet,” he said. “I opened it, it was a bottle of Wild Turkey.”