The Sydney Swans are saddened by the passing of Swans ambassador, former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer. 

Mr Fischer died at the Albury-Wodonga Cancer Centre on Thursday from an acute form of leukemia. He was surrounded by family and friends.

The 73-year-old served as a platoon commander in Vietnam during the late 1960s and believed his cancer was related to being sprayed by Agent Orange during that war.

A colourful politician who led the Nationals from 1990 to 1999, he began his political career at the age of 24 as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He served in that capacity from 1971 to 1984, before becoming the Nationals' federal member for Farrer in the NSW Riverina from 1984 to 2001.

Mr Fischer was deputy prime minister in John Howard's Coalition government from 1996 to 1999, during which time he played a key role in reforming Australia’s gun laws.

His passion for the Sydney Swans began when the club relocated from South Melbourne, as Mr Fischer had also moved from Melbourne to Sydney after his secondary education.

He supported the Swans through their early efforts to establish AFL in Sydney and recalled Tony Lockett’s point in the 1996 preliminary final as one of his favourite football moments.

Former Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless has paid tribute to Mr Fischer.

“Tim was one of our earliest ambassadors and he and his wife Judy (a staunch Essendon supporter) were regular attendees at the Chairman’s Club pre-game functions. He had a rare gift to mix with our supporters across the social and economic spectrum.” he said. 

“Tim was regularly interviewed at the function and spoke with characteristic passion on all manner of topics – he once claimed that the highlight of his playing career was being a member of the Boree Creek Under 16 B-team.

“He particularly liked coming down to the rooms and mixing with fellow supporters and talking to players. This on one occasion this did cause a slight complication when he was invited into the players’ room after the game by coach Rodney Eade after a resounding victory at the SCG. Much to the consternation of his security detail they were denied access to the room. Tim assured them that he was a Swans ambassador and that nothing untoward was likely to happen to him – particularly as we’d just won the game.”

The Sydney Swans extend condolences to Mr Fischer’s wife Judy and his sons Harrison and Dominic.