The chairman of the Albury-Wodonga Cancer Foundation for 15 years before relinquishing the role last September died last Friday at the Mercy Hospital.

Mr Turner was also a two-time Albury Citizen of the Year in 2012 and 1995 with his most recent honour following a determined grassroots campaign which succeeded in winning $70 million in federal government funding for the cancer centre after multiple setbacks.

Wheelchair-bound, Mr Turner took part in the official opening of the centre last November alongside fellow fundraiser Jenny Black.

She said the cancer centre would be a lasting legacy to his community contribution and plans were already under way for a tribute within the centre.

“He was the one who responded to the call from (oncologist) Craig Underhill in saying we need to get the community involved,” she said.

“He constantly and passionately stood up for people of our region, especially those affected by a cancer diagnosis.

“He was able to put a finger on so many aspects of our community and would quietly go about it.”

Mr Turner fought his own battle with bowel cancer before leading a protest to the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra armed with a petition signed by 17,000 people.

It followed a rally on the Lincoln Causeway in 2010 attended by 1400 people.

Mr Turner replaced the late Gordon Craig as the cancer foundation chairman and also helped establish the cancer centre trust in addition to working in cancer support groups.

Foundation director Peter Tobin said: “He was a real leader and fought for what he believed in.”

Mr Turner had a stint as president of Albury-Wodonga Age Concern and played a role in the creation of the Mercy Palliative Care Centre.

Mr Turner was elected to Albury Council in the late 1990s and awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary.

Mayor Kevin Mack also paid tribute to Mr Turner.

“Eric was a favourite of many and a great contributor to the cancer centre and a lot of other projects in our community,” he said.

“His energy for the community was unrivalled.”

Farrer MP Sussan Ley said: “We obviously knew his health was ailing but when someone is so enthusiastic for life, as Eric was, the news is still a shock.

“The Albury region certainly has lost one of its finest.”

Mr Turner’s funeral will be held at the Lester & Son funeral home, North Albury, on Friday at 10am.