The Albury Entertainment Centre was filled to capacity with political heavyweights, past and present, who learned Mr Fischer, in his final days before his death last week, had taken part in a trial which would hopefully one day combat the cancer which claimed his life at the age of 73 and a papal order dating back to 1831.

Current Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Fischer's greatest political achievement had been introducing tighter gun laws following the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.

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Mr Fischer and prime minister of the day, John Howard, who was also in attendance, had displayed great political will, according to Mr Morrison.

"Gun laws were not popular in regional Australia in 1996," Mr Morrison said.

"Australians are safer today because of him.

"It was his finest moment among many.

"He was a tower of strength and a titan."

Every federal National Party leader since Mr Fischer's retirement from politics in 2001 - John Anderson, Mark Vaile, Warren Truss, Barnaby Joyce and present leader Michael McCormack - attended the funeral.

Mr Anderson revealed the trials Mr Fischer had undertaken for acute myeloid leukaemia.

"He was informed they would make no difference to his life, but might make a very real difference to other peoples' lives," he said.

"It was agonisingly difficult and personally painful for him to do it.

"But it was the mark of the man and we certainly love and salute you."

The papal honour bestowed on Mr Fischer was the Order of St Gregory the Great in recognition of personal service to the Holy See and the Catholic Church.

Kevin Rudd, the former Labor prime minister who appointed Mr Fischer as Australia's first resident ambassador in the Vatican City in 2008, attended the funeral along with current Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

Mr Fischer had played a large part in the format of his own funeral which was telecast nationally.

The Murray Conservatorium Choir, which sang two of his favourite songs Jerusalem and The Battle Hymm of the Republic, was hand-picked by Mr Fischer along with soloist and Boree Creek boy Thomas Strong, who sang Amazing Grace.

Bill Baxter and Sandy Venn-Brown, who were members of the wedding party when Mr Fischer and his wife Judy were married, delivered the eulogy.

Mr Baxter and Mr Fischer were born six months apart and both attended boarding schools in Melbourne before both entered state politics in the early 1970s.

"I will miss Tim immensely and so will the nation," Mr Baxter said.

Other tributes were presented by former federal Labor minister Barry Jones, wife Judy's cousin Ruth McGowan, fellow conscript Gordon Alexander, chief of staff Jenelle Bonnor, former Liberal colleague and Ambassador to Rome Amanda Vanstone, Barefoot Investor Scott Pape and fellow trains enthusiast Ross Jackson.

Mr Pape recalled a recent visit to Mr Fischer in hospital and his friend and mentor needing to call nurses after fainting near his bed.

Mr Jackson, who had played a major role in organising the train on which Mr Fischer's coffin was transported from Wagga to Albury, also recounted the origins of a lifelong friendship which began when they first met at a basketball match in his hometown.

Mr Jackson was 14 at the time and shortly after Mr Fischer took him to Canberra to watch some steam trains.

He was also a referee when Mr Jackson landed his first job in the railways.

Father Tony Percy made the final blessing, brother Tony Fischer issued a thank you on behalf of the family and Lockhart Football Club players and officials formed part of the guard of honour after the service.

Mr Fischer's funeral began earlier in the day when a heritage train affectionately known as a "Tin Hare" driven by Dennis Turner rolled into Albury a fraction later than scheduled.

Mr Turner, who had only met Mr Fischer once previously, said a crowd of well wishers at Yerong Creek was so big an impromptu call was made to make a brief stop.

"He must have been very well liked in that district," Mr Turner said.

"With plenty of people around we thought it only right to stop."