Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer remembered by Maggie Gordon

Mrs Gordon met Mr Fischer at a function in Narromine in 2016 and described him as a "genuine Aussie bloke".

"And so knowledgeable," she said.

"I followed up our discussion by sending him a few prints from my soldiers tribute book 'A Little Red Poppy'.

"I wrote those poems, but Tim lived them in his service to our country."

Mr Fischer was a conscript during the Vietnam War, a second lieutenant wounded by rocket fire at the Fire Support Base Coral north of Saigon in May, 1968.

The explosion tore out a piece of his shoulder.

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His life was saved by a new flak jacket when shrapnel hit him in the chest, and so he lived to become leader of the National Party, deputy prime minister, ambassador to the Holy See, husband of Judy Brewer, father to Harrison and Dominic and perhaps the most loved politician of his generation.

Mr Fischer died aged 73 from acute leukaemia in Albury.

Mrs Gordon received a letter from Mr Fischer shortly after his trip to the region, where he congratulated her on her "magnificent poetry".

"Poetry is a form of music to many ears," the letter read.

"I found it very inspirational as I prepare some Long Tan speeches for next month.

Mr Fischer praised Narromine, Tottenham and Dubbo as "interesting centres on the go" and were "all very wet" during his visit in 2016.

Mrs Gordon said her only regret is not completing the poem he inspired her to write about how Churchill met Monash.

"But you never know , maybe down the track," she said.