After a long battle against cancer and kidney failure, Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer died 26 December 2005 aged 68 at home in Sydney. He was a man who created controversy and great anecdotes in equal measure, and there were both guests and protesters at his Sydney Opera House state memorial service. The guests came to celebrate the life of Australia’s richest man, with a fortune valued last year at US$5 billion, who was the dominant force in the country’s media and changed international cricket into a professional sport. The protest outside the Opera House was over taxpayers’ money being used for the service.

Tales of Kerry Packer’s gambling exploits are extensive, larger than life. Less well known was his philanthropy towards his fellow Australians, giving millions of dollars away to deserving causes. At the same time he would wager millions of dollars at casinos in London and Las Vegas. Australian Prime Minister John Howard summed up this contradictory character as “a larrikin but also a gentleman,” commenting that being described as such would make any Australian man proud.

The Kerry Packer memorial service was broadcast live on his national television network, Channel Nine. His son, James Packer, has taken over the Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. empire that includes casino interests at home and abroad, television, a raft of magazines (60% of all magazines sold in Australia), ski resorts, land and diamond exploration. From being sent to boarding school at age 5, and nine months in an iron lung at age 6 after developing polio, Kerry Packer fought the odds and won. Never afraid to accept a challenge or fight his corner, the world has lost a little of its colour with his death. (E-02.17.06)

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