Mr Anderson passed away this week aged 77, after being diagnosed with cancer in September 2019.

Close friends say he was a good listener who offered great advice, inspiration and assistance.

He earned a bachelor of commerce and diploma of education in the 1960s before gaining a teaching role at the Warrnambool Technical College.

Soon after arriving in the city he married Alison whose farming background complemented Mr Anderson's accounting skills and the couple established successful businesses.

Mr Anderson practised as an accountant and taxation agent for 50 years, becoming a major shareholder in the National Australia Bank while Alison managed 3000 acres of beef and dairy farms on Warrnambool's outskirts.

Together they named the Rossander Angus cattle stud - a combination of Alison's maiden name and his surname - and won the top prize for beef cattle at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in the early 2000s and numerous other prizes.

Mr Anderson later earned further qualifications such as a master of administration and was one of the original senior lecturers at the Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education and later Deakin University.

He also served as the Brauer College school council president from the early 1980s for 26 years.

Duncan Stalker, former Brauer College principal from 1978-2001, worked for 17 years during Mr Anderson's presidency and described him as "excellent" with the school.

"He was an excellent negotiator, he got on very well with people, he was very good at listening, he had a very sound financial knowledge, and as a president he was always available whenever needed," Mr Stalker said.

"He was a very effective advocate for education during the 1980s and 1990s which was a tumultuous era in secondary education."

The Anderson family donated 12 acres of Caramut Road land to become Rossander Park, which now hosts Midfield Oval and the Brauerander Athletics Complex, opening in 2004 following Mr Andersons' efforts to secure donations that led to a nearly $5 million project.

Mr Anderson remained co-chair of the Brauerander Park Operations Committee to oversee the management and continual improvements of the facility in the past 14 years.

His efforts contributed to Brauer College building the Anderson Theatre and Stalker Auditorium.

After spending most of his life in education Mr Anderson retired from Deakin after 31 years lecturing when substantial changes occurred at the Warrnambool campus.

"He would have liked to stay on as a lecturer," Mr Stalker said. "He had a very cheery disposition and he always spoke in a very friendly manner to all he met, he contributed greatly to the community.

"My wife and I will sadly miss him. He was very close with our whole family."

Mr Anderson was a director of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Company from 2009 to 2014 and a director on Peter's Project Foundation which secured the funding for the South West Regional Cancer Centre.

Mr Anderson attended the centre recently to receive treatment and care.

Warrnambool business identity Colin McKenna said Andrew's passing was not only sad for the Anderson family but for the south-west.

"Andrew was a great visionary who helped so many different people in all walks of life. His generosity to local schools, hospitals and charities was amazing and outstanding," Mr McKenna said.

"Personally, Andrew offered great advice, inspiration, assistance and support to me over many, many years. He was a wonderful supporter to the Midfield Group. His legacy to Warrnambool and district is there for all to see."

Close friend and neighbour Vern Robson said he valued Mr Anderson's assistance, friendship and vision across 45 years.

"He did have a great vision for the future of Warrnambool. He really was pleased to be able to be part of the growth of Warrnambool during his lifetime," Mr Robson said.

Mr Anderson continued to practise as an accountant until recently. He is survived by wife Alison and daughter Helena.

A service will be held next Friday at 2pm at St John's Church Warrnambool, where Duncan Stalker and Vern Robson will deliver eulogies and Helena Anderson will live-stream a eulogy from London.

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