Mr Cooper's funeral had been arranged to be held last Friday, but after the announcement of the seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown, it was rescheduled for this Friday.

The father-of-three was a popular and well-loved figure in Ballarat and his home town of Ararat, both for his kind and generous nature and his community spirit.

"It's a very sad thing for everyone involved particularly more the fact that Graeme was an absolute legend and a very valued member of the community because of his actions, not necessarily because of the position he held," said Fire Rescue Victoria Commander Anthony Pearce.

A leading firefighter at Ballarat City Fire Station 67, the station's ladder platform was named in his honour earlier this year. CFA and FRV colleagues across the state dug deep to help Cooper, his wife Felicity and their three young children Hamish, Patrick and Chloe, contributing $30,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for the family and organising a successful online auction which raised thousands of dollars.

"It's a very difficult time, compounded by the fact the funeral had to be postponed," Commander Pearce said. "The family need to have closure and we all hope he can get the send off he deserves."

Pending ongoing COVID restrictions, a large funeral is planned in Ararat, where the family live, including the ladder platform named in his honour and "full fire service protocol".

"The firefighting community will attend en-masse to support Graeme and his family, subject to watching and waiting to see what the situation is with lockdown," Commander Pearce said.

"Whenever there's a death in a close-knit organisation like the fire brigade, it's a family so it's quite difficult for everyone involved particularly close colleagues through both the CFA and FRV."

IN OTHER NEWS

Mr Cooper initially joined the Ararat CFA as a volunteer, then trained to become a career firefighter with the service before transitioning to the new FRV when it took over responsibility for the CFA's paid firefighters almost a year ago.

He also coordinated the Ararat Good Friday Appeal and was always the first to put up his hand to help others.

"He was not just a firefighter but a critical member of the local community up there through his actions and associations," Commander Pearce said.

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