"There will be many in the nation that miss his forthright comments about matters of importance to the nation."

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu remembered Mr Ruxton as "an unassailable champion of our nation's veterans and our nation's values".

Mr Ruxton, Victoria's longest-serving RSL president, was known for his controversial comments and once branded South African Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu a "witchdoctor".

He also rallied against homosexuals in the armed forces and opposed Aboriginal land rights.

Asked in a 2002 ABC documentary what he thought of people who branded him a rascist, Mr Ruxton replied: "Couldn't care less." But he admitted regretting the "witchdoctor" comment.