Mr Prolongeau, aged 103 "and still young" as he would say, was farewelled in a small service due to pandemic restrictions but with many paying tribute to the proud and dedicated community member the past week.

Retired Ambulance Association of Victoria president Ian Donaldson was almost certain the vintage vehicle featured in the funeral cortege was one Mr Prolongeau had used in his career about Ballarat.

Mr Prolongeau, who had been Victoria's oldest living ambulance officer, actively retained an interest in the frontline service. Mr Donaldson said Mr Prolongeau had always been generous in sharing his experience for the association.

The pair met for an interview last Friday in a profile of Mr Prolongeau for the RAA.

Upon receiving RAA life membership four year ago, Mr Prolongeau told The Courier his work was starkly different to the highly skilled and trained modern paramedics. For his role, Mr Prolongeau needed only to be first-aid trained. Ambulance officers instead heavily relied on medical expertise of doctors and nurses.

The World War II veteran served as a field ambulance corporal in Papua New Guinea. He later became a proud Sebastopol RSL member and was passionate about keeping the Anzac legacy alive this year, without marches, in lockdown.

RELATED COVERAGE

Mr Prolongeau has maintained sharing stories was important for learning and reflection. He kept a diary, making a daily entry every day the past 83 years to the day he died. His final entry was on Saturday morning.

Mr Prolongeau is survived by his wife Joy, age 99, children Merlene and Albert and their partners, his seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A piper and drummer sounded Amazing Grace to end the service at Harrison Funerals as the cortege assembled. Ambulances led the hearse from Main Road to Buninyong cemetery.