Mr Thompson was widely lauded by friends and colleagues at his state funeral for the significant contribution he had made to public life.

It is not uncommon after the passing of a politician for both sides to offer praise for the deceased.

In Mr Thompson's case, that praise was genuine and deserved. During his 27 years in public life, and his time after politics, he earned the respect of everyone he encountered, regardless of political persuasion.

He will be best remembered by Victorians, however, for the role he was prepared to play in one of the most disturbing incidents in Victoria's education history.

When a young school teacher and six of her pupils were kidnapped from a tiny school near Bendigo in 1972, Mr Thompson insisted it be him who delivered the ransom money.

He did it alone and without hesitation.

When one of the offenders in that case escaped from prison later and took hostages at another school, Mr Thompson was again prepared to put his own life at risk in order to ensure release. Fortunately, both incidents were resolved without loss.

That sort of bravery (loyalty, Jeff Kennett called it yesterday) is something not often seen in the modern politician.

The integrity which saw Mr Thompson unquestioningly put himself forward in both those situations was what earned him the high regard of others.

Remember, in winter check the battery

A SERIES of potentially nasty house fires in Ballarat sends a timely warning to residents to check for working fire alarms.

Police are still investigating the causes of two fires - one in Bond St in Golden Point and another in Wattle Ave in Wendouree. In both cases, the residents escaped relatively unharmed.

"Smoke detectors save lives'' is more than just a slogan - it reflects a reality and is a message worth heeding.