ONE of newspaper journalism’s great characters, Ross Ingram, was yesterday farewelled by more than 100 friends and members of family to news that his legacy would live on through the Ross Ingram perpetual award for junior sport.Mr Ingram, affectionately known as Rossco, was a passionate supporter of AFL side the Essendon Bombers and that was not lost on mourners yesterday, with several wearing red and black and one, Brendon Hollis, taking it a step further and paying his tribute by wearing an Essendon jumper.Mr Ingram was a faithful and long-serving journalist at The Daily Advertiser and more than 50 current and former staff came together at the end of the ceremony to form a guard of honour.The eulogies were given by Riverina Leader editor Scott Sanbrook and The Daily Advertiser deputy editor Peter Mahoney as well as Wagga MP Daryl Maguire and two of Mr Ingram’s nieces, Belinda Sharpe and Natalie Langlands.Mr Mahoney picked out some famous quotes spoken by legendary Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, who in Mr Ingram’s eyes was the “great man”, and drew comparisons between the two, with loyalty sticking out as a striking similarity.Mr Sanbrook reflected on Rossco’s unique personality, making light of his penchant to hang up a phone before a conversation had wound up and his ability to spin a one-liner.“One-liners rolled off Rossco’s tongue easier than runs came from Bradman’s bat,” Mr Sanbrook said.Mr Sanbrook also admired Mr Ingram’s dedication to his job, making mention of the fact that over his 30-year career with the Advertiser, he took just five days a year off of his own volition – to have Christmas with his family in Melbourne and to watch the Boxing Day test.All of this, he said would be missed by many, and the large roll call of dignitaries who attended yesterday’s funeral service were testament to this.Among the crowd were politicians, both current and former: Kay Hull, Mr Maguire and Wagga mayor Wayne Geale as well as Harold and Wal Fife; former president of the Wagga Leagues Club Brian Lawrence and RSL general manager Andrew Bell; a number of prominent businessmen including Milton Breust; and the Advertiser’s former chief sub-editor Brian Junck and former chief of staff Nancy Blacklow.