Former Prime Minister John Howard has been named to replace Richie Benaud on the Bradman Foundation at a gala dinner on Wednesday night.
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The self-confessed "cricket tragic" was thrilled to receive the honour at the function at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Benaud was a patron of the Bradman Foundation for 14 years and was remembered as a "hands on" operator who believed in the principles of the foundation.
His widow, Daphne, resplendent in pink, was the guest of honour at the dinner and received a standing ovation.
"He was a lovely, gentle person to be with, a fun person to be with," she said.
She spoke of her late husband's love of travelling, fine food, good wine and friends in an interview with broadcaster Alan Jones.
"He had to be shared," she said of his place in cricket. "But I loved his enthusiasm of the youngsters wondering if he ever played cricket, to them he was a commentator."
John Benaud, his younger brother who played Test cricket, described him as a father figure because of the 14-year gap between them.
"Rich and I discussed the game more when I became a selector than during my career ... In terms of advice on the field and players' character. I never heard a bad thing about Rich ... I know people get carried away, but I think it was all true."
Earlier in evening, a book titled Richie The Man Behind The Legend, edited by Norman Tasker and Ian Heads, was launched. The book contains offerings from the likes of Howard, Steve Waugh, Sir Tim Rice, Alan Jones, Ian Chappell and the mechanic who looked after Benaud's beloved classic car.
His son Jeff Benaud said the book was a great tribute to his father.
Cricketing royalty Dennis Lillee, Alan Davidson, Adam Gilchrist, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Geoff Lawson, Bob Simpson and Neil Harvey were among the attendees at the dinner.
"It doesn't matter what angle you look at him as a man or cricketer or any aspect of his life he was a genius of a person," Davidson said.
Harvey said: "He was a mate of mine, I knew him for 60-odd years ... He was a great friend."