Brian O'Connor Obituary

North Ballarat Football Netball Club has lost a stalwart with the passing on July 1 of Life Member and former club president Brian O’Connor.

Brian died in his sleep at home on July 1.

His nephew David “Craft” Linane, is still a well-known identity around North and a current member of our Board.

Born in Springbank to John and Catherine O’Conner, Brian spent his formative years in and around Springbank and Gordon. He went to secondary school at St Patrick's College in Ballarat, where he became known for his sporting ability, in particular for his talents as a sprinter.

After finishing at St Patrick's in Form Five, Brian worked in the banking industry before moving to Melbourne to study accounting.

In 1959, he married Joan, who he described as “the love of his life”. Joan died in 2022.

Brian and Joan moved back to Ballarat in the 1970s and Brian worked at various dealerships before becoming dealer principal at SF Motors in 1972, where he stayed for 32 years.

An avid sportsman, Brian was recruited from YCA to North Ballarat in 1957. He played 154 senior games for North Ballarat and was a member of our 1959 grand final team. His teammates remember him as “a fast and elusive left footed wingman”.

He played football for North from 1957 to 1962, then had a short coaching stint at Creswick Football Club, before returning to North from 1965 to 1969.

His rap sheet for North includes:

• 1958 – Doug Richards Memorial Trophy for Senior Most Improved Player
• 1959 – Member of Senior Grand Final Team
• 1960 – Senior Best Position Player Trophy
• 1966 – George Newland Memorial Trophy for Seniors R/U B&F
• 1962 – 100 Game medal
• NBFC President – 1973 to 1974 & 1985 to 1986
• 1986 – Awarded NBFC Life Membership

Brian was invited to train with Geelong in the VFL, but the invitation didn’t translate to a VFL career- according to son Peter, his love for the Richmond Tigers would have meant he could never have pulled on a Cats guernsey.

Brian was president of North Ballarat Football Club in the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, when players such as the now-legendary Tony Lockett, Mick Malthouse and Val Perovic were making their mark.

He will be remembered as a kind and generous man, a bit of a "stirrer", and somebody who loved a good laugh.

Brian and Joan had five children - John, Peter, Vincent, Jacinta and Leesa.

John and both junior and senior football with North. John played 147 senior club games and Peter played 99.



Rest In Peace, Brian.