IMPERIAL Football Netball Club president Peter O’Donnell says life member and six-time club best and fairest Brian “Reg” Weightman will be “enormously missed” following his death this week.
The Imperials senior best and fairest medal is named in Mr Weightman’s honour while his more than 70 years of service to local football and cricket was this year acknowledged by the naming of a Mildura Recreation Reserve oval in his name.
Mr O’Donnell said he was thrilled that the re-naming of the Brian Weightman Oval was achieved before his death.
“The significance for Reg to see that honour while he was still alive was fitting and was certainly worth all the effort that council put in to get it across the line,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“He was really ill leading up to that day and we thought he would just pop in and leave but he wanted to stay and talk to people all day.
“It was hugely beneficial to the family and to Reg himself.”
Mr O’Donnell said Mr Weightman would be sorely missed around game day, but would leave a lasting impression on the club.
“Brian leaves a cultural legacy of hard, fair football, effort at all times, don’t whinge and just get on with things,” he said.
“He had a belief of turn up and do your best and don’t make excuses because that’s all anyone asks. “Train hard and work hard, and don’t just assume it’s going to happen, they were all really clear messages from Reg.
“Culturally that’s still there and we talk to the players about that – if you put in the hard work you get what you deserve.
“That’s part of the journey we’re on now – if you keep working hard you get better and better.”
Mr O’Donnell said Mr Weightman rarely missed an Imperials match, however players last year were aware of the challenges he faced.
“Even the last game last year he spoke to the senior team before the grand final,” he said.
“We assumed that we probably wouldn’t see him at a football game again so it was quite emotional and he’ll be enormously missed.”
In a testimonial to Mildura Rural City Council in support of re-naming the oval Brian Weightman Oval, Mr O’Donnell said Mr Weightman had been “a constant” at the football club and a lover of all things sport.
“Reg has earned the accolade to have him acknowledged by the naming of the oval after him,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“At our club he is a life member, premiership player, has the best and fairest named after him and is revered more than any other person,” he said.
Mr Weightman was a life member of Sunraysia Football Netball League, Imperial Football Netball Club, Victoria Country Cricket League, Sunraysia Cricket Association, Willowfest, Mildura East Cricket Club and Sunraysia Junior Football League for his lifetime of service and contributions.
He was also inducted into the South Mildura Football Club Hall of Fame in 2005.
Mr Weightman played 289 games at Imperials, winning six club best and fairest awards and playing in four premierships in 1949, 1950, 1956 and 1957.
He also played cricket for Mildura East Cricket Club for more than three decades, served as coach, secretary and president and was curator of all three turf cricket wickets at the Mildura Recreation Reserve for more than 20 years.
He was also named as captain and wicket keeper in Mildura East’s team of the century.
In 2012, he was inducted into the Mallee Sports Assembly Hall of Fame alongside son Dale “Flea” Weightman.
Mr Weightman’s life will be celebrated at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eleventh Street on Friday from 1.30pm.
