Brian Frawley loved life and he loved having fun.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That’s how Ballarat and District Trotting Club treasurer Dennis Foley will remember Mr Frawley, who died at Nazareth House last Saturday, aged 82.
“Brian loved a joke and he loved to laugh and make people laugh,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Frawley was also a diligent committee member of not only the Ballarat and District Trotting Club, but many other organisations he was involved in.
“He would put his heart and soul into everything he did,” Mr Foley said of the Bungaree farmer, simply known by many as Split.
Mr Frawley was an avid horse lover and owned many winning trotters, including Golden Ardri, Nobel Man and Vanderport, which was successfully driven by his daughter Anne in the 1986 Interdominion, one of the most prestigious harness racing events in Australia.
Mr Foley fondly remembers the day of Vanderport’s success. “I recall a very excited Split sitting on the side of the sulky as Vanderport was returned to the stables,” he said.
Mr Frawley was a Ballarat and District Trotting Club committee member for 40 years, 12 of those as president. He was also responsible for encouraging Mr Foley to join the committee 35 years ago.
During his three terms as president, Mr Frawley oversaw one of the biggest expansions of the trotting club. Mr Foley described him as a great club president and a great figurehead, who was sadly missed when he retired several years ago.
“It was because of his leadership that we became a leading trotting club in country Australasia,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Foley laughs when he recalls nicknaming Mr Frawley “Fidel”, after Cuban dictactor Fidel Castro.
“It wasn’t because Split was a dictator. It was because he was dedicated to getting the job done,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Frawley was also a stalwart at the Bungaree Football Netball Club, where he was a past president, selector and junior coach.
Club president Andrew Mahar said Mr Frawley was well-respected at the club.
“Everyone looked up to Split and he will be greatly missed,” Mr Mahar said.