ALBURY sporting identity Les O’Brien’s funeral started with his favourite footy anthem, Up There Cazaly, and ended with a lengthy guard of honour of representatives from the many clubs and organisations he had been involved with in six decades of community life.
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The decision to hold his funeral in the Albury Entertainment Centre proved an inspired one as an estimated 1200 mourners turned out to pay their final respects to O’Brien, who died of a heart attack nearly a fortnight ago.
His links to the community ran so deep Lester & Son chaplain Ross Barnes apologised in advance if he overlooked them in tracing the life of O’Brien, which started with his birth in Wodonga in 1937, teenage years in Benalla and sporting and business life on the border.
Mr Barnes said O’Brien was a natural athlete who played tennis, football and athletics and excelled at the latter by winning two races at the famous Stawell Easter carnival.
“He will be remembered as the (football) historian, ground announcer, reunion organiser and property officer and a whole lot more,” he said.
“He coached athletes, the young and the very young, and also played a big role with the NSW blind athletics team.
“His name will forever be remembered for the contribution he has made to the game of soccer on the border especially with Albury United.”
O’Brien met his wife Lyn at a clothing factory where they worked together and were married in 1961.
His life-long devotion was evident during her battle with dementia which ended last year.
O’Brien’s grand children also paid tributes and recalled spending time at Big Chiefs Trading Post during school holidays, being encouraged to do athletics and earning a massage from him at the end of a session, him always dressing up as a Santa Claus on Christmas Day and earning his wrath if they made a noise when he was watching the sports report during the nightly television news.
Daughter Cheryl led the tributes on behalf of her sisters, Kerrie and Debbie.
She recounted many childhood memories including the garden created at their Buckingham Street home, dancing in the loungeroom and the time they spent at Bunton Park long after matches had finished.
Cheryl also predicted Ovens and Murray grand final day won’t be the same without her father doing the ground announcer duties.
“Dad, we hope you know we are so proud of you and over the last few days the outpouring of love and friendship shown by others, your extended family and the sporting community has left us three daughters’ speechless,” she said.