SUNRAYSIA sporting icon Brian Weightman has died aged 88 with his wife and two daughters by his side.
Mr Weightman was acknowledged earlier this year for his more than 70 years of service to local football and cricket by the naming of a Mildura Recreation Reserve oval in his honour – a rarity for someone still alive.
The father of former Richmond Football Club champion Dale, 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.
Richmond Football Club chief executive Brendan Gale on Tuesday paid tribute to Mr Weightman as "a pillar of the Mildura/Sunraysia community".
My thoughts are with the “Flea” and the entire Weightman clan on the passing of the great Brian “Reggie” Weightman, a pillar of the Mildura/Sunraysia community.
— Brendon Gale (@brendongale25) March 16, 2020
Mr Weightman's grandson and former Geelong and North Melbourne footballer Leigh Colbert said Mr Weightman's wife Margaret and his two daughters Lynne and Nyree were by his side when he died shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
Mr Colbert said Mr Weightman's three Melbourne-based sons – Dale, Kent and Mark – along with Mildura-based Ross and their partners had been able to spend time with their father last week.
He said many of his 17 grandchildren, great grandchildren and close friends had also visited him in recent days.
"We knew the end was coming so it was just great that so many of his family were able to spend some time with him before he passed away," Mr Colbert said.
"He was coherent to the end and he just enjoyed that time with his family and some great friends who visited over the weekend."
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.
From 1964-76, Mr Weightman coached football teams in the under 13s, under 14s, under 16s, under 18s and reserves and seniors.
Absolute legend was Reggie, great human.
— Mark Alvey (@alvey5) March 16, 2020
RIP Reg. A true legend and gentleman. Condolences to Flea and the family. 🐯
— Tim Green #24 (@Tim_Green78) March 16, 2020
For more than three decades, Mr Weightman also played cricket for Mildura East Cricket Club, 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.
Mr Weightman was Richmond's development officer for the North Western Country Zone until the zoning system was taken over by the AFL, but continued as the north west representative until he retired in 1998.
In 2012, he was inducted into the Mallee Sports Assembly Hall of Fame alongside son Dale "Flea" Weightman.
Mr Gale took to social media yesterday to offer his condolences to the Weightman family.
"My thoughts are with the Flea and the entire Weightman clan on the passing of the great Brian 'Reggie' Weightman, a pillar of the Mildura/Sunraysia community," Mr Gale said.
Such sad news."Weighty" as we called him was our U/15 Sunraysia School boys footy coach in "83 & "84.Brought us (incl Matty Knights) down to Melbourne for the carnival. The highlight was him getting us access to Punt rd & meeting the Flea. He was a gentleman. R.I.P. Sadly missed.
— Christopher Munro (@BozzieMunners) March 16, 2020
This is indeed sad news. Reggie has been so generous with his time and expertise since we have been rezoned to the region. A true local legand! My thoughts with flea & the family.
— Todd Sigalas (@tsigalas) March 16, 2020
#RIP Brian Reginald Weightman.
— Rhett Bartlett (@rhettrospective) March 17, 2020
A keystone of the Sunraysia district.
His son, Dale, once wrote: "As a kid I didn't realise how highly regarded dad was as a sportsman in Mildura, but there was no pressure from him, just the attitude of "Do the best you can". pic.twitter.com/uQ81Nzzk24
Mildura Rural City Council sport and recreation councillor Glenn Milne said it was fitting that council was able to rename the Mildura Recreation Oval to Brian Weightman Oval before he died.
"It was fantastic that he was able to see the oval named in his honour and get a kick out of the day and actually enjoy that day for himself before he passed away," Cr Milne said.
"When you go to funerals people say a lot of nice things about you, but they never get to hear it whereas Brian got to hear all the things that were said and to celebrate his life of football and cricket and sport in general.
"He was just one of those amazing people that we grew up with and there are very few of those people left.
"It's a passing of one of those icons so he will be greatly missed."
Mr Weightman's life will be celebrated at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eleventh Street this Friday from 1.30pm.
