General News
10 June, 2025
Brian O’Connor’s dedication remembered
Brian O’Connor is being remembered for his contribution to his community and love for Maryborough.
In the more than 60 years Mr O’Connor lived in Maryborough, he embraced the town in a range of roles during his working years and even more following his retirement.
He demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the local community as a volunteer for numerous organisations.
Mr O’Connor was born in Sunshine on February 13, 1937 to parents Francis and Annie O’Connor.
He attended primary school at Our Lady’s Primary School in Sunshine.
Through a scholarship, he attended St Kevins in Toorak, where he attained his matriculation certificate.
After working as a copy boy, Commonwealth public service administrative officer, clerical officer and rate collector, he completed further study to gain qualifications in local government.
Mr O’Connor began work as shire secretary (CEO in today’s equivalent) at the Shire of Tullaroop in 1962. At the time, he was the youngest shire secretary in the state, and remained in the role for 33 years.
He and his wife Geraldene were married on October 26, 1968 at Our Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Surrey Hills.
The pair enjoyed 56 years of marriage.
After they married, they moved to Maryborough and together raised four children, Andrea born in 1969, Paula born in 1970, Kate born in 1973 and Brendan born in 1977, with 14 grandchildren to follow.
Following the restructuring of local government boundaries, Mr O’Connor resigned from the newly constituted Central Goldfields Shire in 1995.
After this, he took two short contracts as acting town clerk at Mount Alexander Shire then Yulara Town Council in the Northern Territory.
Upon his retirement from Central Goldfields Shire, The Advertiser heralded Mr O’Connor as ‘a man too good to lose’ and ‘having a depth of experience and local knowledge second to none’.
He continued his involvement in local government in Maryborough as a councillor for 12 years, including his terms as mayor.
Mr O’Connor’s love for Maryborough, coupled with his attributes of honesty, fairness and attention to detail made him the perfect person to have as an office bearer on committees and boards.
The list of his contributions is exhaustive and not limited to:
• Councillor and mayor of Maryborough.
• Member of the Energy Breakthrough committee for 12 years.
• Havilah Aged Persons Hostel board member for 21 years where he was treasurer for 16 years.
• Highview College council board member for nearly 50 years where he was made a fellow (or life member) of the college.
• Life member of Jaycees having held offices as secretary and president.
• Member of the St Augustine’s Maryborough Primary School council serving two terms as president.
Mr O’Connor was recognised as Citizen of the Year in 2022.
He took on other volunteering roles, including timekeeper at the Maryborough Highland Society New Year’s Day athletics meeting for 20 years and volunteer ambassador for the Central Goldfields Shire for over 10 years.
Passionate about Maryborough, Mr O’Connor’s family was always updated about the latest additions to the town, often being told ‘you won’t find better anywhere’.
He always wanted the best for ‘his’ town and was so proud of advancements in the district.
Mr O’Connor’s family suspect the love of the town was about the people.
As well as the committees, each of the interest groups he was involved in came with another circle of friends — photography, tennis, table tennis, cards, Jaycees and the catholic church.
Through Mr O’Connor’s involvement on boards and committees, his grant writing, advocating for advancements and initiating new ventures have left a mark on Maryborough, much of which is likely not known to us.