Goldfields sporting fraternity mourning death of Brian Osmetti

A significant link among one of the Goldfields’ most prominent sporting families was broken on Sunday with the death of Brian Osmetti, aged 77. Osmetti was well-known across various local sports, as a life member of Mines Rovers Football Club and long-time president of Kalgoorlie Bowling Club. He won Mines Rovers’ reserves fairest-and best-trophy in 1964 before embarking on years of tireless work behind the scenes that was recognised with life membership in 1978. Osmetti served 10 years as the Diorites’ secretary — taking over when the legendary Frank McGrath stepped down. He is the second longest-serving president in Kalgoorlie Bowling Club history and served for 19 years on the selection committee for the Goldfields sporting hall of fame. Former Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor John Bowler called him a Goldfields legend. “Brian Osmetti came from one of, if not the greatest sporting family in the Goldfields,” Mr Bowler said. “And he lived up to the expectation, not so much on the playing field, but in the more important field of service to sport and our community. “And he did that with a warmth and grace that endeared him to everyone who knew him. “That was why, in 2005, when I became inaugural chairman of the Goldfields sporting hall of fame’s selection committee, the first person I contacted was Brian Osmetti. “A lifetime in sports administration and his genuine love of all sports made him the perfect person for the job. “Plus for the past nine years, he has been president of the Kalgoorlie Bowling Club, wearing small shoes that will be impossible to fill. “It is hard to imagine our club without him.” Mines Rovers president Jeff Delbridge said Osmetti’s death would be felt throughout the entire Goldfields’ sporting community. “If you were a local, I’m sure your paths would have crossed with Brian at some stage,” Delbridge said. “The Osmetti family is what the Diorites are all about, which is reflected in the naming of our league fairest-and-best (award) as the Osmetti Medal, which Brian has presented for as long as I can remember. “It is truly a sad day.”