“I seem to attract trouble like a magnet” is perhaps the best way Brian O’Connor could have summarised the events of his life.
Brian O’Connor is a man with a lot of history and a lot of character. This becomes immediately clear upon entering his home in which our interview took place. Brian’s home, as he states ‘with 27 rooms for just me to rattle around in’ is filled with the treasures of a life well-lived. Its aroma of leather and paper, an extensive library, sculptures and family photos proudly on display all create a comfortable atmosphere and sense of the distinctive character of Brian himself and his enjoyment of life and family.
Brian’s stubborn, steely perseverance and work ethic pushing him through his trials, whether it be in his work life, as a community figure, or in his epic health battle is soon apparent as the key to survival. When it came to life, Brian put his perspective well;
“I like to get things done, no half measures with me. If you’re going to do it, do it properly or forget about it”. Brian, who is approaching ninety, provided a near recitation of his life events with the dramatic flair of a natural storyteller.
Born September 24th, 1931, a man of Irish descent which Brian feels greatly contributed to his character, in particular the stubborn stereotypes. Brian considers himself a ‘bush boy’ from long back, having lived most of his life in Yass, where his education began at Mt Carmel School. Brian holds a fairly extrospective view on his time there, more importantly, his leaving; which was triggered by a minor misdemeanour by a group of young boys involving a handful of lollies from a local shop.
As was often the case in the day, even for trivial matters such as Brian’s, can be an assassination of any future chances, something that bothered Brian greatly.
“It’s always rankled me all my life, that that was allowed to happen, that this could have ruined mine and other kids’ lives…when you’re young, overwhelming forces can change your life.”
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Brian continued his education elsewhere, including Yass Public School and Holy Cross College. Brian’s talent for football was nurtured, representing his school in 1948 for Rugby League, leading the way to his first wins in Premiership in 1954 and 1956.
Companionship was a big part of his footy playing, holding a lot of nostalgia for these early days.
Brian also recalled with great joy the fun to be had about Yass, positively beaming as he shared his memories;
“I’d like to get back to the Saturday night dance…they were good days. We had our own mob of friends… there were lots of characters. Real characters!”
While enjoying his youth, Brian would meet the love of his life, Susan Resch. Brian had known her mother and brother prior to their first meeting at a party at the Resch family home where Susan’s mother introduced him as “Ocky from Yass.” Brian recalled Susan’s response “So what” as she turned on her heel and walked off.
“Talk about fire in your blood” is Brian’s memory of his feelings after the dismissal. But later Susan approached him and asked, “You’re not enjoying this, are you?” and the pair quickly made plans to see the sights of St Kilda instead. A romance was born, blossoming into a marriage on the February 27th, 1971, staying together ’till death do us part’.
As their life together began, Susan moved into Brian’s current home, the 1848 built Ronnoco building on Rossi Street (O’Connor backwards). A former post office for the town, divided into many flats at the time, Susan started designing and overseeing renovations to create their family home.
Brian and Susan would parent three children; Mollie on February 10th 1973, Patrick on November 28th 1974, and Cara on January 9th 1978.
During this time Brian was employed by his father, Joe O’Connor, on the September of 1953, joining the Yass Caltex Distributorship, a career move that would pay off over many decades. A few years after this, Brian would receive one of his accolades, with a Queen’s Commendation for brave conduct after his rescue of one of the occupants of a downed car in the flooded Yass River.
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As a result of his entrance under familial ties, Brian would eventually establish E.J O’Connor & Son after his father’s death in 1984. In such a lucrative business, Brian would contract himself as an operator and sell the business to Kirks Petroleum, an associate who would later assist him in future business endeavours. While in his operator position, Brian would lean into Work, Health and Safety regulations, a field that Brian would stick with for the better part of his career in different positions, job titles and businesses. Brian would be formally recognised during his tenure, for Environmental considerations. His position as the operator for the business ended in 1993. However, during this period, Brian’s career in redefining the Australian oil business would continue to flourish, with perhaps his most significant career movement coming in his joining of other local oil businesses in 1989.
Brian, along with various associates including the aforementioned Don Kirk of Kirks Petroleum, would merge NSW/Canberra area distributors and tankers to form CROIERG. CROIERG would ultimately be one of Brians greatest legacies, with him being the founder and chairman of the only nationally recognised training industry response group. CROIERG, standing for Canberra & Regions Oil Industry Emergency Response Group, was a task force created with the intention of saving disasters similar to the May 1989 oil spill on the federal highway, impacting local water supplies. At the time no available groups were present in Canberra, with the most local being rudimentary tools located in Sydney. With no official practices previously in place, Brian’s methodical research into systems offered by the US and Canada came into use. With funding allocated, training began to fit the model offered by Canada.
Brian remains grateful for the Canadian support, giving them credit he feels they deserve; “We had excellent cooperation from the Canadians, couldn’t have done it without them.”
These efforts would gain him international notice, in particular, the interest of China, who in 2005 invited Brian to give a presentation at Beijing’s National Safe Work Forum. This international attention remains another great reflection of Brian’s work ethic, and his importance as yes, a local community pillar but also demonstrates the reach beyond the Canberra-Yass area.
Brian’s position at CROIERG would evolve over the years, with his move onto a secretariat role in 2007, before ultimately stepping down in 2016 to move his focus closer to home and care for Susan, who a few years beforehand had suffered a stroke, reducing her mobility and beginning her long battle with this debilitating state.
Brian would be nationally recognised for his efforts in 2016 when the Governor-General awarded him the Australian Medal on April 15th.
Looking back on his 63 years in the industry and chiefly his time with CROIERG, Brian summarised; “I did what had to be done. There were a lot of obstacles, jealousy, a lot of people saying you don’t have the authority, I did have the authority.”
To be continued…see Wednesday the 9th of December print edition of the Yass Valley Times for part 2 of our Local Legend story.
by Griffin Palen
