Mr Frawley, who was 82 when he died at Nazareth House on Saturday, had the uncanny ability to connect with people on many levels.

From his mates at the pub to the high flyers of the corporate world, Mr Frawley could communicate with – and had the respect of – people from all walks of life.

And these are the qualities he has passed on to all of his six children, who have then passed on to their children ...  and so forth.

Mr Frawley’s son Tony, who works for the AFL, said his father was known for his ability to interact with everyone. “Dad could engage with anyone. It didn’t matter whether the person had the bum out of their pants or they worked in the corporate world of sport, he spoke with everyone at all levels,” Tony said.

“And he taught all of us kids to do the same … that’s his legacy. Everyone liked him and he was a great storyteller.”

Mr Frawley was born on January 14, 1934 to Bungaree potato farmers Bryan and Nora.

In his primary school years he attended St Michael’s at Springbank, later stuyding at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat. But like many of his generation, Mr Frawley left high school at an early age to work on the family potato farm.

Matching his strong frame, Mr Frawley was a hard worker. The farm produced 500 bags of potatoes each day and he picked and lifted many of the 65kg bags onto the trucks for delivery.

Four years ago, aged in his late 70s, Mr Frawley retired as a spud farmer. Eldest son Michael took over the Bungaree property, but the respected farmer still played a pivotal role in the running of the farm until he was admitted to Nazareth House suffering ill-health.

“Dad helped Michael look after the farm after retiring. Despite moving into town, he went out there every day (mainly) to look after the 30 or 40 horses and his beloved dogs,” his son Tony said.

It was his love of horses, particularly trotters, which led to a life-long involvement in the Ballarat and District Trotting Club, of which he was a former president and life member. Mr Frawley’s first horse was Golden Ardri, which won 15 races. He was also the owner of Noble Man, which took out 30 races and part-owner (with friend Don Murphy) of Vanderport, which ran second in the prestigious Interdominion in 1986, as well as taking out the Australian, Victorian and New South Wales derbies.

His love of horses led him to being appointed president of the Ballarat Trotting Club, a position he proudly held for 12 years. He was also a club committee member for more than 40 years and was awarded a life membership.

But his sporting prowess was broader than the trotting fraternity. Mr Frawley was also an excellent athlete, a talent realised while a student at St Patrick’s College, where he held the record for high jump.

Upon leaving school, he became a professional athlete and under the watchful eye of renowned trainer Val Stewart he won at least 20 races, including the prestigious 880 yard Stawell Gift in 1957, which he won in 1 min 8 secs, a world record. His win at the time was equal to amateur athletes competing in the Olympic Games. 

The 600 pounds he won at the Stawell Gift (as a backmarker) helped clothe and feed his young family. Money made milking cows and picking spuds on the family farm barely covered his growing family’s expenses. So money he won on the professional athlete circuit was used to supplement his farming wage.

“Being a farmer back then, Dad could barely make ends meet, so he used the money from being a professional athlete to help with his family,” son Tony said. “Dad was a great athlete, some describing him as the best runner they had ever seen.”

His dedication to his family meant long hours on the farm and on the athletics track. Mr Frawley would get out of bed before dawn to milk up to 20 cows,  before working in the potato fields all day. This would be followed by a trip to the Eastern Oval in Ballarat each day between 5pm and 7pm for two hours of athletics training.

Mr Frawley’s love of the community led to him to be president (and selector/junior coach) of not only the Bungaree Football Club, but also the Bungaree Primary School parents and friends committee and the school’s reunion committee.

While Mr Frawley was a great on the sporting field, it was his family where he truly excelled. Despite a busy life, he never missed watching his children play sport. “He never missed us play footy. He was at every game. He never interfered … he was nothing but supportive,” said Tony.

Mr Frawley is survived by Shirley, his wife of more than 60 years, his children Christine, Michael, Tony, Anne, Danny (St Kilda Football Club great) and Marita, 20 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. 

He died only months before a Frawley family reunion, which will be attended by 66 of his direct descendants … and many more relatives who will remember him with love and a wry smile.

Mr Frawley’s funeral will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Sturt Street on Wednesday at 10.30am. His wake will follow at the Bungaree Football clubrooms.

To some he was known affectionately as Split (because he split the wind when he ran). To others he was Fidel (the soft-hearted dictator of the Ballarat Trotting Club) and to others he went by B.J Frawley. But to me, he will also be fondly remembered as Uncle Brian.