Geraldton Turf Club chairman and life member Brian O’Dwyer steps down from role after 14 years

In Scouts, there’s a mandate to leave a place better than you found it before moving on — and Geraldton Turf Club outgoing chairman Brian O’Dwyer has taken that in his stride. After 14 years in the role, O’Dwyer has called time, stating that it’s time to sit back and enjoy the races. After serving as vice-chairman, O’Dwyer stepped into the top role in 2013 — leaving behind a tremendous legacy for his tireless work in building the turf club’s profile. In 2022, O’Dwyer was awarded life membership after securing funding and upgrades to lead Geraldton through a transformative period which saw the turf club become one of WA’s leading regional racing centres. O’Dwyer said he was happy to step aside and had pride in what the club had become. “Not only just me, but the club’s come a long way in the last 15 years,” he said. “There’s a lot of little things that have been achieved over the years. “We’ve had the assistance of Racing WA. Otherwise, a lot of these things wouldn’t have eventuated. “I’ve had a wonderful time, and I’m quite proud of the club, and I’m quite happy to stand aside.” O’Dwyer has been involved in the racing industry for more than 58 years, getting his beginnings in rural New South Wales as a jackaroo in the 1960s. His love for racing was ignited in 1962 as he began to ride in smaller regional races before making the move to WA in 1964. His first committee stint came in 1968 at Landor and was eventually awarded life membership in 1985. After nearly six decades of committee involvement around WA, O’Dwyer said he knew it was time 12 months ago, with it announced during the season’s final race meets. “I‘m not getting any younger and I thought you’ve got to make a decision sooner or later,” he said. “I made it 12 months ago that this would be my last season, and I’ve stuck with it because I’m quite sure that the club will be in capable hands after I’ve gone. “I’ll be quite happy to sit back and just relax and go along and enjoy the races.” The 2025-26 season wrapped up on April 30 in a fiercely competed race meet, which proved decisive in determining the award recipients for the turf club. O’Dwyer has thanked committee members and staff members including David Wrensted, Gemma O’Connor and the maintenance crew for their support throughout the season. “I can’t really sing the praises of the four young men that that are responsible for looking after that track. Their work ethic is way beyond their years,” he said.