Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (09:49): I was very sad to hear some weeks ago of the passing of Brian Stahl OAM. Most, if not everyone, in Hastings would know of Brian. He was truly a man of the people and of the community, and he was an inspiration to many. He simply led by example and set that bar very high. He first came to Hastings with his wife Bernice and young family in 1966, and like all newcomers to country towns he decided to join the Hastings Football Club as a trainer. That was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the footy and cricket clubs and, more importantly, with the community of Hastings.

I need more time to talk about all of the things that Brian did in the community and the help and support he gave people, businesses, families and children. Brian was a councillor with the Shire of Hastings for eight years and served as the president in 1992 and 1993. He was also on the Mornington shire council for a couple of years and served as the mayor. Brian chaired the neighbourhood renewal project, was president of the Westernport Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was a director of the local branch of the Bendigo Bank and much more. He was named Citizen of the Year and in 2004 he received a Queen’s Birthday honour of an Order of Australia for his outstanding contribution to the community. The Hastings Football Club said in their tribute:

People like Brian a very rare, Brian’s sense of helping the community was huge, and there would not be any organisation in Hastings …

that was not touched by him.