Frank touched all walks of life
HONOUR FOR A GREAT
FRANK Costa was many things to many people.
Husband, father, grandfather, friend, benefactor and confidante.
He was a businessman, a philanthropist, and a patron of an extensive list of non-profit organisations across Geelong.
But his legacy on this city’s sporting landscape will last for generations via his work in transforming Kardinia Park from a run-down stadium to the country’s greatest regional sports venue, and for helping to deliver the town a drought-breaking AFL premiership in 2007.
So it was fitting that his state memorial was held at what was his second home, with the three premiership trophies (2007, 2009 and 2011) won since he became president of the Geelong Football Club in 1998 taking pride of place in front of the stage at his state memorial.
Former Cats captain Ben Graham described Costa as the godfather of Geelong.
Graham had known Costa before he became president.
He and his wife, Shirley, were guests at the wedding of Ben and Katie, such was the extent of their connection.
Graham, who took over as captain in 2000, said Costa would be dearly missed by the Geelong community.
“He was the godfather of
Geelong,” Graham said.
“Everything he did, everything he touched, from business, to family and football, you would go a long way around the world to find someone who has had the impact on a community like Frank has.
“It goes to show with the wideranging number of people who have attended today. He brought Geelong, along with other people, the success it deserved and built a foundation in the late 1990s in some lean years.
“But he was the most positive man I have ever met and he will be dearly missed.”
The wide-ranging people Graham spoke of included a who’s who of the AFL industry.
Chief executive Gillon McLachlan was there alongside football operations boss, former Cat, Steve Hocking.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, and Sydney chief executive, former Geelong skipper Tom Harley, were also there, as was ex-Geelong executive and current Melbourne Cricket Club boss Stuart Fox and media mogul Craig Hutchison.
The present-day list of Cats formed a guard of honour at the conclusion of the service as past players, such as Gary Ablett Jr, Sean Simpson, Andrew Bews, Billy Brownless and Barry Stoneham watched on.
Stoneham, who was captain of the club when Costa began his tenure as president, now serves as MC of Geelong’s coterie group The Pivots and said even after taking on the role as club president, he still maintained his support of the group.
“He was an amazing man for the town, for the community, the football club, and he was a great family man,” Stoneham said.
“I knew Frank for 30 years through the footy club, my dad knew him over the years, and there is no bad story about Frank.
“His love of the football club was unsurpassed and he leaves an amazing legacy behind him.”
In a touching moment former coach Mark Thompson, to whom Costa had provided great support in his battles after leaving his role as
Cats coach, was invited to join Chris Scott and Joel Selwood to walk the premiership trophies off Kardinia Park at the conclusion of the service.
It was testament to Costa’s ability to unite people and highlighted what his support meant to so many.
For Graham, that was never more evident than when he made the lifechanging call to move with his family to the US to become a punter in the NFL, just as Geelong was on the verge of premiership success.
“He told me to follow my dreams,” Graham said.
“We had conversations about my tenure at the club and that I potentially only had one year to go, so just follow my dreams.
“He was a great support, and my father-in-law used to drive trucks for
Frank from his citrus block in Mildura, so we had a long relationship and there was never any angst or negativity associated with Frank, and that was what I loved about him.”
Having ratified the decision to elevate Costa to legend status at the Geelong Football Club before he passed away — an honour he was
“absolutely chuffed” about according to great friend and Cats chief executive Brian Cook — club president Craig Drummond made it official on Wednesday, presenting wife Shirley with his legend medal.
But while the title of legend was bestowed by the football club, Costa will also remain forever a legend of this city.
football club His love of the and he leaves an was unsurpassed behind him.” amazing legacy Barry Stoneham