Almanac Memoir: Welcome to Geraldton – Birthplace of Dennis Cometti

 

 

 

by Peter Sweeney

 

 

Dennis Cometti asked – or nearly demanded – I achieve one thing when editor of The Geraldton Guardian.

Underneath the signs ‘Geraldton’ at either end of the coastal city, he wanted the words “Birthplace of Dennis Cometti” written.

He was part serious, part sarcastic. But it also showed the sportscalling guru was proud of where he entered the world. Sure, he wanted it known where he was from, but he wanted to promote Geraldton.

I told him the assignment may take some time to arrange – and offered him an immediate alternative.

“How would you like to be the patron of the Mullewa Football Club?”, of which at the time I was president.

“Love to be,” he replied. “Will look good on my CV.”

Though he didn’t make it to one of our games in seasons 2014 and 2015, he often asked me: “how are my boys going?”

Like all, I was most saddened at the passing of D. Cometti, the golden tonsils of Australian sport, especially Aussie Rules.

I was lucky enough to be closer than many to him, working together in a few media roles, but having more time sharing stories and laughs over a bite.

I can still see him in fits of laughter when I told the story of what happened on the day I was sacked as editor of the Guardian.

It was July 2, my birthday. In one room, fellow staff were preparing a chocolate cake for me for morning tea. In an adjoining room, Bob Cronin, the West Australian editor in chief, was relieving me of official duties.

Cometti inquired if I was upset. “Not necessarily at the sacking, but I was at Bob for having two slices of cake and me only one,” I replied.

Dennis rolled around laughing – and did each time we saw each other.

Professionally, he was at the top of the tree, but maintained an earthiness and loved swapping stories.

And there was much more to him than we knew, American music, football and politics – especially the life and demise of John F Kennedy and other family members – often attracting his attention and meticulous research.

Rest easy big Den. As for the “birthplace of Dennis Cometti” words on the signposts, maybe the City of Greater Geraldton will act on it.

The case for the words ‘Birthplace of Dennis Cometti’ to be inscribed on the entry signs to Geraldton actually got a big push at your memorial service at Optus Stradium when Roger Cook, the Premier of WA, mentioned the story.

Mr Cook, who referred to Cometti as the “Shakespeare of Australian Rules commentary” described the only child of Jim and Dulcie Cometti as a “proud Gero boy.”

“Although his family left Geraldton early in his life, you could argue Dennis started a trend,” Mr Cook said.

“Geraldton and the wider Great Northern Football League has become a well-known footballer factory, producing WAFL and AFL players like nowhere else in the country.

“As Premier of WA it delighted me to hear how proud Dennis was of his roots.

“The anecdote told by Peter Sweeney encapsulates his pride with good humour.

“Dennis may have entered the world in Geraldton, but he ended up literally everywhere.”

It brought laughs, better still, it may bring action.

 

 

Victorian reared Peter Sweeney spent most of his journalistic life in Perth and WA. Mullewa is an indigenous town 100km east of Geraldton and plays in the Great Northern Football League.

 

Read more from Peter Sweeney HERE.

 

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