If you’ve been to a West Broken Hill Football match, you’ve probably seen the Gauci girls cheering on their beloved Robins.
Barbara and Roslyn Gauci said they will always don the red and black, a longstanding family tradition.
Sadly, the pair will no longer be beside their sister Patricia who died earlier this month.
“It was a shock because we weren’t expecting it,” Barbara said. “We were the three youngest so we were always together.”
She had a fitting farewell last Friday, with the funeral taking place at the West Football Club.
The trio are from a family of 16 children made up of nine boys and seven girls.
Patricia (fondly known as Pat) loved cooking, playing bingo and of course, football.
She did not have children but did help look after her nieces and nephews.
The Gauci girls still remember going to their first local Australian rules match over 50 years ago to watch their brother Vincent play for West.
They said local football and sport in regional towns like Broken Hill is vital for the community.
“We didn’t play sport; only the boys did,” Roslyn said. “We enjoyed watching.”
“We love all sport. It’s important to have it in community’s like this,” Barbara said.
In the third round of the local AFL season, senior men’s players presented the Gauci girls with flowers in honour of Pat and sang the club song right in front of their favourite seats.
The pair said it was a special moment that would forever be appreciated.
“It was very lovely,” Roslyn said. “We weren’t expecting it.”
“They done a good job. I think Pat would’ve really appreciated it.”
The Robins currently sit in third with eight points heading into round five next weekend.
Barbara and Roslyn said they would love to see West win the flag this year and will be there for every match supporting the team.
“We will still go to the football with my son,” Roslyn said.
“We love giving the other players hell,” Barbara said.
They are also very thrilled with the progress of the local women’s competition. The West FC women’s best and fairest medal is named after the family.
The Gauci girls said they will dearly miss having their sister Pat with them, especially during their bonding time at the local football games.
West will take on South at Alma Oval on June 4.
