By Brendan Rees
A dedication to visual and performing arts has earned a well-respected Casey man a mayoral honour.
Tony Purcell, who celebrated his 90th birthday in February, was presented a certificate by City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon at the Old Cheese Factory on Thursday 4 April for his long standing work within the arts community, particularly his involvement with the Berwick Artists Society, and to celebrate his milestone birthday.
Cr Stapledon said it was a pleasure to recognise Mr Purcell who was an “integral to the concept and development of Bunjil Place and many other developments within the arts community.”
“The City of Casey thanks you for all that you have and are doing and wish you every happiness now and into the future,” she said.
Mr Purcell, also a recipient of the prestigious Casey Lindsay King Arts Award and Australia’s Centenary Medal, said he was deeply humbled to receive the award.
He joined the Berwick Artists Society in 1993 following his retirement to “rekindle an old school boy love for painting in the realistic art watercolour mode.”
He had a 10 year stint as its president before standing down following his 90th birthday.
Mr Purcell said the Old Cheese Factory had become “much more arts orientated.”
“When coupled with the success of Bunjil Place’s performing arts theatre, the ‘artistic soul’ I have long sought for the City of Casey is at last becoming a reality,” he said.
