Great honour for Alexander

By Rebecca Fraser.
FORMER City of Berwick councillor Jim Alexander was honoured last Wednesday when a plaque was unveiled at the Endeavour Hills Reserve that already carries his name.
Mr Alexander grew up in Berwick and Dandenong and the reserve embodies one of his major concerns as a councillor — conserving the natural and historical features of the Endeavour Hills area.
Between 1973 and 1982 Mr Alexander represented the Hallam Ward and many community members turned out on Wednesday to honour his conscientious and untiring efforts as a former councillor and avid conservationist.
Mr Alexander believed the reserve, with its extensive views and Casuarina forest, made it an invaluable place for the people of Endeavour Hills and Casey and he had worked hard to preserve it.
City of Casey mayor Neil Lucas said Mr Alexander had fought hard for the park and Causarina forest area and had brought many benefits to the community.
“This was part of the project I initiated as mayor and a project that I hope is continued by the new mayor,” councillor Lucas said
“When these people are long gone people will be able to find out why the reserve is named after Jim Alexander or Ken Reedy or anyone else.
“The challenge now is to keep this project going,” he said.
Cr Mick Morland said he had known Mr Alexander for many years and he was a strong worker within the community having represented Doveton and Endeavour Hills.
“Whether he was on council or not he always worked for the community,” Cr Morland said.
“In the first election he was unopposed but for the next three no one opposed him.
“This just shows the high esteem that everyone held him in and this is a testament to him as a wonderful representative of the community,” he said.