By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Brendan Rees
Casey Council has unveiled a plan to rename Pioneers Park in central Berwick to memoralise its popular former mayor Mick Morland.
At a 19 June meeting, the council proposed to rename the park as Mick Morland Reserve.
Mayor Geoff Ablett said part of the park would still retain the Pioneers name – in keeping with the adjoining café of the same name.
He said the council were keen to pay lasting tribute to Mr Morland, in recognition of his service to Rotary and the community.
Cr Ablett made particular note of Mr Morland’s fundraising for community projects, including the recently-built St John of God Hospital.
“We did lose a living legend and I’m glad that we can name something after him because it’s so deserved. It’s a big part of Berwick that he loves
“It’s still hard to believe he’s not with us.”
Cr Wayne Smith said he had no doubt that Mr Morland would have felt honoured by the tribute.
“He would be pretty chuffed.
“I could imagine him standing there with his big grin, and playing with his whiskers and saying how important and how good that was.”
Kay Morland, who is Mr Morland’s widow, said the park was a “fantastic choice”.
Mr Morland had been instrumental in Casey purchasing the former school grounds at Peel Street, and creating the beloved parkland, she said.
“He loved the place, especially on Australia Day.
“There would be thousands of people coming through, and he’d be manning the (Rotary Club of Berwick) barbecue.
“I think it’s absolutely perfect.”
The announcement comes nearly 12 months since Mr Morland’s untimely death.
He died after being struck by a car in Berwick on 24 June, 2017.
The name change has been given in-principle approval by the state’s Registrar of Geographic Names.
Public submissions are open for the proposal.
