By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A member of one of Berwick’s long-standing families is opposed to renaming Pioneers Park after late Casey mayor Mick Morland.
Geoff Hudson – a former Berwick resident, now of Longwarry – said it was not easy to speak against honouring Mr Morland who had given “long and valuable community service”.
But it was important to remember that a “concerted public campaign” helped create the park, he argues.
“Pioneers Park commemorates all the people of Berwick, not a single individual.”
Casey Council recently unveiled a plan to rename the central Berwick park to Mick Morland Reserve to pay tribute to Mr Morland, who died when struck by a car on 24 June 2017.
Mr Hudson said the park existed because his parents Bill and Helen Hudson proposed the former Berwick Primary School site should be retained for community use.
His parents established a fund to gauge public support and to convince local councillors of the need.
The Hudsons and founding families such as Wilsons, Loveridges and Beaumonts contributed $10,000 each toward the fund. It totalled $250,000.
The park had been also strongly supported by councillor at the time, Norma McCausland and then-MP Tammy Lobato, Mr Hudson said.
None of the families sought to be recognised individually in the park’s name, he said.
“The park was named to honour all those who had come before.
“To name the whole or a part of the Pioneers Park for one individual goes completely against the original concept of this.
“Whilst I have no doubt that Cr Mick Morland should be recognised for his service to the City of Casey and former City of Berwick naming this park after any one person is the wrong thing to do.
“It would, I believe, be far better if another site were chosen.”
Mayor Geoff Ablett recently said part of the park would retain the Pioneers Park name – in keeping with the adjoining café Primary@Pioneer’s Park.
The proposed name would pay tribute to a man who contributed much to Rotary and the community.
“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.”
The name change has been given in-principle approval by the state’s Registrar of Geographic Names.
Public submissions are open for the proposal.
