Bill was a larger than life figure, an inspiration to all, very much a force of nature, and he made a huge contribution to this community, his community, over an extended period.

 

He was active in many organisations including Legacy, a Vice President of the Mornington Historical Society, former Shire Citizen of the Year, ANZAC of the year and of course in the wider sphere a significant figure in the community of former Prisoners of War. An involvement that stemmed from long years interned in tough conditions as a prisoner of the Japanese following the invasion of Timor.

 

We should never forget the tremendous courage of the POW’s, and their sacrifices they made, to allow us all to live in freedom.

 

Bill of course has been strongly identified with this park, and the naming of the pathway is a fitting tribute to a great man.

 

From his first discussions with the late Ken McArthur in 1983, Bill was the driving force in the creation of the memorial you see today.

 

As a Councillor, and Shire President, during some of the early period, I can personally attest to Bill’s skills and persistence as an advocate for Memorial Park.

 

His ability to extract funds, private and public, and encourage, in the nicest possible way, Council officers to ensure work was undertaken was well renowned.

 

I congratulate the Council on their decision to name the pathway in Bill’s honour, and to formalise the name of Memorial Park is a fitting tribute to his memory.