FULL marks to River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith for his move to have the City of Casey namesake Lord Casey recognised.
Cr Smith, reacting to a young student’s question about why there was no photograph of Lord Casey, took the question to a Casey council meeting.
Previous efforts to recognise Lord Casey were treated with contempt by at least two councillors not of his political persuasion so the matter dropped.
He is a man in history who deserved better, particularly from Casey councillors.
Cr Smith asked for a report on the possibility of a feature to be erected near the civic centre that would recognise the man after whom the municipality was named.
I have wondered many times why this was not done until I heard the debate on a move three years ago to consider building a statue of the statesman.
Casey was no doubt a strong minded individual so not all would have agreed with his point of view and, one in particular, Sir Robert Menzies prime minister when Lord Casey was in his prime saw that the ‘worthy gent’ was well posted in places out of domestic politics.
This was a compliment above all because he was seen as a possible contender for the great Sir Robert.
He was treasurer for a time have we heard that one before?
Lord Casey and his wife Maie were colourful Berwick residents and brought many highranking dignitaries to the region.
He was a soldier of note and served at Gallipoli and France during which time he won the Military Cross.
Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey KG, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, PC 29 August 1890 to 17 June 1976 was an Australian politician, diplomat, and GovernorGeneral.
He was born in Brisbane, Queensland, but lived his later life in Berwick, Victoria and was created ‘Baron Casey of Berwick’.
Lord Casey and Cr Smith have to be politically worlds apart, so a big tick for the councillor on this one.