Plaques to explain honourable deeds

CASEY mayor Neil Lucas unveiled a plaque last Friday at the Cyril Molyneux Reserve, Berwick, honouring former Berwick mayor Cyril Molyneux.
Cr Lucas said he initiated a program to put similar plaques on all parks named after people.
He said this was to establish a permanent record about the people after whom the parks were named. “If it is good enough to name a park after someone now it is good enough that future generations can see why.”
Cr Lucas said the park was named after Mr Molyneux to recognise his work in the community. He said that during World War II Cyril was involved in the defence of Darwin.
“He married and left the service as a lieutenant to move to Officer in 1953 and to Berwick 10 years later. Cyril is past president of the Berwick RSL and has been an active member of the RSL for 50 years.
“He was an accomplished District cricketer with HawthornEast Melbourne before the war.
“Cyril was a City of Berwick councillor from 1981 to 1991 and mayor from 1985 to 86.
“He guided many new projects for the Berwick community.
“He played a major role in the acquisition of Wilson Botanic Park and the Old Cheese Factory.”
“He was the first chairman of the Berwick Craft Market and promoted global friendships with the Sister Cities of Berwick upon Tweed and Springfield, Ohio, USA.
“Cyril was for 10 years an honorary magistrate and 50 years a Justice of the Peace, 10 years a member of the St Margaret’s School Council and an inaugural member of the Hallam High School Council.
“He served 38 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Berwick and 40 years on the Berwick Bush Nursing Hospital board of directors.
“Cyril attributes his success to lessons learned from Army life and an ability to separate local issues from the wider arena of State politics.
“His hard work for the community is greatly valued and respected,” Cr Lucas said.