SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
Ken was born in Yarraville, after school he took up part time accountancy. He married Sue in 1967, they moved to Long Forrest Road in 1972.
Ken took up farming around Shire on leased land. In 1980 he successfully became a Shire Councillor and was elected Shire President in 1985. Ken remains active in the local community.
The Coimadai Avenue of Honour – Remembering 129 WW1 enlistees
Photograph of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour taken on 12 April 2019.
Courtesy of Monument Australia website.
He is currently the President of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour Restoration Association Inc. The not-for-profit association manages the maintenance and upkeep of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour . The Coimadai Avenue of Honour, originally planted on the 26 June 1918, predated the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour by almost two months.
Honour Roll and Memorial pavilion at Coimadai Avenue of Honour.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Unfortunately many of the trees did not survive in the rural settlement. The remaining trees were submerged underwater with the construction of Lake Merrimu. The avenue was re-located and re-planted in 2015 along part of the Diggers Rest – Coimadai Road.
If you are related to Ken and have some family stories or photos to share we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.