By ALANA MITCHELSON
THE Cockatoo Township Committee has called upon residents to vote for a formal, historically meaningful name for the town’s scout hall.
After consulting with the Cockatoo History and Heritage Group, the committee has decided that the community hall would be named after an “influential and prominent” member of the Cockatoo community.
Committee president Tate McFarlane said four names had been nominated and that several residents have already begun voting for their preferred choice.
“We understand this process has already happened several times and many of you may be getting frustrated,” a committee spokesperson said.
“However, we encourage all residents to vote again with the view that this will be the last attempt to rename the much loved building.
“We aim to present the winning vote and tally in June. Thank you all in advance for your participation and passion for our beautiful town.”
Among those nominated are past Citizens of the Year award recipients Chris Willy (1985), Jan Black (2003), Allan Bailey (2005) and Robert Simonds (2007).
Chris Willy had been heavily involved with Cockatoo Primary School and renovated an old tram which was placed in the school grounds as a toddlers’ playground.
He assisted the Schools Parents and Friends Association and was a voluntary worker after Ash Wednesday, aiding residents in need to set up caravans and essential services.
Jan Black moved to Cockatoo in 1974 and formed the Cockatoo Progress Association.
She was instrumental in the establishment of a number of facilities including the tennis club, bowls club and a kindergarten.
Ms Black was involved in initiating a Red Cross division in Cockatoo and raised much needed funds for medical equipment at a Pakenham nursing home.
She was also a member of the Cockatoo Community Committee of management and Cockatoo Disaster Committee.
Allan Bailey became involved with the Cockatoo CFA during his early teens and registered to become a volunteer member on his 16th birthday.
He progressed through the ranks and held the position as captain for several years.
In 1988, Mr Bailey was involved in setting up Cockatoo Little Athletics and helped maintain the grounds. He volunteered his labour and machinery to dig the excavation for the Cockatoo Skate Bowl and assisted the community after Ash Wednesday.
He also helped with the rebuild of the Cockatoo Puffing Billy trestle bridge so it could once again run through to Gembrook.
Robert Simonds had joined the Australian Imperial Force at age 17 and was stationed in both New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
After the war Mr Simonds volunteered at the Cockatoo Bush Nursing Hospital – now Cardinia Health – by gardening, mowing, and completing maintenance and repair jobs free of charge, as well as transporting medical samples to Pakenham.
He was the president of the local RSL for more than two decades, including during Ash Wednesday when the RSL was destroyed and was active in its rebuild.
Residents have been invited to submit their responses in a voting box at Cockatoo IGA, while online votes are being accepted via comments to a Facebook post on the Cockatoo Township Committee page.
The winning name will be announced at the next public township committee meeting on 7 June.
