MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has received an award for naming a boardwalk after Pauline Powell, who devoted many years to community service.
The suggestion to name the boardwalk after Powell was made in August 2021 by Rye Historical Society and Rye Community Group Alliance.
An existing boardwalk in Rye was subsequently named the Pauline Powell Walk and gazetted on 8 June this year.
Powell’s lifetime of community service included involvement with Rye Girl Guides where she became district commissioner, Rye Community Group Alliance, Rye Historical Society, St John’s, Sorrento and St Andrews, Rye. She was also a member of the Order of Australia – Mornington Peninsula Group, a Rye Lioness and Rye Ladies Probus.
The Excellence in Place Naming Award was made to the shire at the annual Victorian Geospatial Excellence awards dinner on Thursday 21 September.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said Powell’s memory and invaluable contribution to the community was “immortal”.
“This recognition is extremely special to both us and those who requested this recognition, including Rye Historical Society and the Rye Community Group Alliance.”
Cr Sarah Race said the award had been a huge significance to her, and she was moved to witness a celebration of Powell’s contribution to the Rye community.
“I had the pleasure to get to know Pauline before I was a councillor, through the Rye Community Action Group and her drive and spirit is something I won’t forget,” she said.
“Pauline’s place naming and consequential award is a wonderful celebration of gender equity, while also demonstrating that contributing to our local community actually means something.”
First published in the Southern Penisula News – 26 September 2023
