Three people who have had an impact on Creswick were added to the Creswick Civic Honour Roll during an annual commemoration on Friday.
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Nominations of outstanding contributors to Creswick are accepted each year and a function in the town hall celebrates the chosen three to be commemorated on the honour roll.
Meryl Hubbard, a nurse and councillor, made a great impact in the area of infection control, playing an instrumental part in the development of the Grampians region Infection Control Group. Mrs Hubbard was commemorated alongside well-known Trentham leader Dr Robert Lindsay who died in 1915.
Dr Lindsay improved Creswick’s water supply at a time when poor sanitation and a stagnant water supply led to infectious disease. The doctor could be seen at all hours of the night travelling to attend patients in his horse and cart. Known for diligence, Dr Lindsay risked his own life to tend to 27 miners who were trapped in a flooded Creswick mine in 1882, where 22 miners died in the flood waters, a disaster now known as the New Australiasian Mine Disaster.
Brian Schreenan was recognised for contributing to the growth of the Creswick community as a shire engineer for the Creswick Shire Council, responsible for all town planning in this role. He was known for his willingness to listen to the town’s people and accommodate their views.
Creswick and District Historical Society president Jack van Beveren said nominations were only open to those who have died.
“We always forget about those passed away,” he said.
“Generations move on and we don’t realise the work people have done before. The honour roll is a way of remembering.”
Hepburn Shire councillor Don Henderson said the ceremony honours the people who have done work not only now, but through centuries of time.
“Going back in time is an opportunity to let people know what pioneers went through and what they contributed to the town,” he said.
“Thomas Cooper got us a town hall, a water supply and was mayor twice. That’s the sort of people we honour.
“But it’s not just that, it’s the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker. A local milkman who made an effort to help the sick on his rounds has been put on the honour roll. It’s a chance to put a few important people to the town in a prominent position.”
The three new commemorative plaques will be added to the honour roll wall outside the Creswick Visitor Centre. Nominations for significant contributors to Creswick and surrounds are now open for next year.