Dam reserve named in doctor’s honour
Northern Grampians Shire Council has completed a formal process to name a Maud Street dams site in Stawell to Norman Castle Reserve.
The dams are at 9-29 Maud Street at the rear of Stawell Regional Health.
The reserve formed part of the council’s Stawell parks precinct master plan that started in 2018, a key part of a municipal public health and wellbeing plan 2017-2020.
The council has redeveloped the site as a community open space with walking tracks and signs.
Councillors resolved at meeting in February this year to start a naming process and invited public comment on the suggested name of Norman Castle Reserve. Community response then endorsed the suggestion.
Dr Norman Castle, OAM, was a revered and respected community leader and former Stawell doctor. He spent more than 50 years practising medicine and was a trustee of Stawell Hospital foundation for 30 years as well as a hospital board member.
Dr Castle, who died in February this year, won national recognition for his services to medicine and the community with an Order of Australia Medal in 1999.
The council sought permission from his widow and family to rename the site in his memory.
It hopes to have a formal opening of the reserve when COVID-19 restrictions ease later this year and family members, some of whom are interstate, can reunite for the event.
Northern Grampians mayor Murray Emerson said the reserve naming was a ‘very’ fitting commemoration.
“I can think of no-one worthier than
Dr Castle after so many years of dedicated work as a medical professional and leader in our shire community,” he said.
“It’s so lovely to stroll through this reserve, its water features and gardens appropriately adjoining our two key health-care services, the hospital and the residential care facility, and be reminded every time of Dr Castle’s contribution.”
Dr Castle’s wife Noelene said the naming of the park was a great honour and family members were ‘extremely’ proud.
“He would also be so proud that the town of Stawell had recogised him in this manner,” she said.
“The park looks up to the hospital where he spent all his life caring for everyone and it’s beautiful.”