Mayor, Cr Jim Memeti unveiled Council’s latest interpretive signs to celebrate important stories from our Greater Dandenong history.
The first sign, in front of the Noble Park Public Hall, follows the journey of the people’s hall, from a humble timber structure to a bustling community hub under the name Paddy O’Donoghue Centre.
Cr Memeti said Paddy O’Donoghue was a universally respected member of the Noble Park community and is an appropriate namesake for the hall.
“This hall has been central to life in Noble Park for more than 100 years and is still owned by the people of this community via the Noble Park Public Hall Trust.
“This hall was built by the people of Noble Park and it was updated over the years with money raised by the community. It truly is at the heart of our Noble Park community,” Cr Memeti said.
The other sign is in J C Mills Reserve and remembers a time before road and drainage works, when the need to protect against mud was inevitable.
Local stories recall those heading to Saturday dances at the Dandenong Town Hall would wear gumboots to the station and then change into their good shoes once on the platform.
The reserve’s name honours the late James (Jim) Charles Mills who was a World War I veteran. He settled in the area as part of the Government’s Soldier Settler Scheme in 1919 and became a Councillor for the Dandenong Shire Council.
The interpretative signage project is part of the Victorian Government’s ongoing Noble Park Revitalisation and has been identified as a priority through the Noble Park Suburban Revitalisation Board.
Pictured is Lisa Beck (great niece of Paddy O'Donoghue), Dawn Dickson (niece of Paddy O'Donoghue and Hall Trustee) and Michael Dickson (great nephew of Paddy O'Donoghue).
