Pictured above: Beverley Bracknell, the road mail lady has been delivering the mail twice a week since 1989.
There would be very few people in Dumbleyung who have served on as many committees as Bev. Arriving in 1976 – 43 years ago, Bev has willingly given so much of her time and effort to the community.
From doing the mail run for 22 years, driving the school bus for 37 years for all the contractors and to serving on the Shire Council.
Bev has devoted time to the service clubs, being Secretary of the fire brigade when son Jason joined as a 16-year-old and to be the in 1st intake of the Dumbleyung VO I ambulance officers. After years of service and gaining her VO II, Bev stepped down but continued as a driver.
Sport was always on the agenda. In the early days baddy was popular in town. Open days, pennants and junior coaching made for a busy Wednesday. With daughter Cassandra and Jason interested in sport Bev was there to do her share. She took the reins of the gym club in 1994, gave a decade of service to the swim club as President and swim teacher. As Bev said if she couldn’t demonstrate the skill Cassie was always on hand. Bev played Wednesday ladies and pennant tennis.
Townscape and tourism was always close to Bev’s heart. She served on the Bluebird Museum Committee. Doing more for Dumbleyung and the Cemetery Committee, Bev would spend hours with a packed lunch and a water bag, recording the correct location of every grave at Nippering. This resulted in an information board being erected at the cemetery and with the help of Barb Atkins their work was published in the Dumbleyung Short Stories Book in 1999.
The mosaic mural of the Dumbleyung duck situated in the roadhouse car park opposite the pool was a labour of love that took Bev 6 months to complete. Her forte lay in design. Bev drew up plans for the Stubbs Park Pavilion and with June Mott seeing to the interior design the Shire sent Bev’s plans to an architect who verified them, copied them and after doing the specifics charged the Shire $3000. The Dumbleyung Dunnies was another building Bev designed, this time Trevor Parsons built from her plans!
For 12 years Bev served on the Dumbleyung Shire Council representing the town ward. As Councillors do, she sat on a myriad of committees like finance, town planning and health and the centenary committee but her preference was to be on the school bus, townscape, tourism and tidy towns and historical committees.
Being the last and longest serving Gymkhana President was another role Bev relished. Together with the then secretary Felicity Cronin they recorded the history of the Gymkhana which is now in a large laminated file in the archives. Also they were responsible for the photos hanging in the foyer of the hall. Bev was a keeper of history and has sent boxes of notes, minutes and information to the archive.
Finally Bev was always known for her love of gardening. Her beautiful garden has been used to host garden club members, school bus parties and open garden days. Bev has held all offices for the Garden Club, and it is appropriate these friends have instigated her farewell.
Thank you Beverley Bracknell for putting our community 1st.
We appreciate your magnanimous contribution and best wishes for the next phase of your life.
Written by the Dumbleyung Community
From doing the mail run for 22 years, driving the school bus for 37 years for all the contractors and to serving on the Shire Council.
Bev has devoted time to the service clubs, being Secretary of the fire brigade when son Jason joined as a 16-year-old and to be the in 1st intake of the Dumbleyung VO I ambulance officers. After years of service and gaining her VO II, Bev stepped down but continued as a driver.
Sport was always on the agenda. In the early days baddy was popular in town. Open days, pennants and junior coaching made for a busy Wednesday. With daughter Cassandra and Jason interested in sport Bev was there to do her share. She took the reins of the gym club in 1994, gave a decade of service to the swim club as President and swim teacher. As Bev said if she couldn’t demonstrate the skill Cassie was always on hand. Bev played Wednesday ladies and pennant tennis.
Townscape and tourism was always close to Bev’s heart. She served on the Bluebird Museum Committee. Doing more for Dumbleyung and the Cemetery Committee, Bev would spend hours with a packed lunch and a water bag, recording the correct location of every grave at Nippering. This resulted in an information board being erected at the cemetery and with the help of Barb Atkins their work was published in the Dumbleyung Short Stories Book in 1999.
The mosaic mural of the Dumbleyung duck situated in the roadhouse car park opposite the pool was a labour of love that took Bev 6 months to complete. Her forte lay in design. Bev drew up plans for the Stubbs Park Pavilion and with June Mott seeing to the interior design the Shire sent Bev’s plans to an architect who verified them, copied them and after doing the specifics charged the Shire $3000. The Dumbleyung Dunnies was another building Bev designed, this time Trevor Parsons built from her plans!
For 12 years Bev served on the Dumbleyung Shire Council representing the town ward. As Councillors do, she sat on a myriad of committees like finance, town planning and health and the centenary committee but her preference was to be on the school bus, townscape, tourism and tidy towns and historical committees.
Being the last and longest serving Gymkhana President was another role Bev relished. Together with the then secretary Felicity Cronin they recorded the history of the Gymkhana which is now in a large laminated file in the archives. Also they were responsible for the photos hanging in the foyer of the hall. Bev was a keeper of history and has sent boxes of notes, minutes and information to the archive.
Finally Bev was always known for her love of gardening. Her beautiful garden has been used to host garden club members, school bus parties and open garden days. Bev has held all offices for the Garden Club, and it is appropriate these friends have instigated her farewell.
Thank you Beverley Bracknell for putting our community 1st.
We appreciate your magnanimous contribution and best wishes for the next phase of your life.
Written by the Dumbleyung Community
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