City of Berwick

The inaugural City of Berwick Council meeting was held at 10.00am the Berwick Inn on October 1, 1973. Cr Barry Simon was elected as Mayor. Later in the day a Proclamation Ceremony was held, commencing at 12.45pm - amongst the highlights of the ceremony was the re-enactment of the 1862 meeting at the Berwick Inn to form the Berwick Road Board.

This photograph was taken after the first meeting at the Berwick Inn. The newly elected Mayor, Barry Simon, is at the front, behind the bar. Left to right are David Lee, Jack Thomas, Keith Wishart, Sid Pargeter, Jan Bateman, Jim Alexander, Joan Phillips, Ron Irwin, George Chudleigh, John Byron and Bill Hudson.

The City of Berwick was then officially proclaimed by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe. At 8.00pm the Council reconvened at the Doveton Public Hall to discuss regular Council business. The City of Berwick and the Shire of Pakenham were established by splitting the Shire of Berwick in two - the border was basically the Cardinia Creek.

The Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe, being greeted by the Mayor, Cr Barry Simon, and Mrs Ruth Simon at the City of Berwick Proclamation ceremony.

The City of Berwick was granted this Coat of Arms or Armorial Bearings on April 8, 1976. They were officially presented to the Council by Sir Henry Winneke, the Governor of Victoria, on March 25, 1977. The Arms were designed by Colonel Puttock, President of the Heraldry Society of Australia. The crest is the Helmeted Honey eater which stands on a tree stump which represents the symbol of a living tree as the City of Berwick was known for its many trees. The Shield shows a buckle, said to be a symbol for "sucess by endeavour". The bulls head and the lamb represents the farming heritage - the bull also reflects the original insignia used by the Shire of Berwick, shown below. The last part of the shield is a muzzled bear, taken from the coat of arms of Berwick-upon Tweed. Early land owner, Captain Robert Gardiner and his family had a connection to that town in the United Kingdom and it is said to be the source of the Berwick name. The two black horses (the supporters) represent the significance of the horse as a form of transport and the blue stone wall represents the Wilson Quarry and the quarries in the area.

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