By Corey Everitt and Ava Cashmore
In a unanimous decision, the Cardinia Shire Council has agreed to rename the Officer Recreation Reserve in honour of the late Rob Porter OAM, who passed away on Christmas Day in 2023.
The initiative, originally directed by Cr Colin Ross and supported by the wider community, received no objections during the consultation phase.
The motion resolved to rename the reserve to the ‘Rob Porter Recreation Reserve’.
“In my opinion he was probably a once-in-lifetime person that we come across in our lives,” Cr Owen said.
“We note that it’s Carol’s wish to name it the Rob Porter Recreation Reserve, but it does also acknowledge the commitment of the wider Porter family.”
Mr Porter’s lifetime of service and dedication to the Officer community was the primary motivation behind the renaming.
Geographic Names Victoria granted an exemption to the usual two-year waiting period for naming proposals involving deceased individuals, paving the way for the council’s formal resolution.
Mr Porter’s wife Carol Porter OAM, alongside her sons, expressed their gratitude and approval for the renaming.
The resolution would be forwarded to Geographic Names Victoria for final approval and publication in the Government Gazette, marking a significant recognition of Mr Porter’s legacy.
