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Honouring a local hero

We sought community feedback on a proposal to name the park next to the Autumn Place Community Hub ‘Agnes OBrien Park’, in honour of a beloved local resident whose dedication to Doveton left a lasting legacy.

This commemorative naming proposal recognised Agnes O’Brien’s incredible service to the community and aligned with Geographic Names Victoria’s Naming Rules for Places in Victoria.

How to have your say

Members of the public could provide feedback regarding this proposal by the following methods:

Any feedback or objections to the proposed name had to be received within 30 days of the date of this notification and had to comply with Geographic Names Victoria’s (GNV) Naming Rules. Objections needed to show that the proposal did not comply with the Naming Rules.

For any queries regarding this proposal, people were asked to contact Fiona Baker, Geographical Naming Officer, on 03 9705 5200.

Born in Portafairy, County Down, Ireland in 1935, Agnes came to Australia at 18 and settled in Doveton in 1976. From the moment she arrived, Agnes dedicated herself to helping others, especially young people.

She was a passionate advocate for youth, encouraging kids to get involved in sport rather than spending time on the streets. Agnes visited schools, rallied the community to donate football boots, and helped launch the Vic Kick (now AusKick) program at the local footy club, where she also managed the children’s team.

Agnes worked at the local community centre, shopped at Autumn Place, and was always ready to lend a hand. Her home was a safe haven, open to anyone who needed a chat, support, or even childcare, often at no cost.

Her contributions were formally recognised with a City of Berwick Certificate of Merit in 1993, and she was nominated for Citizen of the Year. Many community members have asked that her legacy be honoured permanently.