By Kyra Gillespie
Local legend Bill Minns celebrated his 90th time blowing out birthday candles with family and friends earlier this month.
Born 14 November, 1927, Mr Minns has lived in Berwick for 77 years and is known as a “community identity” by all who know him.
As one of the original founding members of the Berwick Rotary Club, 12-year member of the Berwick brigade, avid supporter of the Berwick Football Club, Berwick Primary School Committee member and patron of the Berwick Pipe Band, Mr Minns has certainly done his fair share of community work.
Mr Minns moved to Berwick with his family in 1940 during WWII, while his step-father and uncle both fought in the war.
The oldest of eight siblings – six brothers and two sisters – Mr Minns has fond memories of growing up in the area.
“We had a cottage on a little farm, where I would help with sheep herding, thistle cutting, mucking stables and harvesting hay,” Mr Minns said.
“When I was old enough I became a motor mechanic, eventually owning my own business on High Street called Neptune’s Garage.
“We were there for nine years between 1961 and 1969. We then moved to Clyde Road in the space where the Genesis gym is now.”
Mr Minns ran the business in partnership with his late wife Joyce, who he met at the local dance, took on dates at the local picture theatre, and married for 65 years.
“Joyce did the bookwork for the business and was also a driveway attendant.
“I always used to tease that she spent too much time talking to customers.”
As Berwick’s best-known mechanic, Mr Minns helped many people on their way with his skills and expertise.
“I was often called out to fix the milk van when it would break down on the daily milk run.
“I really enjoyed servicing the community.”
In 1985 the business came to an abrupt halt when Mr Minns had to undergo one of two quadruple bypass surgeries; the second of which happened on the day of his 70th birthday.
“I just figured if it’s gotta happen, it’s gotta happen.”
Part of the Berwick brigade for 12 years, and secretary for 11 of them, the local stalwart was instrumental in implementing a training track at Akoonah Park in Berwick through advocating and fund-raising for the cause. The first prize for the raffle at the time, Mr Minns recalled, was a black and white television.
The next big task for Mr Minns was helping found the Rotary Club of Berwick, which was chartered 3 May, 1961, at the Berwick Inn.
“To be a founding member you had to have your own business, so to start we had everyone from bank managers to accountants.
“We started with 26 original members and now we have about 64.
“In that first year I was the treasurer and president, I did just about everything!”
Now, over 50 years on, Mr Minns is still an active member, and thinks the best part about being part of Rotary is being able to give directly back to the community that had given him so much.
“All our fund-raisers are aimed at giving back to the community, whether it’s through mentoring, debutante balls, hospital support or exchange students – Rotary does it all.”
In recognition of his contribution to the local community, the rotunda at Pioneers Park was officially named the Bill Minns Rotunda by former Casey mayor Mick Moreland in 2015.
Mr Minns is a Paul Harris Fellow and is also in the Rotary Heritage and History International Fellowship Hall of Fame for 50 years of service to Rotary, commitment to the ideal of service, dedication to the objectives of Rotary and for contributing to its growth and development.
Now with five generations in the family, Mr Minns enjoys spoiling his six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren from his home in Berwick.
