By Bonny Burrows
Mick Morland and Ken Rich should not be remembered for their tragic deaths, but rather their life-long efforts in making the Casey Cardinia region a better place to live.
Lives selflessly dedicated to helping others, both lost in 2017 in freak accidents.
They would have crossed paths in their efforts for the community, but did not know each other well. Yet their combined deeds have earned them the title of joint Gazette People of the Year for 2017
A police officer of 38 years, Sergeant Rich would split his time between that as an officer, a father of five, a keen cyclist, and as “Coach Ken”, the beloved swimming instructor at Cardinia Life.
As daughter Jacinta put it, he was always doing something to help others – be it volunteering at local sporting matches, fund-raising for community groups or advocating for the building of the Cardinia Life swimming pool, of which he was instrumental.
Sergeant Rich always put others first, and was always willing to step up and lend a hand.
When the Cardinia Piranhas Swimming Club, of which his daughters were members, faced closure in 1999, Sergeant Rich underwent coaching courses to become head coach and president, ultimately saving the club from extinction.
“Helping people was in his nature during work and outside of work. Because dad was in the police force for so long it just became natural to him to help others,” Jacinta said.
“Helping the community reflected on his job as well. People in the community would seek dad’s advice on police matters because of his knowledge as a police officer for so long.”
Colourful Mick Morland was the second-longest serving Casey Council and a much-loved former mayor.
His work within the local community was expansive and included, but was not limited to, pushing for a new track for Casey Little Athletics, an aquatic centre in Narre Warren and the Bunjil Place complex.
While serving as a councillor, Mr Morland was running a cleaning business. He would wake at 3am to drive back into town from weekend council conferences to do a cleaning shift.
Fellow councillors marvelled at his work effort, but for Mr Morland, it was just what you did.
When he received the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2016, Mr Morland told the Gazette that all his years of service had made him realise how many people did not put their hands up to help the community.
“I always believed that if you want to be involved in your community you have to put in the time and effort,” Mr Morland said.
Outside of council, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
He was also a long-time Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, a passionate Tigers supporter and a Beaconsfield premiership player and reserves coach.
As past Rotary Club of Berwick President Mark Caulfield described him, Mr Morland was the true definition of a Rotarian, someone who gave his community his all.
Tragically, Sergeant Rich and Mr Morland are no longer with us.
Sergeant Rich was killed in a collision while cycling in Pakenham with one of his daughters last year on Good Friday and Mr Morland was fatally struck by a car during his routine evening walk in Berwick on 23 June.
Their deaths were heavily felt within the local community; however their legacies will live on.
Instead of holding feelings of anger or resentment, both the Rich and Morland families have demonstrated a strength not many would fathom.
Mr Morland’s wife Kay has connected with the young driver behind the wheel of the vehicle several times since the accident.
The local 21-year-old was not at fault, yet has been impacted by the ordeal.
Shortly after his passing, Ms Morland and his family requested money donations to the Casey Cardinia Foundation in lieu of flowers at his family.
On 28 November the foundation, with the help of the donated money and a considerable injection from the City of Casey, presented the inaugural Mick Morland Memorial Grant.
It went to the Casey Basketball Association to kick-start a wheelchair basketball competition at Casey Stadium – a project Ms Morland said her husband would have loved.
The Rich family have used their grief to drive change, fund-raising for cyclist safety charity the Amy Gillet Foundation and advocating for Victoria to implement “a metre matters rule” to protect cyclists on the road.
They are also pushing for more bike lines within Cardinia Shire to “protect any other family to have to go through what our family is going through”.
“Since speaking to people in the cycling community, we have heard many stories regarding cyclists getting objects thrown at them, being abused for being on the road and people being hit by cars but surviving,” Jacinta said.
“We believe that people need to be more aware as well, that it’s just not a bike; it’s a person, when passing a cyclist.
“These people could have friends, family, be a mum or dad, and have children or work colleagues, so it’s not just one person affected (by their death).”
Looking forward, both families have vowed to continue on the work the men have started, driven by a desire to support the communities the men loved so much.
The Gazette’s 2017 People of the Year may no longer be with us, but we’re all the richer for their contributions.
“This is an absolutely lovely gesture. The kids will be chuffed,” Ms Morland said of the acknowledgment.
“It’s great that Mick continues to be remembered and acknowledged in this way.”
