Ron Mantle.By Callan Date
FORMER Casey mayor and Tooradin icon Ron Mantle will be remembered forever in the coastal community he called home.
Casey councillors approved a $500 donation allocated from Colin Butler’s ward funds on Tuesday night to go towards the establishment of a memorial.
Mr Mantle, 52, died suddenly on board his boat late last month.
Family, friends and past and present Casey councillors paid their respects to Mr Mantle at his funeral last Monday.
Cr Butler said he had requested the funds from his Balla Balla Ward allocation and would be passing them on to the Tooradin Recreation Reserves committee.
“I am letting them do as they see fit with the donation,” Cr Butler said.
He said Tooradin was an ideal spot for the plaque as Mr Mantle had done so much for the town and the surrounding coastal villages.
Tooradin Recreation Reserves president Derek Genoni said the committee was yet to meet to discuss how the money would be spent to remember Mr Mantle.
“At the moment we haven’t formalised any plans,” Mr Genoni said.
He said the council had already committed to naming the Tooradin board-walk in recognition of Mr Mantle and the committee wanted to make sure another appropriate way was found to honour him.
“He looked after our community in so many ways.
“He was involved with the netball courts and clubrooms in Tooradin and also the development at the football club,” he said.
Mr Genoni said the committee would be meeting later this month for its annual general meeting and the form of remembrance would be discussed thoroughly on the night.
