General News
15 September, 2024
Casey celebrates 80 years
Leo Casey celebrated his birthday recently at the Warracknabeal community centre with his extended family and friends.
He commenced his career at Birchip High School in 1967 and married Frances Cossar from Charlton in 1968. They are proud parents of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
Leo has bachelor degrees in Arts and Business and a Graduate diploma in Ed admin.
In Birchip Leo joined the Lions Club, the fire brigade and was secretary of the football club for five years and with Frances played various sports and contributed to local organisations.
The family moved to Sea Lake in 1975 and gained much from ten years of community involvement. Frances commenced the guiding and diabetic movements and her junior tennis coaching.
Leo was involved in the planning and building of the new community centre and relocating of sporting facilities to the high school, the building of the aged care facility and doctors surgery, a new catholic church and the establishment of the school camp at Green Lake.
He spent 12 years in the fire brigade and with Frances played tennis and they contributed to the Mallee Rally and their children’s sporting activities.
Leo was a deputy director to the Victorian Country Football League representing Mid Murray and North Central zones and was secretary of the Tyrrell and Northern Mallee football leagues.
He received the VCFL recognition of service medallion in 1986.
In 1985 the family came to Warracknabeal with Leo's promotion to deputy principal and later principal.
A feature of his time was the implementation of the Japanese student programme which involved the students and staff being hosted by families in Osaka and Warracknabeal, a first for a Victorian school.
He also led a study tour to London for two weeks with primary and secondary principals to report to Government on the feasibility of significantly increasing the teacher aides in schools.
He was the Victorian Secondary Principal awarded an innovative Leadership training course at the Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee.
Frances continued her leadership of the girl guides and junior tennis coaching.
Leo spent the next 10 years as secretary of the football club and assisted with the planning and building of the community centre.
He was a health board member for 11 years and was chair when Rural Northwest Health was completed.
He was also a team member for the presentation of 'Innovative dementia care at Rural Northwest Health' at the international health conference in Nashville.
Leo is a life member of the Warracknabeal football club and a Life Governor of Rural Northwest Health.
He was awarded the Yarriambiack Shire Citizen of the Year in 2017. He was also an honourary Bail Justice for 23 years.
A little golf, family and some time at our home on the coast beckons.
Leo said the Casey family continues to be blessed by the welcoming and generosity of the people of Warracknabeal and in particular that our children gained so many life opportunities by being part of a vibrant community.
- LEO CASEY