Park named to honour original member of the ACT Assembly

Submitted by Andrew Barr on 21 April, 2010 - 15:20

Today I had the great honour of dedicating a community park in Ainslie in memory of local resident Bill Pye. I was joined by Mr Pye’s family and close friends to unveil the Bill Pye Community Park sign, which is located at the intersection of Officer Crescent and Rutherford Crescent in Ainslie.

Bill Pye was a resident of Ainslie for 50 years and was extensively involved in his community as a public servant, legislator and volunteer.

Mr Pye served three terms as an elected Independent member of the ACT Advisory Council, including one term as deputy chairman. He was appointed to the first ACT Legislative Assembly in 1977 and was a member of the first ACT House of Assembly.

In 1978, Bill was awarded the MBE for his services to local government and the Canberra community. It is fitting that he should be remembered through the naming of a community park where he lived.

Bill served on a number of local government and community-based committees. He was three times president of the Canberra Day Citizens Committee (the forerunner to the Canberra Festival Committee); he was foundation chairman of the ACT Child Welfare Advisory Council; and he was involved with the ACT Kidney Association and the Foundation for Youth.

Mr Pye was a founding member of the Canberra Life Saving Club, the Good Neighbour Council, the Historical Sites and Buildings Committee and the Dickson Community Centre Planning Committee.

I am pleased to be able to officially honour Mr Bill Pye today with this community park. The Bill Pye Community Park includes a playground surrounded by mature trees which provide shade and visual amenity.