Unnamed Warragul reserve given title
 Baw Baw News   By // 20:32, Thursday 2 November 2017

Warragul, this part of Emberwood Estate is now named Eric Roberts Reserve.

Bordered by parts of Sutton Street, Stoddarts Road, and Emberwood Road, the space is a prominent part of the still-developing estate.

Councillors confirmed the name of the park and wetland area at their meeting last week.


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Who is Eric?

Eric Gilbert Roberts farmed the area the reserve is located on, according to the Baw Baw Shire.

He was also a prominent name in the dairy industry, serving as chairperson or president of umpteen dairying bodies and companies.

This included stints as president of the Australian Dairy Farmers Federation (1953-60) and the Victorian Dairy Farmers Association (1953-61), as well as being chair of the Australian National Dairy Committee from 1961 to 1972.

From 1972 to 1976 he served as vice president, then president of the International Dairy Federation.


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Cows weren’t the only locals he managed; Eric was also a Shire of Warragul councillor, holding the role of President from 1949 to 1952.

In 1964, Eric Roberts also received the Australian Society of Dairy Technology’s gold medal, an annual prize still being awarded today.

An OBE?

We are a little confused by one part of Eric’s history and are hoping our readers will be able to help us out.

One council-provided document detailing Eric’s achievements gives his name the OBE post-nominal, which we assume to mean Order of the British Empire.

We haven’t found any other mention of this anywhere, including online lists of all OBE recipients.

Have we mistaken what OBE stands for? Is this document incorrect? Let us know in the comments below.

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2 responses to “Unnamed Warragul reserve given title”

  1. Beverley Burdon says:

    I love that Warragul is getting another lovely park. The area looks to be an oasis for the enjoyment of local children and adults.
    My fervent wish is that it will be kept maintained in the condition as it is in the photo, UNLIKE the little one in my area, Bloye park, which is not maintained to the same standard those closer to Warragul and Drouin are kept.

  2. Beverley Burdon says:

    Thank you Baw Baw Shire for sending in the big grass cutter to Bloye Park again.
    Now if you can send in someone with a whipper snipper to cut the weeds growing up the fence surrounding the park it would look reasonable.