Media Release 31 August 2024

Vale Keith Brownbill OAM

Advance Morwell is mourning the loss of founding member and long serving Secretary Keith Brownbill OAM.

Advance Morwell Chair Graeme Sennett said that Mr Brownbill’s contribution to the Morwell community had been immense.

A foundation member of Advance Morwell, Mr Brownbill, 96, had been actively involved in the organisation since its inception, over 25 years ago, only stepping down as Secretary (a role he had held for over 20 years) in March this year.

According to Mr Sennett, Mr Brownbill was a quiet achiever who passionately and consistently worked for Morwell’s betterment both as a community member and well-respected educator.

After beginning as a student teacher in 1945, Mr Brownbill commenced his teacher training in 1946 and started as a fully trained teacher at Hamilton High in 1950.  He moved to Horsham in 1956, then Traralgon in 1960 before becoming Principal of Kaniva High School in 1963.

During 1970, as part of League for Exchange of Commonwealth teachers’ program, he spent a year in London teaching at the St Albans Girls Grammar School.

Mr Brownbill and his family moved to Morwell in 1972 when he was appointed principal of Morwell High School, a role he held until his retirement in 1987.  At this time he was the longest serving school principal in the State, having been in charge of schools for 25 years.

Mr Brownbill believed that education could be a major factor in people’s development, as it had been for him, coming from a small farming family in Inglewood on the old goldfields where his family had a love of learning.

He believed the most important factor in education was the quality of teaching staff, and that “students must be encouraged to aim high, to test their arm, to be unafraid of failure”.  He was an educational visionary, demonstrated in his championing of the transition of Morwell High School into the Morwell Campus of Kurnai College.  He saw this change as providing students with the benefit of wider and more exciting opportunities and a model for schools throughout the nation. 

The relationships Mr Brownbill developed with his staff, students and their families were testament to his good nature and the high esteem in which he was held, supporting him in his community endeavours for years to come.

Mr Sennett said “With his great literacy, interests in sport, international affairs and overseas experiences, such as teaching English in China, Mr Brownbill brought immense value to discussions about Morwell’s development, understanding a broader perspective than many others.”

“It was with much gratitude and in recognition of his excellent service that Mr Brownbill was awarded life membership in 2017.”

Mr Brownbill was actively involved in many of Advance Morwell’s initiatives.

“He was extremely proud of Morwell and wanted to create an attractive and inviting urban environment.  He organised the installation and maintenance of rose planter boxes throughout the CBD and for many years, despite his advancing age, could be seen dutifully watering these during the summer months.’  Said Mr Sennett.

His passion for the town was always evident, whether it was his involvement in the Airlie Bank Homestead restoration, Morwell Town Common Redevelopment, preparing numerous award-winning Tidy Town submissions, or organising various community events (including the initial International Rose Garden festivals).

Mr Brownbill was always looking for ways to enhance the town both physically and as a tourist destination.  He initiated the development of a Morwell tourism brochure, lobbied for new town entrance signage which he worked with Max Williamson to create.

One of his major legacies is the Sir Stanley Savige memorial and Legacy Place development, which Advance Morwell initiated and he along with Max Williamson played a significant role in bringing to fruition.

He was a keen supporter of Morwell traders, running Morwell’s Main Street and Streetlife projects for many years and always wanted to engage with the community, organising musical events in the Rose Garden, Morwell’s Christmas activities including various incarnations of Christmas Carol events.

Advance Morwell was just one of many organisations that benefited from Mr Brownbill’s tireless work.  Having joined the Kaniva Rotary Club in 1965, he was a long-term member of Morwell Rotary, including being President in 1983/84, and was recently granted Honorary Membership by the club.

He was the organiser of the annual Len Falk Lecture, a member of the Australian College of Education, including being Secretary/Treasurer of their Gippsland Group for eight years and was on a number of course advisory Committees of the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education.

“Awarded Citizen of the Year in 2000, Mr Brownbill’s contribution has been immense, he was active in so many aspects of our community.  An original member of the Latrobe Valley U3A in 1989, he was a respected and much liked tutor of French and Current Affairs, undertaking many roles including Planner and President.

He was also instrumental in establishing the Community Road Safety Councils in Victoria, being past president and longest standing member of the Gippsland Community Road Safety Organisation; a format adopted across the country.”  Added Mr Sennett.

Mr Brownbill was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his services the community in 2012, having received a Centenary Medal in 2001.

Mr Sennett said, “In a Morwell High School tribute, Mr Brownbill was referred to as ‘a man of wit, intellect, culture, enlightenment and scholarship’, and I can think of no better epitaph for a man who has contributed so much and engaged with so many.”