Death of long time Sorrento ‘stalwart’

OBITUARY

By Colin Watson*

RAE Riley, who died on Thursday 28 December 2023 after a long illness, was a stalwart of the community of Sorrento and Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Nepean Ward.

Her community involvement began more than 40 years ago as a committee member and then president of Sorrento Primary School’s mothers club.

In about 1989, the late Ian (Ding) Bell, then president of Nepean Ratepayers Association, invited Rae to join as secretary.

It was an important time for Sorrento and for those who can remember the key platform being Save Our Sorrento (SOS). The park we all now enjoy opposite Stringers Store is due in no small measure to the proactive lobbying of Rae and others at that time.

She was a member of the association for more than 30 years, retiring in 2018 having served as secretary, vice-president and president.

Rae was on the Sorrento Community Centre steering committee that oversaw the move from the community house to the current site and was involved in the restructuring and change in operational procedures to a board and its name change. She was also instrumental in assisting the centre to qualify for a child care licence.

In 2003 Mornington Peninsula Shire Council asked Rae to research appropriate beaches on the southern peninsula for leash-free dog use. One of those beaches identified was Camerons Bight, now a popular beach for dog lovers all year round.

During her time as owner of the garden centre in Ocean Beach Road, Rae was a member of the chamber of commerce.

She was also involved in the New Year’s Eve committee’s No Nonsense New Year.

After a particularly violent New Year in Sorrento community groups banded together to set in place a program for safe celebrations. This included ticketed events, free bus transfer from venues and police presence.

The association sponsored the police sausage sizzle on New Year’s Eve, which ensured on duty police could get a snack during their long night.

The model was awarded for its initiatives and the  template was picked up for use in other tourist destinations around Victoria.

When management of Point Nepean transferred from federal to state government in June 2009, Rae, along with members of other community groups, helped develop the plan for the future of Point Nepean.

She was also involved in the Sorrento streetscape master plan as a member of the Sorrento Township Consultative Planning Committee and had input into the Portsea village master plan.

Rae was a committee member of The Settlement Action Group which was established mid-2011 to promote the Collins Settlement Site, the original site of the first British landing in 1803 and several early settler graves.

In 2012 work began on implementing the Police Point Shire Park recreation and conservation plan, of which Rae was a committee member. This plan included repairs to the cottages, garden planning, interpretative signs and the development of the Calling Ground, including installation of stressed metal interpretative figures.

The shire awarded her a certificate of appreciation in August 2023 for her role on the committee and the implementation of the plan, with special mention of her initiating and developing the successful artists-in-residence program.

Other commendations included a community services award in 2008 from Sorrento Rotary Club and a well-deserved mayoral commendation from the shire council in April 2013 for dedicated and distinguished voluntary service to the community and Nepean Ward.

During her lifetime, Rae worked passionately to maintain the natural beauty and charm of Sorrento and the Nepean Ward and to preserve the area’s history.

 * Colin Watson is president of Nepean Ratepayers’ Association.