A sign acknowledging the history of Victor Brazier Park in Cumberland City has been restored, honouring its late owner who once operated a dairy farm on the site.
Victor Brazier, born in 1900, was originally from Queensland and moved to Annandale where he lived with wife Margaret and children William, James, Norman and Lavinia.
Mr Brazier served in the Royal Australian Navy for 25 years, including in WWII.
Remarkably he was one of only 13 survivors from HMAS Yarra, being picked up at sea after their ship was sunk by the Japanese.
When he retired from the navy in 1945, he used this money to purchase the 7.5 acre dairy farm in Guildford.
He eventually donated the land, now known as Victor Brazier Park, to the City of Parramatta Council.
His son, Norman Brazier worked hard with the City of Parramatta Council to form a park committee where the neighbours came together, cleaned up the park and planted trees that still stand today.
The park was officially named on August 8, 1998 where a sign was constructed, detailing a brief history.
Norman Brazier’s daughter Cathy Cormie-McDonald says it was her father’s greatest pride to have his father honoured with this sign.
However, the pair were saddened in the last couple of years, following the Council merger when they noticed the original sign was no longer there.
“This saddened my father Norman and I promised him that we would get in contact with the Cumberland City Council,” she said.
“Unfortunately on September 29, 2020 my father passed away before I could put the letter to paper.”
Ms Cormie-McDonald said she then made it her mission to follow through with her father’s quest.
“I got an immediate response from the Cumberland City Council, stating that the sign would be replaced and was done so in a matter of weeks,” she said.
Ms Cormie-McDonald and her siblings Bruce Brazier and Linda Jones recently met with Cumberland City Mayor Steve Christou to unveil the new sign.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.