Fred Ackerman is an executive committee member of Keilor Historical Society (KHS) and wears many other hats as a local community leader and advocate. He spoke to Sam Porter about his work and his community.
What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I came to live in St Albans in 1993. Our two daughters were born at Sunshine Hospital and attended St Albans East Kindergarten. In 2000 we built a new house in the final Taylors Lakes estate, and our daughters attended Overnewton Anglican Community College from prep to year 12. My wife, Amanda, taught at Stevensville Primary School. I am a member of the Rotary Club of Keilor; Keilor Historical Society; Melbourne Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group, representing Taylors Lakes; convenor of Keilor Taylors Lakes Action, and a Justice of the Peace.
What do you like about where you live?
We live in an attractive court location in a friendly neighbourhood where we know the people in our street. Most of us built new homes around the same time. We are close to Calder Freeway with easy access to the city, Melbourne Airport and open space. We have accessible public transport – buses and trains, good community facilities, Watergardens Shopping Centre is nearby, and Keilor Village shopping strip is a short distance away.
What, if anything would you change about where you live?
Despite ongoing tree planting, the western suburbs have a tree canopy of less than ten per cent and therefore continue to be a heat island. I have long advocated for the greening of the western suburbs to reduce the heat island effect, provide more attractive recreational and sporting space, and generally improve the aesthetics of our suburbs.
Where is your favourite place to spend time?
I enjoy the outdoors, including yaluk barring park (formerly Sydenham Park), Brimbank Park and the various smaller local parks and gardens.
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
I grew up at Marysville in the Yarra Ranges on a dairy farm where I milked cows, raised calves, and learnt to drive on a grey Ferguson tractor at a very young age. I am a former teacher, school principal, president of the Victorian Principals Association and senior manager in the Education Department.
What do you enjoy about being part of Keilor Historical Society?
The wider Keilor region has a very rich heritage, beginning with Indigenous culture from 63,000 BC, through 1830’s European settlement – including early farming,1850’s Gold Rush, early 20th Century manufacturing,1920-30s innovative irrigated market gardening, and 1950s post-World War II migration. Believing that the celebration, preservation and sharing of our heritage is important, I volunteer with Keilor Historical Society to achieve these aims. As an executive committee member of KHS, I am responsible for organising the society’s key events, including Harrick’s Cottage and Police Hut Open Day, Keilor ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies. Going forward, I would like to see a transport heritage centre developed locally, depicting and celebrating the evolution of transport from settlement through to today; from wheelbarrows and horsedrawn carts to motor vehicles and aircraft.
