Bervin E. Purnell
Encyclopedia
Bervin Ellis Purnell MBE JP (10 March 1891 – 5 May 1972) was mayor and councillor of the City of Geelong
, Australia.
Purnell was the second of seven children of Charles William Purnell (1854–1931) and Ellen McNair (c. 1862–1939). Purnell attended Flinders State School in Geelong
, where he enjoyed running around the block. From here the young Purnell developed an interest in athletics.
As a book keeper
in his father's furniture business from 1905–1917, it was natural that the young Purnell would be the Geelong Presbyterian Guild Harriers Athletic Club's first treasurer. He combined this with the secretary's job and was instrumental in founding the Guild Harriers through the Geelong Presbyterian Guild group.
After the Guild folded in 1913, Purnell continued his athletic interests through membership of the Hawthorn
Harriers in Melbourne
. In early 1917 Purnell enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps and married prior to sailing for England. Purnell was an Air Mechanic 1st Class and served in the spare parts storeroom at Salisbury Plain
. Following the end of the war, Purnell spent over six months with Waring & Gillow, a noted furniture firm in London, during 1919. Purnell returned to Australia in late 1919 and resumed his manager's position at his father's firm in 1920.
After the war Purnell, former club president David F. Griffiths (died 1941) and others; encouraged by the successes of the Christ Church club (Geelong City AC); restored the Geelong Guild Athletic Club. Purnell returned as the Guild club's secretary and treasurer and remained in those positions until the early 1950s.
Purnell married May Violet Sandford (1896–1975) in 1917. They never had children. In 1924 they purchased a house in Meakin Street, East Geelong
, where many Guild committee meeting were held.
Purnell was Guild secretary/treasurer then president, as well as team manager of the Guild's early cross country teams competing in the Melbourne Victorian Amateur Athletic Association's (V.A.A.A.) winter competitions.
Purnell unsuccessfully stood for V.A.A.A. council in the 1930s as a handicapper. However, in 1935 he was elected as one of the V.A.A.A.'s eleven vice presidents. Purnell would continue as a V.A.A.A. vice president until 1938.
As a prominent Geelong businessman, Purnell served as a Geelong city councillor from 1940–1963 and Geelong Mayor from 1949–1952. In the lead up to the 1952 Olympic Games
, Purnell helped secure John Landy
's place in the Olympic team through a silent fundraising campaign, as the Australian Olympic Committee
had not approved Landy's place in the team through lack of funds.
Purnell was recognised for his civic duties with an MBE
in the New Years Honors on 1 January 1954. In 1957 he built a new factory at North Geelong
in addition to recognising the six Geelong Guild Athletic Club Olympians
, whilst guiding the Geelong Guild to finding a new permanent home, in Geelong.
In 1960, the Purnell furniture business (which had included contracts for furniture at Old Parliament House
in Canberra
) closed, due in part to Purnell's ongoing illness and old age. On 29 March 1963 (19 days after his 72nd birthday) Purnell was defeated at election for the Presidency of the club he founded 55 years earlier and was succeeded by a young Rudi Hochreiter Snr (1926–2006) for one year. Club veteran W.J.P. "Bill" Wood (1907–1990) then became President until 1970.
Bervin Purnell died aged 81 and is buried at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong.
City of Geelong
The City of Geelong was a Local Government Area located about southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1849 until 1994.-History:...
, Australia.
Purnell was the second of seven children of Charles William Purnell (1854–1931) and Ellen McNair (c. 1862–1939). Purnell attended Flinders State School in Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
, where he enjoyed running around the block. From here the young Purnell developed an interest in athletics.
As a book keeper
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions. Transactions include sales, purchases, income, receipts and payments by an individual or organization. Bookkeeping is usually performed by a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping should not be confused with accounting. The accounting process is usually...
in his father's furniture business from 1905–1917, it was natural that the young Purnell would be the Geelong Presbyterian Guild Harriers Athletic Club's first treasurer. He combined this with the secretary's job and was instrumental in founding the Guild Harriers through the Geelong Presbyterian Guild group.
After the Guild folded in 1913, Purnell continued his athletic interests through membership of the Hawthorn
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
Harriers in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. In early 1917 Purnell enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps and married prior to sailing for England. Purnell was an Air Mechanic 1st Class and served in the spare parts storeroom at Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
. Following the end of the war, Purnell spent over six months with Waring & Gillow, a noted furniture firm in London, during 1919. Purnell returned to Australia in late 1919 and resumed his manager's position at his father's firm in 1920.
After the war Purnell, former club president David F. Griffiths (died 1941) and others; encouraged by the successes of the Christ Church club (Geelong City AC); restored the Geelong Guild Athletic Club. Purnell returned as the Guild club's secretary and treasurer and remained in those positions until the early 1950s.
Purnell married May Violet Sandford (1896–1975) in 1917. They never had children. In 1924 they purchased a house in Meakin Street, East Geelong
East Geelong, Victoria
East Geelong is a residential suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia.The post office opened on 6 June 1921. An earlier Post Office dating from 1871 was later renamed Moolap West.The Geelong Botanical Gardens are located in East Geelong....
, where many Guild committee meeting were held.
Purnell was Guild secretary/treasurer then president, as well as team manager of the Guild's early cross country teams competing in the Melbourne Victorian Amateur Athletic Association's (V.A.A.A.) winter competitions.
Purnell unsuccessfully stood for V.A.A.A. council in the 1930s as a handicapper. However, in 1935 he was elected as one of the V.A.A.A.'s eleven vice presidents. Purnell would continue as a V.A.A.A. vice president until 1938.
As a prominent Geelong businessman, Purnell served as a Geelong city councillor from 1940–1963 and Geelong Mayor from 1949–1952. In the lead up to the 1952 Olympic Games
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
, Purnell helped secure John Landy
John Landy
John Michael Landy, AC, CVO, MBE is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run, and he held the world records for the 1500 metre run and the mile race...
's place in the Olympic team through a silent fundraising campaign, as the Australian Olympic Committee
Australian Olympic Committee
The Australian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in Australia for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams, and raises funds to send Australian competitors to Olympic events organised by the International Olympic Committee .-Background:The...
had not approved Landy's place in the team through lack of funds.
Purnell was recognised for his civic duties with an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in the New Years Honors on 1 January 1954. In 1957 he built a new factory at North Geelong
North Geelong, Victoria
North Geelong is a suburb of Geelong in the Australian state of Victoria. The suburb will be bypassed by traffic from Melbourne coming from the Princes Freeway by the creation of the Geelong Ring Road, due for completion in 2009....
in addition to recognising the six Geelong Guild Athletic Club Olympians
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, whilst guiding the Geelong Guild to finding a new permanent home, in Geelong.
In 1960, the Purnell furniture business (which had included contracts for furniture at Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
) closed, due in part to Purnell's ongoing illness and old age. On 29 March 1963 (19 days after his 72nd birthday) Purnell was defeated at election for the Presidency of the club he founded 55 years earlier and was succeeded by a young Rudi Hochreiter Snr (1926–2006) for one year. Club veteran W.J.P. "Bill" Wood (1907–1990) then became President until 1970.
Bervin Purnell died aged 81 and is buried at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong.