Emotion spills over for campaigner

Paul Dunlop
DOT Murphy was moved to tears as the emotion of her sixyear battle to save the Pakenham outdoor pool finally spilled over.
The woman who led the community campaign watched from the public gallery as councillors made their decision to go ahead with the restoration.
While other pool supporters clapped and cheered the victory, Mrs Murphy saved a quiet moment for late husband Ray, who passed away after a heart attack earlier this year.
“It was a bit emotional,” Mrs Murphy said. “It was still a surprise, the result wasn’t assured until they had voted. As the hands went up, I said to my husband up in the sky, ‘I think we’ve done it’.
“I’m just sorry he wasn’t there to see it, he would have been rapt.”
When the council meeting ended, Mrs Murphy was quickly surrounded by well wishers offering congratulations but the Pakenham woman said she would sooner avoid the spotlight.
“It’s not about me, it’s a win for the whole community,” Mrs Murphy said.
“This just shows what community spirit can achieve. All last week people have been coming up to me and saying ‘isn’t it fantastic?’
“It’s been an amazing journey, it’s been hard at times and I thought about giving up but the support of people like Bill Ronald, Gloria O’Connor, Norma Jackson, Cheryl BillingSmith and the other members of the Save the Pool committee has been fantastic. They’ve kept me going.
“It’s not over yet, we need to make sure council keeps its promises but at the end of the day, we’ve saved the pool and that’s all that matters.”