Thursday, 6 February 2025

 Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (10:35): Today I pay tribute to Doug Sarah OAM, Bill McGregor OAM and Ewan Jones OAM, who all recently passed away. These men made significant contributions to Ballarat over many decades in different fields, but all three were driving forces behind the success of Sovereign Hill.

Doug Sarah was a prominent businessman and owner of Mr Casual, community leader and champion for Ballarat. He strongly supported performing arts, tourism and the Eureka legacy. He was a mentor to many, a life member of the Ballarat National Theatre and a life governor of Sovereign Hill.

Bill McGregor was a well-known Ballarat solicitor, partner at Baird & McGregor and director of W&D Finance. He was an enormous contributor to Sovereign Hill for more than 40 years as a board member, former president and Gold Museum volunteer. He was also heavily involved in Ballarat Apex club and was awarded a fellowship at the University of Ballarat, now Federation University.

Ewan Jones was a talented architect who was responsible for the recreation of Sovereign Hill’s Main Street in Ballarat from the 1950s, as well as designing the Gold Museum. Ewan also designed the offices for the Shire of Ballarat in Wendouree in 1962 and masterly incorporated shop facades on Bakery Hill for Ballarat’s first McDonald’s. He also designed Ballarat’s royal tennis court at the Old Ballarat Village, now the Mercure, as well as buildings at Federation University in the Ballarat School of Mines. Ewan also established the Dalwhinnie winery in Moonambel.

Vale, Doug, Bill and Ewan.