Vale. Peter O'Rourke OAM, JP
I write with great sadness to inform you of the passing of Peter O'Rourke, OAM, JP, who died tragically in a car accident near Ballarat yesterday.
Peter was a farmer, a country pilot(Cessna 182), a proud promoter of Ararat and country Australia, and one of the best supporters of aviation in Victoria. He was until his death the VIC Divisional Director of the Australian Airports Association, representing Lake Bolac "International" airport, as he so delightfully described himself.
For well over thirty years Peter was a passionate defender of Essendon Airport and he fought off the many and various attempts to close it, taking his case without fear or favour to the highest offices of the land. He believed strongly that Essendon was essential to regional Victoria, not only for the critical air ambulance services it supported, but as an essential support mechanism for the countryside. It is quite true to say that without Peter there would almost certainly not be an Essendon airport today.
On behalf of his Victorian airport colleagues and friends, I offer my sympathies to his family
Phil McConnell
Airport Manager
Moorabbin Airport