A while back someone posted a variation on the story above with Col Hatfield tearing a strip off the hapless tiger moth pilots which was very uncharacteristic of him and hard to believe. This version with Casey telling them off makes more sense.
It didn't really become "Casey airfield" until around '64 or '65 when Col. Hatfield and Maj. Ron Kerrison took over. Prior to this it was Lord Casey's private airstrip. Lord Casey's estate and main residence "Edrington" was located a mile or so over the hill on the other side of clyde rd and his hangar (which still exists today at the moorabbin air museum) was built in the 30's to house his Percival Vega Gull VH ACA.
The VMFG had their glider operations there in the 50's as guests of lord Casey and the fly in / gathering mentioned above was probably something to do with them as there were no other operators or aircraft on the field at the time.
VH RGC was Lady Casey's Cessna 180 and i believe she continued to fly after he gave it away. Say what you will about them but he was probably the last senior government official who was any real advocate for general aviation in this country. (probably why ATC at YMMB Cut them so much slack!)
The airfield itself was called Casey and opened to the public in the mid '60's when Col. Hatfield and Maj Kerrison took over the lease on the land after Lord Casey quit flying.