On 19 February we immortalised the memory of former Portsea resident and Australia’s world famous track and field coach, the late Mr. Percy Cerutty MBE.
Joining our CEO, Councillors and local MP member, Zoe McKenzie at the unveiling was Mr Herb Elliott, Lord Sebastian Coe (President of World Athletics) and Mr Geoff Gardner (Vice President of World Athletics). We were also joined by Percy Cerutty’s family members, people who trained with the late coach, as well as Kathy Watt OAM and representatives from Victorian athletics clubs and organisations.
Cerutty was awarded the plaque in the posthumous category of ‘Legend’ for “an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track and field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking.”
The Percy Cerutty memorial plaque was unveiled at the Percy Cerutty Oval, Portsea. This location was considered the most appropriate location to unveil the plaque, arranged to coincide with the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst on 18-19 February.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque was announced officially on 15 March 2021.
It was the world governing body for the sport of Athletics, World Athletics, who originally made the application for Cerutty in October 2020, supported by Mr. Herb Elliott AC MBE, the 1960 Olympic 1500m champion and world record breaker at the 1500m and one mile.
Photo caption (L-R): Herb Elliott, Lord Sebastian Coe (World Athletics), Mayor Holland and Deputy Mayor Mar at Percy Cerutty Oval, Portsea.
Quotes attributable to Mayor Councillor Steve Holland:
“It was a truly special moment to play witness to, in unveiling the memorial plaque for the late Mr. Percy Cerutty MBE. Celebrating the life and successes of a Portsea local drives home how the Mornington Peninsula is home to so many intensely talented individuals.”
