Bervin E. Purnell

Bervin Ellis Purnell MBE JP (March 10, 1891 - May 5, 1972) is a former Mayor and councillor from 1940 - 1963 of the City of Geelong.

Purnell was the second of seven children of Charles William Purnell (1854-1931) and Ellen McNair (c. 1862-1939). Purnell attended Flinders State School in Geelong, where he enjoyed running around the block. From here the young Purnell developed an interest in athletics.

As a book keeper in his father's furniture business from 1905 - 1917, it was natural that the young Purnell would be the Geelong Presbyterian Guild Harriers Athletic Club's first Treasurer. He combined this with the Secretaries job and was instrumental in founding the Guild Harriers through the Geelong Presbyterian Guild group.

After the Guild folded in 1913, Purnell continued his athletic interests through membership of the Hawthorn Harriers in Melbourne. In early 1917 Purnell enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps and married prior to sailing for England. Purnell was an Air Mechanic 1st Class and served in the spare parts storeroom at Salisbury Plains. Following the end of the war, Purnell spent over six months with a noted furniture firm in London (Waring & Gillow) during 1919. Purnell returned to Australia in late 1919 and resumed his Manager's position at his father's firm in 1920.

It was again through Purnell, former Club President David F. Griffiths (d. 1941) and others, including the successes of the Christ Church club (Geelong City AC) that encouraged Purnell to set about restoring the Geelong Guild club. Purnell returned as the Guild club's Secretary and Treasurer and remained in those positions until the early 1940's.

Purnell married May Violet Sandford (1896-1975) in 1917. They never had children. In 1924 they purchased a house in Meakin Street, East Geelong, where many a Guild committee meeting would be held.

Purnell was Guild Secretary/Treasurer then President, as well as Team Manager of the Guild's early cross country teams competing in the Melbourne Victorian Amateur Athletic Association's (V.A.A.A.) winter competitions.

Purnell unsuccessfully stood for V.A.A.A. Council in the 1930's as a handicapper. However, in 1935 he was elected as one of the V.A.A.A.'s eleven Vice President's. Purnell would continue as a V.A.A.A. Vice President until 1938.

As a prominent Geelong businessman, Purnell served as a Geelong City Councillor from 1940 - 1963 and Geelong Mayor from 1949 - 1952. In the lead up to the 1952 Olympic Games, Purnell helped secure John Landy's place in the Olympic team through a silent fundraising campaign, as the Australian Olympic Committee had not approved Landy's place in the team through lack of funds.

Purnell was recognised for his civic duties with an MBE in the New Years Honors on 1 January 1954. In 1957 he built a new factory at North Geelong in addition to recognising the six Geelong Guild Athletic Club Olympians, whilst guiding the Geelong Guild to finding a new permanent home, in Geelong.

In 1960, the Purnell furniture business (which had included contracts for furniture at Old Parliament House in Canberra) closed, due in part to Purnell's ongoing illness and old age. On March 29 1963 (19 days after his 72nd birthday) Purnell did not restand for the Presidency of the club he founded 55 years earlier and was succeeded by a young Rudi Hochreiter snr (1926-2006) for one year. Club veteran Bill Wood (1907-1990) then became President until 1970.

Bervin Purnell died aged 81 and is buried at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong.