Lisa Dennis
A huge crowd gathered at the Castlemaine Town Hall on Sunday to witness the unveiling of a bronze bust to celebrate the life and achievements of the late Felix Cappy OAM.
Felix was born and bred in Castlemaine and devoted his life to community service, charitable work and preserving the town’s history.
Felix is credited with helping to save many of the region’s unique heritage buildings, including the former Court House in Goldsmith Crescent now home to the Castlemaine Historical Society Inc, the Chewton Town Hall, which was to be demolished to straighten the highway through the township, the Guildford Music Hall and Duke of Cornwall Battery House.
Felix was also chairman of the committee that led the restoration of Castlemaine’s iconic Market Building.
He was on a raft of organisations and committees and helped support a range of events from live music at the Castlemaine Theatre Royal to the creation of the Castlemaine State Festival. He also worked hard to raise funds for upgrades at the Castlemaine Art Museum (former Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum) and Castlemaine Hospital and assisted with various appeals such as the Tsunami Fundraiser at the Theatre Royal.
Sunday’s proceedings were opened by Master of Ceremonies, Felix’s brother Vin Cappy, who gave an acknowledgement of country and also acknowledged the ancestors of all those present, many of whom had come to Australia and Castlemaine seeking opportunity and a better life.
He then welcomed the president of the Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association, Russell Sheehan, who shared some of his memories of working with Felix on various committees including former local professionals service club the Jay Cees and the Pioneers and Old Residents Association.
Mr Sheehan acknowledged that while many would like to see the bust go on permanent display in the Castlemaine Market Building, the association was honoured to be able to place the bust on permanent display at the Pioneers and Old Resident Association headquarters at the Old Telegraph Station in Barker Street.
Following several speakers, the audience was treated to a musical interlude by Felix’s brothers talented musician Bernie Cappy (piano), Vin Cappy (drums) and brother-in-law Terry McShanag (vocals).
Felix’s daughter Clare and granddaughter Zoe then had the honour of unveiling the bust, which was created by local artist Catherine Tait and cast in bronze by local artisan Phil Mune.
As the ceremony wound up Felix himself had the final word with Ian Braybrook sharing an excerpt from their final interview recorded just a few weeks before he passed in 2011.
In the recording a humble Felix admitted he was fighting his greatest battle yet.
He stated that he had always strived to do his best for his community where he could and was proud to work with various community members on a range of committees and causes.
On his OAM, Felix said “To receive any general recognition is first of all a surprise, but indeed very humbling that your peers should seek to recognise that you’ve done works and projects that they consider worthy of recognition”.
“It is a great thrill, a great honour,” he said.
