Lake Bolac mourns Carngham crash victim

PETER O'Rorke was passionate about his community of Lake Bolac.He served as an Ararat councillor for 30 years, completing four terms as either mayor or shire president, and was the Lake Bolac Fire Brigade president.He was also heavily involved in flying, surf lifesaving and was a driving force behind the campaigns to get a new air ambulance for south-west Victoria and to save Essendon Airport.Mr O'Rourke, 70, was killed when his Peugeot sedan and a Ford Explorer 4WD collided on the Beaufort-Carngham Road about 2pm on Wednesday.It is understood he was returning from a grandparents' day in Ballarat when the accident occured.Ararat Rural City Council acting chief executive officer Paul Brumby yesterday described Mr O'Rorke as "very civic minded"."He basically served for 30 years," Mr Brumby said.Mr O'Rorke, who was a farmer, was elected to the then Shire of Ararat in 1974 and served until local government amalgamations in 1994.He was re-elected in the new Ararat Rural City Council in 1996 and served until 2004.He was shire president in 1977 and 1989 and mayor from 1997-98 and 2001-02."But his civic roles extended far beyond Lake Bolac, of which he was exceedingly proud," Mr Brumby said.Mr O'Rorke was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his 52 years' service to surf life saving and 50 years in fire brigades. He also received life membership of Surf Life Saving Australia in 2005. He was the Victorian Municipal Aerodrome Operators Association president, until it folded in 1998.As well, Mr O'Rorke, a private pilot, owned the Lake Bolac airfield and was a member of the Australian Airports Association.Investigations are still continuing into the accident, which occurred on a bend in the road.The male driver of the 4WD, a man in his 50s from South Australia, was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious leg injuries. He was yesterday listed as being in a stable condition. His female passenger, also in her 50s, was taken to Ballarat Base Hospital suffering shock and bruising.She was also yesterday listed as being in a stable condition with a wrist injury.