Alfred and Elizabeth Waterman memorial bench plaque

Liz Deague, daughter of Bessie (Betty) Ginbey (nee Waterman) writes:

I believe that a number of years after the death of Father, Mother was approached by the Roads Board of the time to donate a bench seat in commemoration of her husband being one of the foundation settlers of the area. This invitation was taken up by Mother and a bench seat was erected. It was located on the footpath overlooking Watermans Bay at the foot of Mary Street where the original house Zephyr Villa used to stand, on the northern corner of Mary Street and West Coast Highway. The inscription on the plaque read something like, “Donated by the Waterman 
Family in memory of Alfred Waterman (1863 – 1931)”.

With the upgrading of West Coast Highway, this bench seat disappeared and in recent times another one was erected in its place. In 2005, the direct descendants of Alfred Waterman respectfully requested a plaque be attached to this new bench seat located on the foreshore at the bottom of Mary Street. 

Bill Stewart, the Councilor for the Coastal Ward agreed and my daughter Elizabeth, represented the Waterman family at the City of Stirling October 2006 Council Meeting in order to put forward the proposal. Later, in a letter dated 8th November 2006 we were advised that the proposal had been accepted and that the plaque had been placed on the bench seat. 

We feel sincerely proud that there again exists recognition of the part Father and Mother played in being foundation residents of their beloved Watermans Bay. Now we can proudly sit on the new bench seat, complete with inscription, overlooking our bay.