Joseph Worrell

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Joseph Edward Austin Downward Worrell was born in Mornington in September 1862, the eldest child of Joseph and Margaret (Downward) Worrell.

His father, Joseph Worrell Snr., was the Shire Secretary, and when Joseph was 12 years of age he would help his father posting up the Shire’s books etc.

At the age of 14, Joseph was left an orphan, and the Mornington Shire Council appointed him secretary, and a year or two later, also clerk of works, under Mr. Muntz, the Shire Engineer. Joseph Worrell was therefore distinguished in having been the youngest shire secretary in the Commonwealth.

Joseph Worrell married Jessie Westbrook Downward in 1886 and resigned as Shire Secretary in 1888, to begin a career in Real Estate. He was also nominated, and was elected to council, becoming Shire President in 1901.

He was Secretary of the Mornington
Butter factory, and for 20 years, was a member
of the Mornington Cricket Club - for half of
that time, he was captain.

Joseph died at the young age of 40 and the
funeral, which took place in October 1902, was
one of the largest seen in the district.