Family background
Morris (or Maurice) Perkins was born 16 June 1888 at Sydney, NSW, the son of Judah Perkins and Elizabeth Myers. He married Rachael Levy (1891-1966) 28 December 1913 at Newtown, NSW. Perkins died 13 July 1966, aged 78 years, at a private hospital in Rose Bay, NSW, and he was interred in the Jewish Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He lived at 424 King Street, Newtown.
Occupation & interests
Maurice (Morris) Perkins was a manager. He was a Freemason and a member of Lodge Progress No135.
Community activity
Maurice Perkins was a member of the Board of Management and the President of the Western Suburbs Synagogue. He was also president of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Ex-Patients Association for seven years, was a life governor of that institution and also vice-president of the Newtown District Chamber of Commerce. He was vice-president of the Hospital Saturday Fund, secretary of the Darlington AIF Welfare Fund and a member of the Newtown Returned Soldiers Building committee. Perkins was a justice of the peace (JP). Perkins as Darlington Mayor told a Pensioner’s conference in May 1946 that ‘many old people at present living on pensions, pioneered Australia’s industries and deserved a better deal than they were getting’.
In 1939 the Parks and Playgrounds movement of NSW made a proposal for a much needed park in Darlington but the proposal fell through. Almost a decade later, in August 1948, two playgrounds were established in the suburb: Perkins Playground and the T & D Boyce War Memorial Playground. Perkins Playground was named after Morris (Maurice) Perkins. The pllayground was located on Alma Street in Darlington, near Darlington Public School and Town Hall. The property was acquired by Darlington Council (later absorbed into Sydney Council) on 1 October 1947. In 1970 the council sold Perkins Playground to the University of Sydney for $8000 because the University was expanding into Darlington. Today, Perkins Playground would be located in part of the Cadigal Green in the University of Sydney. The 2002 University of Sydney Grounds conservation plan mentioned a park opening commemorative stone plaque from Perkins Park, located in a vegetable garden on their grounds .
Local government service
Morris (Maurice) Perkins was elected to the council in April 1938 at a by-election. He was an alderman on Darlington Council in 1938-48. He was mayor in 1946-48. He was
References
Additional information about Perkins Playground written and researched by Lia Perkins (no relation) in 2017.
‘Council By-Election’, The Sun, 24 April 1938, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229873008
‘Park suggested’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 March 1939, p. 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17577084
‘Newtown Hebrew Congregation’, The Hebrew Standard of Australasia, 21 September 1939, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120271066
‘Civic Honour for Fine Municipal Worker’, The Hebrew Standard of Australasia, 10 January 1946, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120623935
‘Child’s dash to the police’, The Daily Telegraph, 7 November 1947, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248176792
‘Personal’, The Hebrew Standard of Australasia, 12 August 1948, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131100200