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We are aware that for every family, the people close to them are the most notable interments at Springvale Botanical Cemetery. You would understand that we cannot include everyone within this section. However, if you know of someone interred at Springvale Botanical Cemetery who has held an important place in history or was a community identity please let us know.
Throughout its long history Springvale Botanical Cemetery has become the final resting place for some of Australia’s most notable identities. Personalities from all walks of life, from politicians through to famous sporting identities, rest within the cemetery’s grounds.
 Sir John McEwen
(Brind, Rose Tree, Bed 17, Rose 1)
Sir John McEwen was born in 1900 in Chiltern, Victoria, the son of a pharmacist. After attending the local state school, he commenced work as a junior public service clerk at the age of 15. He enlisted as soon as he turned 18, however World War 1 ended while he was still in training. He commenced dairy farming at Stanhope in Victoria and in 1934 was elected to the House of Representatives as the member for Echuca.
Left: Sir John McEwen
A prominent member of the Country Party, John McEwen was active in farmer organisations and reform. Between the years of 1937 to 1941, he served as the Minister for the Interior, Minister for External Affairs and simultaneously as Minister for Air and Civil Aviation. Upon the Liberal government returning to office in 1949 under Robert Menzies, he became Minister for Commerce and Agriculture and then Minister for Trade and Industry.
In 1958, he succeeded Arthur Fadden as leader of the Country Party. John McEwen was sworn in as Australia’s eighteenth Prime Minister when Harold Holt disappeared in 1967, on the understanding that his commission would continue only as long as it took for the liberal party to elect a new leader. At 68, he was the oldest person ever to be appointed Prime Minister of Australia.
When John Gorton was elected Prime Minister in 1968, McEwen became Deputy Prime Minister. Sir John McEwen retired from politics in 1971 and died in 1980 at the age of 80.
 
| Above: Cremation Memorial for Sir John McEwen
 Darren Millane
(Presbyterian 0-18-8)
Collingwood Football Club identity, Darren Millane was born in 1965, attending school and growing up in the Dandenong district. His football skills were recognised at an early age and he was initially considered by Sydney, St Kilda and Hawthorn, commencing training with Hawthorn for a short time before returning to captain Dandenong in the Under 18’s. Collingwood subsequently signed him and he debuted for them in 1984 at the age of 19.
A highly skilled and strongly built wingman, he was feared as a footballer for his toughness and attitude towards all aspects of the game. Darren was at the peak of his career in 1990 when Collingwood won its first premiership in 32 years. Throughout his career, he was the recipient of many awards and honours, including winning both the Best First Year Player in 1984 and the 1987 Copeland Trophy (Collingwood’s Best & Fairest), representing Victoria on several occasions, and inclusion in Collingwood’s Hall of Fame and Team of the Century.
 In October 1991, Darren Millane was killed in a car crash at the age of 26. His funeral, at Dandenong Town Hall, was attended by more than 5,000 people, with the service being relayed on a loud speaker outside the venue. The coffin was draped with his famous No. 42 guernsey, while the 1990 premiership flag hung in the background at half mast.Right: Grave of Darren Millane
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 Percival Allan Pavey
(Presbyterian Compartment N, Section 5, Grave 26)
Percival Pavey was born in Kyabram, but moved with his parents and sister to Oakleigh when he was a young boy. His father was a market gardener and after schooling, Percy became a cabinet maker. He joined the Oakleigh Rifle Club as a young man, his outstanding skill soon becoming evident.
Left: Gravesite of Percival Pavey
He was a member of both the Victorian and Australian rifle teams for many years, eventually winning a total of twenty five Kings and Queens badges for rifle shooting. He won the Grand Aggregate, the top prize in the sport, sixteen times and was the only Australian to achieve this feat. In 1948 he won the King’s trophy and was presented with this award by King George V. Pavey coached both the Victorian and Australian teams and served on the Victorian Rifle Association Council.
In the 1970s, he was awarded an M.B.E. for services to rifle shooting and in 1982, he was an inaugural inductee to the Hall of Fame at Longreach, in Queensland. The front fence of his home in Oakleigh was made from the barrels of some of the many rifles he had used. It was once commented to him that he should be known as the Don Bradman of rifle shooting, but Percy responded that in fact, Bradman should be known as the Percy Pavey of cricket as he (Percy) was the elder of the two! Percy Pavey died in 1991 at the age of 88.
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 Julia Rachel Rapke
(Jewish Compartment E, Section 2, Grave 2)
Julia Rapke was born in 1886 in Christchurch, New Zealand, the daughter of Ralph Levoi, an insurance agent from London, and his Melbourne-born wife Miriam. Her great grandfather was one of the first European settlers in Christchurch.
Left: Grave of Julia Rapke
Julia became one of Victoria’s first women magistrates, was involved in public activities for over thirty years and was a well known fighter for civil rights for women. She was appointed a special magistrate to the Children’s Court, founded the Women Justices Association of Victoria in 1938, and served as president of the Australian Federation of Women Voters and vice-president of the National Council of Women.
At the time of her death, she was federal president of the Women’s International Zionist Organisation. She was one of the founders of the Debaters Model Parliament, which gave students the opportunity to see how parliament worked and prepared those interested in a parliamentary career.
She died in 1959 at the age of 73 and was survived by two sons, one of whom, Judge Trevor Rapke of the County Court, is buried nearby.
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 Edward John F. Ryan
(Roman Catholic Compartment A, Section 19, Grave 5)
Edward
Ryan was born in 1890 at Tumut, New South Wales, the second son of a
labourer. Educated locally, he worked as a labourer before enlisting
in the Australian Imperial Force at Wagga Wagga in December 1915. He
was posted to the 55th Battalion and left Sydney in April 1916 to join
his unit in France.
On the 30th September 1918 he was involved in the allied assault on the
Hindenburg defence. He was one of the first to reach the enemy trench,
but a fierce counter attack drove the Australians back. Ryan organised
and led a party to attack again with bombs and bayonets. He reached
the enemy position with only three men, killed three German soldiers,
then rushed alone at the rest and drove them back. He was wounded, but
his action enabled the trench to be retaken.
In May 1919 he received the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery and
devotion to duty from King George V at Buckingham Palace. He returned
to Sydney and was discharged from the AIF in 1920.
 Like many returned servicemen, Ryan found it hard to keep a job and
adjust to civilian life. During the depression of the 1930’s he was on the road for
four years searching for work. In 1941, in poor health, he was again
tramping the streets looking for work. He was taken to the Royal
Melbourne Hospital but died of pneumonia on the 3rd June at the age of
51.
He was buried with military honours with eight Victoria Cross winners
forming a guard of honour. He never married and his sister presented
his Victoria Cross to the Australian War Memorial in 1967.
Right: Grave of Edward Ryan
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 Sir Billy Mackie Snedden
(Presbyterian Compartment C, Section 14, Grave 4)
Sir Billy Snedden was born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1926, the youngest of six children of a Scottish stonemason and a washerwoman. He left school at the age of 15 and worked as a law clerk, before joing the RAAF in 1945. Between 1948 and 1955 he stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal Party candidate for several seats in Western Australia.
After completing a law degree at the University of Western Australia, he was employed in the Immigration Department before being elected to the Federal Parliament as the member for Bruce in 1955. He served in Parliament until his resignation in 1983.
Throughout his time in Parliament, he held the offices of Attorney General, Minister for Immigration, Minister for Labour and National Service, Deputy Leader and Treasurer of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition. He was deposed as leader by Malcolm Fraser and served as Speaker of the House until his resignation. Awarded the Order of St Michael and St George for distinguished public and parliamentary service, he also served five years as chairman of the Melbourne Football Club. Sir Billy Snedden died in 1987 at the age of 60.
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Above: Grave of Sir Billy Snedden
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