Officers suggest Staples Bridge
Gosford Council officers have recommended that the newly-constructed cycleway bridge next to Woy Woy Bridge be named Staples Bridge.
A council report stated that if no objections were received the cycleway bridge would be named Staples Bridge, however, if objections were received they would be referred to council for its determination.
The name was one of two options provided by council's local studies librarian Mr Geoff Potter.
Mr Potter also suggested the name Fred Couche.
The report stated that council had received a proposal to formalize a name for the bridge, Milligan Bridge, after Spike Milligan.
It alternatively suggested the bridge be named after an individual who was or has been important in the community.
It stated that the proposal to use the name Spike Milligan required approval from an England based agent who managed the name.
It stated that "seeking the use of the name with the well-known community event 'Spikefest' ... was a difficult and an expensive exercise".
It also noted that there was no relationship between the bridge and Mr Milligan.
Mr Potter was asked for some naming suggestions, and presented the names Fred Couche and Charles Jefferis Staples.
"Fred Couche, a large, friendly man with a hearty laugh, was well known in the district as a shelldigger for the ketch 'Day Dawn', a racer of early racing boats, and the owner of Glenrock boarding house at Koolewong and many holiday cottages," Mr Potter stated in the report.
"Throughout Fred's life he was renowned as a saver of lives.
"He is recorded as having saved at least 36 persons from Brisbane Water at various times.
"Fred received a gold medal from the Humane Society for rescuing a small boy from the path of an oncoming train at Woy Woy Station.
"Fred died in 1933."
Mr Potter said it should be noted that Fred Couche was formally recognised by way of Couche Park, a waterfront reserve at Koolewong.
Mr Potter said Charles Jefferis Staples had his real estate office on the southern corner of Blackwall Rd and Railway St for many years.
"Charles Jefferis Staples had, after a series of jobs at newspapers, joined his father in subdividing land at Woy Woy, Newcastle, the South Coast, and in the Blue Mountains.
"In the depression of the 1930s the Staples family reportedly 'lost the lot'.
"In 1930, Charles was appointed editor of the Gosford Times.
"After a dispute with the manager over dismissal of an employee, Staples Jnr was sacked in less than a year.
"Charles made a new start with Brisbane Water Free Press newspaper.
"Despite very difficult times, Staples eventually came to own all of the Gosford Times, which ran up to 1961.
"Staples became involved in civic life from 1920, when he was first elected to Erina Shire Council.
"In 1922-23 he began to agitate for Woy Woy to become a separate Local Government Area.
"In 1927 this came to pass, and Charles was the first president of Woy Woy Shire Council.
"He held this position for three years before retiring.
"Later he made a comeback for another three years, with RSL backing, after which he retired again.
"He was prominent in the formation of the Gosford Municipal Council and in the fight for Gosford District Hospital.
"He was also Deputy-Mayor of Gosford Shire Council under WC Grahame.
"In later life CJ Staples became the Gosford District Coroner.
"His first case was a multiple murder-suicide at Ourimbah, and his comments on some cases made national headlines.
"He retired for the last time in 1963, at the age of 78.
"He died in Sydney, in 1973, at the age of 88 years.
"This man, who could arguably be called 'Mr Woy Woy', did a lot for the town, and deserves to be remembered.
"It should be noted that although CJ Staples is commemorated with the Staples lookout on Woy Woy Rd, there is no other commemoration within Woy Woy."
Mr Potter said that as Mr Couche was recognised within the community area he served and Mr Staples was not, it was recommended that council propose to name the cycleway bridge adjacent to Woy Woy Bridge, Staples Bridge.
Council agenda COR.21, 27 March 2007