Bill’s still connected

When Southbank Local News spotted this picture in the Police Museum at the World Trade Centre, we thought it looked like a familiar face.

Our suspicions were soon confirmed – the picture features a young detective at the Collingwood Criminal Investigation Branch by the name of Bill Horman. It’s the same Bill Horman who has worked in and around Southbank for years and is still on the Yarra River Business Association executive.

Bill tells us this is just one of many times the photo has come back into his life. It first appeared for a newspaper story in 1967, but has since popped up not only at the Police Museum, but also in the 150-year anniversary book on the Victoria Police and was even found on the door to Bill’s office during his time working at Crown Casino.

Bill was employed by Crown when a temporary casino was set up in the World Trade Centre in 1994, as head of security. He had a number of other roles until he retired from the venue in 2009.  He certainly saw a lot of change in our area during that time.

“In those days Southbank was a very different Southbank. No World Trade Centre, no casino, no high-rise apartments. The changes have been phenomenal,” Bill said.

He also confirmed his love of Melbourne as a city and confessed it to be the reason he was still so active in many councils and boards for organisations across the city.

“One of the things I’ve done over the years is develop many networks. I help connect people,” he said.

After spending the afternoon with Bill in a restaurant at Crown, the number of employees from the casino who recognised and wanted to say hi to Bill indicated to Southbank Local News that he obviously had a great skill with people.

Bill is excited for the future of Southbank, saying: “I do think there has been a remarkable transfer of focus onto the riverfront, on Docklands and the waterways. The new Southbank will certainly benefit from it.”

Bill’s future will certainly remain in Melbourne and particularly the Southbank region. He says he “wants to continue to make Melbourne the most liveable city in the world.”