Looking Back: Councillor Warren Woodley reminices outside his old house on Janison St, where he spent his middle childhood. Photo: Robert Chappel
By Campbell Walker
Warren Woodley's enduring love and passion for the city of Tamworth has led to a life of civic pride and service.
At last Friday's JobLink Plus Quality Business Awards, Warren was presented the Noel Park Award in recognition of his significant contribution to employment and business development in our region.
However, his advocacy in Tamworth goes far further.
A Councillor for more than 30 ears, lie has always made the promotion of industry and employment in Tamworth a priority and has been the founder of groups and forums to tackle community issues including Domestic violence, housing and Aboriginal living standards.
He has also worked tirelessly in In Anglican church and is a recipient of an OAM..
He has has campaigned against decisions he believed discriminated against the push to rehouse refugees locally. Warren's Cornish grand parents came to Nundle as gold miners, then moved to Tamworth as the rush slowed, starting a small motor trimming (upholstery) business in Tamworth - back when cars had canvas hoods - with the motto "Let Woodleys put one over you!"
Warren's father followed in Ihe same trade and Warren - never one for schooling -joined the business when he was 15.
At 18, he met wife Lorraine, forming a "life-long partnership" that he said had been the impetus for all that had followed in his life.
"Everything that I have ever been involved in, from Ihe lime we were courting, Lorraine has always taken an active role," Warren said.
"Lorraine has always been rigtl there with me, backing me up - I couldn't have done any of it without her."
When Warren's father passed away in the late 196()s, Lorraine and Warren, wilh $40 in Ihe bank, look over the business.
Within five years, Woodleys had developed from a small smash repairs company with three employees, to handling car sales, mechanics and repairs from two premises, wilh 20 employees and Ihe Volvo and Honda franchises for the region.
"But that was only business and Lorraine and I both were passionate about far more important things," Warren said.
Looking back lo Iheir courting days, Warren recalled his and Lorraine's first association with Granny Munro and the Aboriginal camp on Forest Rd.
"1 remember as a young man driving past the humpies, built from cardboard collected from the rubbish tip next door," Warren said.
"1 was embarrassed to know everyone else drove pasl also and no-one was doing anything lo help."
When Granny Munro asked for people to help with a Sunday school at the camp, Warren and Lorraine both signed up.
"After that, we started a small community help group which drove
the men around looking for work, taught hanking and saving, helped with loan applications and slowly found housing.
"Some 10 years later, the camp was finally closed, which was a very proud moment."
Warren attests that his main passion has always been the youth of Tamworth and the main worry the drain to Sydney of the city's young talent.
"Tamworth needs to grow industry and employment and create those same professional opportunities to keep our youth in town," he said.
As a councillor, Warren worked closely with TAPE and businesses, expanding apprenticeship training and opportunities, and sat on many business development committees.
He was heavily involved in promoting the Country Music Festival and with huge projects including the redevelopment of the abattoirs, the saleyards and the massive and successful expansion of the airport after East-West Airlines pulled out.
Then, in the 1980s, Warren was worried at how changing values in Sydney were affecting family life and youth in country towns.
"I felt that the negative impacts of domestic violence, crime and drugs were drifting from the city into Tamworth," he said.
Warren placed an advertisement in The Leader for an informal meeting and was astounded by the sheer number of fellow citizens concerned about the same issues.
A series of public forums began, with experts often invited from Sydney to share their knowledge.
"At one meeting, where Anita Coby's parents spoke on how her rape had affected their lives, there were 1000 people and later, when drug addicts and experts spoke on their experiences, we couldn't fit in the town hall."
Warren founded The Forum for the Prevention of Drug Abuse, which then became The Australian Cities Against Drugs of which he is national president.
He has not only been a national speaker in the Fight Against Drugs, but has taken the anti-drug campaign overseas to many European cities; he was a keynote speaker at the World Conference Agai nst Drugs in Stockholm, Sweden in 1998.
And he still works tirelessly on council and within the community, while he also enjoys the results of his life's work.
"Tamworth now has the size and professional opportunities which are bringing the youth back home," he said.
"I am overjoyed every time I meet someone who has moved here for a career and a lifestyle removed from the negatives associated with metropolitan living."
And Warren's entire family has now returned to Tamworth.
His son, Mark, took over as principal dealer at Woodleys in 2000 and has doubled the size of the business since.
Warren's daughters, Bronwyn and Leisa, who headed off to Sydney and married there, have also returned in recent years with their families.
"It is wonderful to have all my children and six grandchildren here in the city I love," Warren said.