Members of The Lake Macquarie Family History Group Group were saddened to hear of the death of Warren Oliver, our past secretary, in hospital on 9th September, 2024,
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| Warren Oliver 2021 |
Warren James Oliver was born on June 24,1937 in Sydney, New South
Wales. From an early age, Warren showed a love for his home and community. He
spent his childhood and teenage years in the Sydney suburb of Northbridge,
where he played water polo and rugby and formed friendships that lasted a
lifetime.
In 1958, when living in Laguna Road, Northbridge, Warren
began his career as a cadet engineer. His ambition and dedication to
engineering led him to North Sydney Technical College, where he completed his
training. In 1963 he added to his qualifications when he graduated from the
University of New South Wales with a degree in engineering, officially
launching a successful career that would span decades.
Warren's personal life blossomed alongside his professional
achievements. In 1962, he met the love of his life, Louise Maria Taylor, on a
blind date. A year later, in 1963, they were married in Sydney, and set up
their first home in Stafford Road, Artarmon, marking the beginning of a
lifelong partnership filled with love, support, and adventure.
In 1965, Warren and his young family moved to Cobar, in western New South Wales,
where he accepted a position as Shire Engineer, overseeing a vast area of
44,000 square kilometres. He served in this role for an impressive 29 years,
dedicating himself to the community and its development. While living in Cobar,
an isolated area, Warren's passion for flying grew, and he earned his pilot's
license, even owning his own plane.
When Warren retired from his role as Shire Engineer, he and
Louise relocated to the serene shores of Lake Macquarie at Bolton
Point. Even in retirement, Warren couldn’t resist working, often taking on
consultative engineering jobs in Western New South Wales. His strong sense of
duty extended beyond his work life; he was actively involved in several
community organizations and continued his service to others.
One of Warren’s lifelong hobbies was stamp collecting, a
passion that began in his youth and grew throughout his life. He became a
dedicated member of the Newcastle
Philatelic Society where he won the 2014 Annual Award in the experienced
section for his entry “The New South Wales Sydney Views” a display covering the
Id, 2d and 3d stamp issues. His stamp collection
was a testament to his meticulous nature and deep interest in history and
culture.
Warren was also a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Toronto,
where he exemplified the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self." Whether
selling raffle tickets in the main street of Toronto or organizing charity
events, he always found ways to give back to the community. As a member of the Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, he even helped
organise and flew in a circumnavigation of Australia to raise funds for the
eradication of polio.
In addition to his engineering and community work, Warren
was deeply engaged in various hobbies. He was an avid walker. As a leader of a
local walking group Warren organised
walks and distributed detailed brochures of Group programs for fellow members .
His extensive knowledge of walking tracks around the Hunter Region and Sydney
earned him widespread respect among fellow walkers.
He was also involved in the Lake
Macquarie Family History Group, Warren Oliver joined Group on 18 November
2000 and became a keen and valued member of the group. Warren took on the role
of Hon Secretary in 2004, a role he held until 2023.
While fulfilling the demanding role of Secretary, Warren has
also helped in other areas of organisation such as Group Outings, setting up
and helping with the Group’s table display at historical society seminar days
and group functions. He conscientiously communicated with members sending
notices and forwarding eJournals from other societies. He regularly attended general
meetings and research days helping many members and visitors with the difficult
task of understanding their Irish Heritage.
Warren has assisted with researching, transcribing, entering
and proof-reading data for our publications, including, Pioneers and Settlers
of Lake Macquarie, St Matthews Church of England Windsor Parish Registers (4
volumes), Whitebridge and Belmont Cemeteries, and R.M. Evans and Sons Funeral
Directors.
His dedication to local history and genealogy was recognized
with a prestigious Certificate of Achievement from the Royal Australian Historical Society in
2021. Warren was also the recipient of a Community Award in 2022.
Warren and Louise shared a love of travel, both within
Australia and internationally, exploring new places together throughout their
retirement. Louise passed away in 2016, but Warren continued to live in their
home at Bolton Point, maintaining close ties to his community and family. The
couple had two children, a daughter and a son, and four grandchildren, all of
whom were a source of pride and joy in Warren's life.
A man of quiet leadership, Warren preferred to serve rather
than lead from the front. He was a problem solver, dedicated to his community,
family, and the pursuit of knowledge. His love for reading and learning never
waned, and his contributions to his local family history group, Rotary,
philatelic society, and other organizations were invaluable.
Warren passed away in hospital on September 9, 2024, just a
few months after celebrating his 87th birthday. He leaves behind a legacy of
service, friendship, family, and community that will be cherished by all who
knew him.
At his funeral service, held on September 23, 2024 at the Toronto Uniting Church, the
large congregation and tributes from family members and local groups were a
testament to the impact Warren had on his community. It was a celebration of a
life lived in the spirit of service above self.
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