Vale Warren James Oliver - 1937-2024

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,

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.