Vale John Dawson - 1939 - 2023

During his tenure at Wyong Council Mr Dawson oversaw significant population and economic growth across the Shire. When he joined council the population of the area was 47,000, by the time of his retirement it was over 140,000 and was the fastest growing area in Australia.

He understood the needs of a growing community that included both physical and social infrastructure and was instrumental, and highly successful, in securing extensive government funding to keep pace with the growing population. His achievements were numerous.

people successfully complete trades courses mostly in the manufacturing and building trades.

He was committed to the community in which he worked and lived and supported many charitable organisations including the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal and the development of the Glendale Special School at North Entrance.

Following his retirement, he maintained an interest in the region and was for many years Chairman of Regional Development Australia Central Coast.

FORMER GENERAL MANAGER and CEO of Wyong Shire Council, John Dawson, died in Gosford Hospital on 3rd January 2023.

Mr Dawson was appointed Shire Clerk at Wyong Council in May 1973 (over the years the title of this position evolved to general manager and then CEO) and retired in September 2003.

Born in Guyra in 1939, at the age of 15 years he joined Guyra Council starting a fifty-year career in local government. His career as an executive officer started in Murrumburrah Council in May 1966 when he was appointed Town Clerk. In February 1967 he became Town Clerk of Merriwa Council and subsequently came to Wyong in 1973 as Shire Clerk.

His administrative capabilities were exceptional. Wyong Council was recognised as the best administered council in NSW. Speaking in State Parliament on the 25th anniversary of his time at Wyong Council, Minister John Aqulina said, “He will be remembered as one of the great administrators of local government in the history of this state.”

At various times he was President and Vice President of the NSW Division of the Institute of Municipal Management. He was the recipient of several scholarships including a Rotary group study exchange to the USA in 1972; the Albert Mainerd scholarship to study various facets of local government overseas in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe in 1979; and the KPMG Peat Marwick overseas manager exchange program to Scotland in 1991.

He was also awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day honours list in 1991 for his contribution to local government generally and to the community.

With the influx of new residents, he saw the need to create job opportunities to minimise the need for people to commute.

He oversaw the creation of the North Wyong Industrial Estate, Berkeley Vale Industrial Area and Tuggerah Business Park and actively sought out and encouraged new industries to locate in the Wyong area. Companies such as Donaldson, Dulmison, Pacific Labels, Proctor & Gamble, Mars Food, Sanitarium, and others - all major employers established in Wyong during his years at the helm.

He took a personal interest in his community and its needs. Some of his many initiatives was the revitalisation of The Entrance with its widened footpaths and children’s play area, restoration works around the foreshore of Tuggerah Lakes, and was a driving force behind the establishment of the Central Coast Campus at Ourimbah, his vision being that it be a post-secondary education campus comprising the Central Coast Community College, University of Newcastle and TAFE contributing to the education needs of the whole Central Coast community.

In terms of infrastructure, he saw the building and improvements to the area’s road network, water supply and sewerage system. Under his watch the Mangrove Creek Dam was built guaranteeing a reliable water supply for the whole region.

John Dawson had a particular interest in the needs of young people and in particular the training of apprentices for the whole of the Central Coast. He, along with several major companies established Wyong Group Apprentices, the forerunner of the highly successful Central Coast Group Training which over the years has seen thousands of young

John Dawson is survived by his second wife Julie who he married in 2012 following the death of his first wife Alice in 1997, and three children and seven grandchildren.

Commenting on John Dawson’s time at Wyong Council former Mayor, Neil Rose said, “I had the opportunity to work with some extraordinary people who were leaders of NSW industry and Government before becoming a Wyong Shire Councillor. John Dawson was an exceptional manager and leader.

He knew most of his staff, if not by name but certainly by sight. He visited both Council’s maintenance Depots every week to walk through the workshops asking individuals ‘how are you today mate and what are you working on’.

As a Councillor you knew the advice you were receiving from John Dawson and his senior staff was always up to date and accurate.

The former Wyong Shire and the Central Coast Region as a whole are better places today thanks to John Dawson stopping here for a while during his journey through life.”

His door was always open to Councillors to provide advice and to occasionally tell them they could not deliver a particular pet project. But the advice was always delivered with a chuckle followed by ‘you have to be kidding Councillor’.

John expected nothing less than due diligence and honesty from his management team. His expectation of his staff was ‘not to stuff people around’, i.e. the next best answer to ‘yes’ is ‘no’. If an applicant was not going to have their project approved ‘tell them up front’. Do not wait until the final full stop on the page before you advise the applicant they have a problem with their application.”

For Sale

Locksmith and Architectural Hardware – Avoca Beach

PRICE ON APPLICATION

This quality locally owned and managed business has been successfully operated by the same owner for over 36 years and is offered for sale for the first time as the owner wishes to retire. The business enjoys an enviable reputation for locking systems and door furniture and is a major supplier of residential and commercial architectural hardware across the Central Coast and throughout Australia working with architects, builders and the general public.

Turnover $900,000+ including Online turnover

The current owner will continue to support the new owner

Contact: Derek – 0412 437 327