Warren Colless Oral History (1937-2019)

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DescriptionThis interview consists of three audio recordings and transcripts. Warren Colless was interviewed on 18 November 2011 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod.
Interview SummaryWarren Colless, the son of Kevin and Helen Colless, was born on 16 April 1937, at Highbury Private Hospital in Enfield. His family was living at Enfield at that time, and when Warren was three months old they moved to Lidcombe.

Warren started at Lidcombe Primary School when he was five and later attended Homebush Boys High School. He studied pharmacy at Sydney University and after his graduation in 1959 worked at Canley Vale pharmacy.

He married Beverley Pincott in 1960 at Auburn. Warren and Beverley have two daughters, Tracey and Trudy. In 1964 Warren bought the Canley Vale Pharmacy.

By 1979 he had become fed up with being a pharmacist and formed a partnership with Pauline O'Neill, a licensed real-estate agent and opened an office in Canley Heights. This later became Colless O'Neill First National, where they traded for 20 years, until 1998.

He joined council as an Independent but joined the Liberal Party two years later. By the end of 1974 Warren became deputy mayor and chairman of all committees, including the finance and the development committees. In 1976 Warren was elected as mayor for the year 1977-78.

Some of council's achievements while he was mayor included the opening of two child-care centres. The mayoral ball raised $1000 for the Fairfield District Hospital. Council appointed the members of the Villawood Senior Citizens Club board of management to control and manage the club. The president was Mr A Gore and the committee included Alderman C Peel and Mr R Pillidge. The building was finally competed and handed over to the management committee in May.

In 1979 Warren became ill and decided not to stand again in the September 1980 elections.

Details

IntervieweeWarren CollessInterviewerShirley Kingsford McLeodDate of interview18/11/2011DurationTotal interview: 01:32:69Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City CouncilAccess ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use

Connections

Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldCollectionAll Oral HistoriesMayors and Councillors - Oral histories

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