Today I have the honour and privilege to speak about my hero … my dad, Dave Wareing.
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Dave was born in Harlsedon, Middlesex on January 12, 1941. He was the oldest of three children to Joan and Frank. He had two sisters, Teresa and Pauline. The family made the journey from England to Australia by boat arriving on Dad’s birthday in 1956. Back in the day the family was referred to as ‘ten pound Poms’.
School was not something Dad enjoyed, so at 15 he went straight to work at the Everly railway yards, where he repaired trains for the next 15 years. He also worked at Reckitts and Coleman (household product manufacturer) - driving the forklift was his specialty.
Around this time he met Margaret, my mum … the woman who would become the one and only love of his life. It took a while before Dad got the courage to ask her out – after that they were inseparable. They married in July 1971.
When we moved north, to Eungai, Dad picked up work at Midco as a forklift driver. Most of the valley was employed there at the time. We soon moved to Macskville and the West St house they bought became our family home.
Anyone who knew my Dad would know he had two loves in his life – family and music.
In England he sang in a choir. Here in Macksville was in a band called Trash Can, Dad was the drummer. Apparently there were some great jam sessions at Short Street.
I have been surrounded by vinyl all my life - The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, ABBA, KISS, you name it Dad had it, anything with a beat and Dad’s hands would be tapping. When vinyl turned into CDs he began collecting those too.
At the local radio station 2NVR he played his country music on a Sunday morning for 18 years … Dave’s Country Highway show had many fans. Dad was in his element playing and listening to songs all week to make the playlist for Sunday.
My Dad loved Mum for almost 50 years … she made his life complete. He was a great Poppy to Shaun and Sara, and a wonderful dad for me. I could always count on him for anything and am so glad that we had such a loving relationship.
I cannot speak highly enough of the respect, integrity and honour in which Dad lived his life. He was the ultimate gentleman and will be missed by all he has touched.
