MANY people of a certain vintage will remember Mr Robert Love, who this year was awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
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Mr Love received the distinction for his services to local government.
He started his career in local government in Warren in 1951. Three years later he was appointed town clerk of Wingham Municipal Council.
In his tenure at Wingham he was pivotal in having a water augmentation scheme adopted.
But arguably his greatest achievement was bringing with him from Warren the idea of a housing scheme.
At the time Wingham Council was concerned at the lack of Housing Commission homes in the municipality and Mr Love recommended that council adopt the same scheme as was operating in Warren.
Under this scheme, council provided funds to borrowers at the same rate of interest that it raised funds to erect ‘Benwell’ designed homes or other types.
In five years the scheme erected 37 homes, which proved to be a great advantage in overcoming Wingham’s housing shortages.
Mr Love also convinced council to take over the existing library in the School of Arts building on Wynter Street, where it is still housed today.
In 1955 Mr Love recommended that council make application for the AR Bluett Memorial Award for having made the most relevant progress in local government for the preceding year. This was approved and the application, prepared by Mr Love, resulted in council being declared the winner.
Mr Love was also heavily involved in the community on a personal level. He was appointed as secretary for the Wingham and District Hospital Committee which had been formed to promote the provision of a hospital for the area.
In addition, he is a foundation member of the Wingham Apex Club, and an active member of the RSL Sub-branch and the RSL Club.
Fellow founding member of the Wingham Apex Club, Alan Carlyle OAM, remembers Mr Love well.
At the time, Mr Carlyle was working as a councillor for the council. He was later elected mayor from 1962 to 1970.
“We were lucky to have such good town clerks,” Mr Carlyle said. “I have nothing but good to say about Robert Love.
“He bought the theory of housing loan schemes with him from Warren, and from that little acorn, big things grew.”
In turn, Mr love also fondly remembers Wingham.
“Wingham is very dear to my heart. I had five wonderful years there, my wife and I,” he said. “I always drop in there when I’m going north.”
In 1959 Mr Love was appointed shire clerk of Wollondilly Shire Council at Picton and subsequently worked at various councils in Sydney.
He retired in 1992 having completed 54 years of service in local government and now lives in Hunters Hill.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
