July 7, 2016
by Senior Constable James Weimar
On April 16, 1982, then-Senior Constable Warren James Lohmann arrived in Goomeri to take up duties at the local police station.
To take you back … in 1982 Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister of Australia, Brisbane was preparing to host the Commonwealth Games and the Wivenhoe Dam was still under construction.
And I, his current Senior Constable, was still three years away from entering this world (as I like to regularly remind Sergeant Lohmann).
Fast forward 34 years and the now Officer-in-Charge Sergeant Warren Lohmann is still in Goomeri serving the community he chose to call home for more than three decades.
In that time Sgt Lohmann, or simply Warren as the locals call him, has raised three wonderful children and married his wife Julie.
Warren was inducted into the Queensland Police Force (as it was in those days) on December 10, 1976, and served in Tewantin, Cooroy, Townsville and Murgon before landing in Goomeri.
In 1992, Warren was promoted to Sergeant Officer-in-Charge of Goomeri Station and knowing he was onto a good thing laid down roots and didn’t leave until his retirement.
During his time in Goomeri he has guided the community through many challenging times, including the loss of the area’s primary industry in the Murgon meatworks, and the devastating 2011 floods.
Warren has been an invaluably active participant in numerous groups, events and organisations in the local community over the years including the Goomeri State School Adopt-a-Cop, coaching junior sport, local Lions Club, Freemasons, the famous Goomeri Pumpkin Festival and many more.
He is a highly respected member of this small community and his local knowledge and dedication to the town will be greatly missed.
Warren’s 34-year tenure at Goomeri has been one of the longest periods of continuous service in the Queensland Police Service’s history; an achievement that is not possible without the wholehearted support of the local community who have always had a familiar face to turn to in their hour of need.
Warren has not turned up to work every day for the last 34 years because he had to, but because he loves it.
After 40 years of service to the people of Queensland the time has now come for Warren to call it quits and enjoy his long retirement with his wife Julie.
Warren and Julie are retiring to the family farm to watch the grass grow, have the occasional glass of wine and enjoy the next phase of their lives together.
A community thanks and retirement function will be held in Goomeri in the near future.
For further details, contact Goomeri Police Station on (07) 4168-4211.
