August 16, 2016
More than 200 people – plus children – packed into the Pam Brunjes Pavilion at Goomeri Showgrounds on Saturday night to officially farewell retiring local police officer Sergeant Warren Lohmann.
Considering the population of Goomeri is about 500, that’s an amazing tribute for the local copper who has served the community for 34 years.
“You seem to have the whole town of Goomeri here … some are here to make sure he goes, some are here to wish him well,” joked master of ceremonies for the evening, Inspector Steve Donnelly.
The farewell night featured a camp oven dinner – of roast pork, beef and venison – cooked over an open fire outside the pavilion.
The formal part of the evening consisted of presentations to Warren and his wife Julie from different groups within the local community, including Goomeri Lions Club, the Pumpkin Festival committee and Goomeri Show Society.
One local resident recalled ruefully that the first time he met Warren was when he was pulled over on the Wide Bay Highway, just near the Kinbombi turn-off.
Assistant Commissioner Alistair Dawson read a letter from Police Commissioner Ian Stewart which detailed Warren’s service career, which began when he joined the police force as a Cadet in January 1974.
Over the years he served at Tewantin, Cooroy, Townsville and Murgon before being transferred to Goomeri as a Senior Constable on April 16, 1982.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 1992.
Warren admitted that his retirement had “sneaked up” on him rather quickly, but after four or five weeks of holidays he was starting to get used to the idea.
He said that he could honestly say he had enjoyed most of his 43 years in the Queensland Police Service, although there had also been sad days as well as occasionally very distressing days.
“Some incidents still stick with you … for any police officer, getting home at the end of the shift is the most important thing,” Warren said.
He said Goomeri was a great town and part of a great district and “most of the people don’t cause the police much grief”.
Warren and Julie will be moving to Corndale to act as caretakers of Julie’s parents’ farm.
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