Len was the acting CEO for the Dumbleyung Shire for 6 months in 2013 and was well known to the Bluebird Committee who first introduced their idea of a Bluebird replica, interpretive centre and precinct to Len, which by many was considered to be too grandiose an idea for our small town.
According to the committee, Len enthusiastically embraced the idea and encouraged them to follow their dreams and run with it.
“It was all about the right person at the right time that made things happen” said Chairperson Louisa Dare. “Len believed that what we wanted to do was a great idea and gave us all the backing we needed to set us on our way”. In Len’s humble opinion, he merely pointed us in the right direction.
To the committee it was pivotal to their self-confidence and belief that they could make this happen and the rest is history! For this, those who were involved are forever grateful.
Len is now retired and lives on a 160 acre property at Rosa Brook in Margaret River. He and Elsie were caravanning around the region visiting shires that Len had worked in. He came back to Dumbleyung to see the completed project. In his words “it was perfect!”
It was an added bonus to be able to tell Len that Dumbleyung is a finalist in the Tidy Town competition for the Heritage and Culture Category. The winner will be announced on September 24 – watch this space!
Article by H.Gooding