Copyright (2010) Roxy Theatre

John was instrumental in ensuring that Bingara Council (later Gwydir Council) purchased the Hellenic and Kytherian "sacred sites", and pilgrimage destinations, the Roxy Theatre", Roxy Cafe), and Roxy Museum.

He is a great Philhellene and Philokytherian.

He is on the Committee of the Roxy Museum. Other members of the Committee include Sandy McNaughton, Manager of the Roxy,
mob: 0427241 582 or Email, Roxy, and Peter A Jones, President of the Bingara District Historical Society. Kytherians Peter Prineas, Peter McArthy (Delungra, married to Deanna Fatseas), & George C Poulos, make up the membership of the Committee.

John Wearne was born in Bingara and has had a lifetime’s experience in community organisations. Until the proclamation of the new Gwydir Shire Council he had served for 17 years on Bingara Shire Council, including five as Mayor. He was then elected to Gwydir Shire Council in September 2004, a position he continues to occupy today. His local government career includes 8 years representing the North West/New England area on the Executive of the Shires Association of New South Wales including 2 years as State President between 1995 and 1997. Nationally, he served two terms as Senior Vice- President of the Australian Local Government Association.

He holds a number of positions, and is currently:

a Director of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme and chairs the Scheme’s Investment Committee;

a Director of Local Government Financial Services;

a Director of Beyond Empathy Limited;

a Trustee of the Bluett Awards Trust and

Patron of a number of organisations including the Shires Association of NSW.

He was a Board member of the Australia Day Council of NSW for ten years and also had a major role on the NSW Centenary of Federation Committee.

In the transport field, he was previously Chair of the NSW Local Government Roads and Transport Committee, held the National transport portfolio for the Australian Local Government Association and was a delegate to Austroads and the Australian Ministerial Transport Council. He also represented local government on the NSW RTA Advisory Council, and chaired the ALGA National Local Roads Committee following prominent involvement in the Rural Roads Congresses at Moree, Mildura and Toowoomba. From 1999 to 2005 he was a Commissioner on the National Road Transport Commission and the National Transport Commission, which develops and makes recommendations to all State, Territory and Federal Ministers on regulatory reform of the road, rail and other transport systems.

Positions he holds in the Arts include Chair of the NSW Arts Infrastructure Advisory Committee, Chair of the NSW Museums Committee, Deputy Chair of the Arts North West Regional Arts Board and Deputy Chair of Q Theatre Company based in Penrith.

Previous positions held include 5 years as a Director of Greening Australia (NSW), 5 years as a Director of Country Energy, 5 years as a member of the National Rural Communities Program Advisory Committee and 4 years as a Director of Teletask. He also chaired the successful Country Summits in Tamworth (1996) and Wagga Wagga (1998).

John Wearne was awarded an AM in 2000 for service to Local Government and to the community through conservation, arts and sporting organisations, and a Centenary Medal in 2003 for his services to the NSW Centenary of Federation Committee.

April 2006

LINKS:

What's On at The Roxy? Gwydir Shire Council

Roxy THEATRE Main Page

Roxy CAFE Main Page

Roxy MUSEUM Main Page. Overview of the history of the Roxy, published in the Royal Historical Society magazine

Katsehamos and the Great Idea, the BOOK, Main Page