Freemen

Bestowed on 10 December 2007 

Margaret’s family were among the first Wanneroo settlers in 1852. Cockman House, the original family home, is now open to the public as a museum. Born in 1931 and residing in the area her whole life, Margaret decided at an early age to continue their work by becoming heavily involved in community development and dedicating herself to improving the quality of life for people in the northern suburbs. 

Margaret became an important figure during her 50 years at the Wanneroo Road Board, beginning in 1946, as the Board became first the Shire and then the City of Wanneroo. She spent 17 of those years at the Joondalup Administration Centre, helping fast-track the development of the City Centre, after the Shire of Wanneroo moved there in 1979. 

Retiring in 1996 after five decades of involvement in local government, Margaret witnessed every major development and project undertaken throughout Wanneroo and Joondalup’s early years. However, it is her incredible volume of voluntary work that has greatly shaped these communities as we know today. Margaret either founded or assisted in running community groups including the Wanneroo Country Women’s Association, Wanneroo Agricultural Society, Wanneroo and Districts Historical Society, the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club, Wanneroo Red Cross Doorknock Appeal, Yanchep Golf Club, and the Wanneroo St John Ambulance Service – where, as a Commander (CSTJ), Margaret dedicated many years and countless hours to the organisation. She also captained the Wanneroo First Aid Team that won the national nursing competition in 1976. 

Past and present civic leaders unanimously agree that most of Wanneroo’s important community organisations would not exist today had it not been for Margaret’s incredible enthusiasm and devotion over the years. She also co-authored and researched the book History of Wanneroo, released in 1979.  

The Shire of Wanneroo pavilion built at the Wanneroo Showground in 1980, was named the Margaret Cockman Pavilion in honour of her longstanding community service, and by 2006, she had served on the Agricultural Society’s Wanneroo Show committee for 60 years.  

Margaret’s other achievements and awards include: 

• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1990 
• Freeman of the City of Wanneroo in 1995 
• Centenary Medal in 2001 
• Exemplary Citizen for Community Service by Lions Club International in 2002.

Born in York in 1939, Bill has had a profound influence on the Cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup. He and wife Bernice established the region’s first local newspapers which played a major role in keeping the community interested and involved in what was happening in their neighbourhood. 

In the mid-1960s while living in Sorrento, Bill produced and published a small newsletter called Northern Beaches Community News delivered fortnightly to homes in Sorrento, Marmion, North Beach, Waterman, and Trigg. Local community groups submitted content while business advertising funded the fledgling paper. In 1973, Bill and Bernice moved to Wanneroo and in August 1974 they started Wanneroo’s first newspaper, the Wanneroo Community News, with Dale and Gladys Anderson. It quickly became a forum for local community groups and the Shire of Wanneroo to advise residents and ratepayers of council services and activities. 

The paper closed in April 1975 after Dale died suddenly, however the Marwicks began another paper shortly after realising how much the community had come to rely on it. They called it the Wanneroo Districts Times, soon referred to affectionately by locals as the Wanneroo Times. Bill wrote the stories while Bernice typeset them, with their whole operation run from the family home, using the carport as a darkroom for producing photographs. Circulation grew, with most homes in the Wanneroo local government area receiving copies – including the now City of Joondalup. When the Marwicks sold their Community Newspapers in 1984, circulation exceeded 130,000. 

Bill became a Wanneroo Councillor from 1988 – 1994, which included a term as Mayor. He sat on many committees and groups during that time including the Wanneroo Lions Club, Warwick Scout Group, Wanneroo Chamber of Commerce, and the Wanneroo Rotary Club. He founded the Wanneroo and Districts Historical Society in 1989 and was President for 16 years. In 1991, he was appointed to the Joondalup Development Taskforce as a Council delegate, helping to shape the direction of the City Centre. His greatest passion has been researching the region’s unique history, and he has written books including Stories of Old Wanneroo and The Times of Wanneroo. 

Bill’s other achievements and awards include:  

• Exemplary Citizen for Community Service by Lions Club International in 2004  

• Freeman of the City of Wanneroo in 2004.

Born in Kafalari, Greece in 1934, Nick came to rural Wanneroo in 1949, where he finished school before working in the family vegetable garden. 

Serving as President of the WA Market Gardeners’ Association for 25 years from 1973 to 1997, Nick represented WA growers’ interests on the Federal body – the Australian Vegetable Growers’ Federation and is the only Western Australian to serve as the National President (1983-85). He started in local government in 1960 on the Wanneroo Road Board. Nick was heavily involved in the Shire of Wanneroo and City of Wanneroo at a time when they were a single local government. He was the Shire of Wanneroo’s last President and the former City of Wanneroo’s first Mayor. He served a total of 24 years as an elected member of Wanneroo local government between 1960-66 and 1970-88. 

He played an important and critical role in the establishment of the Joondalup City Centre and was the Council’s representative on the Joondalup Development Corporation, established in 1976 and headed by businessman Robert Holmes a Court. 

Nick played a part in every Wanneroo Council decision impacting the future direction of Joondalup during those early years. He firmly believed in the Joondalup City Centre concept and was one of its strongest advocates, backing the Mitchell Freeway extension to Ocean Reef Road in 1988, seven years earlier than planned, by raising funds and lobbying the State Government. 

Nick was involved in the development of Hillarys Boat Harbour and has been a Justice of the Peace (JP) for many years. He founded the very successful Olympic Kingsway Sports Club and was the Club’s President between 1966-68 and 1996-2005. Despite retiring from local government in 1988, he is well remembered in the community as an active member and a man with great vision and community spirit.  

Nick’s other achievements and awards include: 

• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1988 

• Freeman of the City of Wanneroo in 1988 – he was the City of Wanneroo’s first Freeman.

Bestowed on 11 July 2019 

A long-term Woodvale resident, Brian has been there for many of the big moments in the history of the City of Joondalup, and the lead up to its formation in 1998. 

A Councillor at the Shire of Wanneroo (1984) and City of Wanneroo, before serving as Mayor from 1986-88, 1989-90 and 1997-98. He recalls that back then there wasn’t much to Joondalup apart from the hospital, current City administration building and Joondalup Basketball Stadium. However, he does remember the Council and administration at the time were dedicated to the vision set out by Sir Charles Court for Joondalup to become the civic, cultural, and economic capital of Perth’s northern corridor. 

As the last Mayor before Wanneroo split into two separate Cities, Brian saw several firsts, including the region’s first public golf course opening at Marangaroo, the unveiling of the first aquatic centre at Wanneroo Water World (predecessor to City of Joondalup Craigie Leisure Centre), and cut the ribbon as the epicentre of Joondalup – the Joondalup Library and the Civic Centre – opened its doors for the first time. 

A successful businessman, Brian’s strong work ethic and drive to give back to his community only increased upon retirement from fulltime work. He has held several senior leadership positions within many local community organisations and has also served on several community and government boards. 

Brian is the former President of Marmion Probus Club, former Chairman and Board Member of the Wanneroo Shire Council Aged Persons Trust for 17 years, Patron and Life Member of Wanneroo Basketball Association (Current), former President of the Association of Independent Retirees (Northern Suburbs), Life Member and Former President of Wanneroo Rotary Club, Life Member of National Electrical Contractors Association, former Chairman of the Wanneroo Economic Development Association (Joondalup Business Association), former Board member of the Metropolitan Planning Council and former Manager of Wanneroo Junior Cricket teams and President of Wanneroo Districts Cricket Club. 

Brian was awarded an Australia Day Medal in 2019 (of the Order of Australia in the General Division) for services to the community.