Deanmill incident: Margaret River community in shock at tragic death of volunteers Brian and Lynne Warren

Friends and loved ones of the Margaret River couple killed in a freak accident near Manjimup yesterday have remembered the pair as ardent volunteers who never hesitated to help others. Brian and Lynne Warren died from injuries sustained when a big tree fell on their vehicle while returning to Margaret River from a short trip away. Police are appealing for dash-cam footage or any witnesses to the incident on Wednesday, July 31, when the couple’s grey Isuzu ute was hit in the tragic incident as the couple were driving west on Graphite Road near Burnside Road in Deanmill about 3.30pm. Mrs Warren, 78, was driving at the time with her husband, aged 75, with both dying from their injuries. Major crash detectives will conduct an examination at the scene. The Warrens were well known in Margaret River through a variety of volunteer activities including long involvement in Rotary. Mrs Warren was a semi-retired veteran nurse who was awarded for excellence in the State Residential Aged Care awards while working in Carnarvon. Along with his wife, Mr Warren was a dedicated Rotarian involved in a big number of programs across WA and Margaret River. He volunteered for Rotary’s “alternative Leavers” that took graduating high school students to Timor Leste where teenagers helped with community-building projects. Speaking to the Augusta-Margaret River Times in 2019, Mr Warren said generous support from the community allowed young people to make a direct difference in the lives of less fortunate communities overseas. The couple had also previously fundraised for Timorese firefighters to help equip them with adequate protection gear. Margaret River Rotary president Charles Johnson paid tribute to the hardworking and always helpful pair. “Since joining our Rotary Club in 2015, Brian and Lynne Warren have made an enormous contribution to Rotary,” Mr Johnson said. “They each served on the club board, Brian as president and Lynne as secretary. “They hosted many wonderful social evenings at their home and were active participants in many Rotary programs.” Mr Johnson singled out the couple’s work on the Rotary exchange and Timor Leste trips as invaluable. “These were life-changing events, and the Warrens will be fondly remembered by participants and recipients,” he said. Both Brian and Lynne were each awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship this year in recognition of a near-decade’s service to the local community. Fellow Rotarian Brian Middleton said the Warrens were valued community members who continued to work — Brian as an agricultural scientist, and Lynne as an aged-care nurse — when not helping with community projects. Mr Middleton noted that came despite Mr Warren enduring considerable pain from a series of knee operations. Shire of Augusta-Margaret River president Julia Meldrum spoke of the shock and devastation experienced by residents upon learning of the loss. “Our community is devasted to hear of the tragedy of two of our wonderful community members,” she said. “They were both very active and caring community volunteers and made all around them feel welcome and included.” Shire councillor, friend and fellow Rotarian Ian Earl said it was a tragedy the pair were killed coming back from a short holiday. “They’ve been terrific contributors in the time they’ve lived here,” he said. “It’s just another sad loss of good community-minded people.” Cr Earl said couples like the Warrens were the lifeblood in any community where they set up, always putting volunteer duties at the forefront. The Times understands the Warrens had planned to travel to the north of the State, but Mr Warren’s knee problems meant long drives were impossible. Mr Warren was an avid cricketer with a background in agriculture and team management. Although he previously served as the head of Rangelands NRM WA, in recent years his work as a consultant was focused on micro-credit farming loans to help communities in countries such as Indonesia where he also applied his skills as a Rotarian. Friends of the couple were in shock at the news which broke on Thursday morning, with many lamenting the wild weather that ultimately contributed to their deaths. Once the news broke on social media, numerous residents recalled fond encounters with the pair who were at the heart of community life.