‘Two Warrens’: Warren Entsch gives tribute to friendship that defied political borders

Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has paid tribute to his “dear friend” and colleague former Labor state MP for Mulgrave Warren Pitt, revealing a mateship that crossed political borders.

Cairns Post – Cairns Characters Warren Pitt in his home at Gordonvale

Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has paid tribute to his “dear friend” and colleague — former Labor state MP for Mulgrave — Warren Pitt.

Warren Pitt died peacefully in Gordonvale on Friday, February 7 leaving a lasting legacy in his former seat of Mulgrave to the south of Cairns.

Mr Entsch and Mr Pitt shared a constituency in Yarrabah and worked together to advocate for the community.

“Pitty and I were very close. We were good friends,” Mr Entsch said.

“When I was elected in 1996 he came back for his second stint soon after for the Member of Mulgrave.

L to R, Warren Pitt with son Curtis Pitt, Warren was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in the general division, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, will present 14 Far North Queensland residents with honours and awards under the Australian honours system at a special ceremony, Cairns – Photo Steve Pohlner

“He would ring me up and say to me 'I’m going over to Yarrabah to visit our constituents, do you want to come?’ and I said ‘Of course’.

“I would meet him at the turn off at the Bruce Highway and I would hop into the ALP car and the two Warrens would go over to Yarrabah to visit our constituents.”

Mr Entsch would handle the federal government while Mr Pitt sorted the state.

The Bruce Highway upgrade between Foster Road, Mt. Sheridan, and Roberts Road, Bentley Park, has officially been opened. (L-R) Queensland Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt with Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch near the upgraded road, which has been widened from four to six lanes. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE

“It was a bit of a novelty at first for our Yarrabah constituents, but they got used too soon enough.”

Mr Entsch said when Mr Pitt received his cancer diagnosis he would continue travelling to Yarrabah on behalf of the two Warrens with his office sending matters through for Mr Pitt.

“I continued to do that on the behalf of both the Warrens — such was the friendship we had, and it endured through his illness,” Mr Entsch said.

Mr Entsch said Mr Pitt was “a part of Mulgrave”.

“Through his teaching, through his sport, he was a part of this area along with his wife.”

Mr Entsch said he made submissions for an overpass on the Edmonton to Gordonvale road to be named after the husband and wife pair.

“It had to be both of them, because they were a pair from the beginning,” he said.

“It eventually settled on the Warren and Linda Pitt Way (for the Mulgrave River Bridge to Peterson Road section of the Bruce Highway) which leaves a lasting legacy for the work that they did there.”

Mr Entsch said Warren was “a good friend right the way through”.

“It shows we can work across political boundaries, and he was a very dear friend of mine and Linda too.”

Originally published as ‘Two Warrens’: Warren Entsch gives tribute to friendship that defied political borders