Len Daddow Oral History

DETAILS

OverviewLen Daddow is a local business man who began his career as a mechanic, before moving on to working for General Motors Holden and then purchasing a car dealership in Cooroy. He has given many years of service to the community through his involvement in starting the Bendigo Bank in Cooroy and also the Noosa Australian Football Club.

In this oral history interview, Len Daddow offers a detailed account of his life and career, spanning post war Brisbane, regional Queensland, and ultimately the Sunshine Coast, where he became a key figure in both local business and sport. Born in 1935, Daddow trained as a motor mechanic with Eagers in Brisbane before joining General Motors as a service school instructor and later a service representative, travelling extensively through regional Queensland. In 1966 he purchased Cooroy Motors, renaming it Daddow’s Cooroy Motors, and operated the Holden, Vauxhall and Bedford dealership for nearly 50 years. He recounts the challenges of rural business, early car distribution methods, and later involvement in establishing the Bendigo Community Bank in Cooroy.

Daddow also played a foundational role in establishing Australian Rules Football in the Noosa region. Responding to a 1969 newspaper advertisement, he helped form Noosa’s first AFL committee, chaired the group, and co founded the Noosa Football Club. He describes the early years at Cooroy Showgrounds, the development of the Noosa ground at Weyba Road, the construction of clubhouses, and the community driven nature of the sport’s growth. He remained deeply involved for decades, receiving a Queensland Day Award for service.

Photograph

Len Daddow

Oral History Transcript

Len Daddow Oral History - Transcript

Audio

Len Daddow Oral History - Audio

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