WARWICK businessman John Wode has spent most of his 60 years in Warwick and during that time has tried his hand at a lot of trades.

These days, Mr Wode and wife Sue operate Warwick Computer Support and Repairs from their home, a move Mr Wode said had provided new opportunities for the business.

"We started out at Westside about four years ago and then spent a few years in Grafton St, next to the cinemas," he said.

"About a year ago we decided to move the business home, and I think it's been a good move," he said.

"I have more opportunity to do home and business visits this way."

Mr Wode was born in Warwick, attended various state schools in town before moving on to Warwick State High School.

"After school I started out as a shoe salesman," Mr Wode said.

"Then I moved into banking with the Bank of New South Wales, which saw me move around the state a bit.

"After that I started truck driving and then did a bit of seismic work out west, drilling for the holes for dynamite charges in the mining industry.

"Then I came back to Warwick and worked for the railways."

Mr Wode said moving back had been a blessing.

"After being away for a few years, coming back helped me realise how good a place Warwick is," he said.

"The people are great for a start.

"I then spent 30 years as IT manager at the Department of Main Roads.

"We went from a couple of computers to everyone having one.

"I certainly saw the evolution and explosion of technology in that time."

Mr Wode said he was among the first wave of public servants retrenched by the State Government in 2011.

"I tried to be retired for a bit and helped set up the Warwick Men's Shed," he said.

"But eventually I needed to find work and applied for about 100 jobs. , from Bunnings to the checkouts at Aldi I only got one interview.

"I think people tend to hire youth because they're less set in their ways and a little easier to mould."

Mr Wode said his experience in the IT industry made setting up a computer business a smart choice.

"I had the knowledge," Mr Wode said.

Mr Wode said Warwick needed to take a step back and look at what made it such a great place to live and raise a family.

"Take the Mardi Gras as an example," he said.

"That event really made it for the kids but it got stagnant and rather than coming with fresh ideas, it was canned.

"The worst thing you can ever do is not have ideas.

"Ideas are what progress people and cultures. Sure there will be bad ones and they should be weeded out, but you've always got to keep an eye out on what's working for other regions.

"We have to continually strive for new ideas and hopefully grow the population as a result."

Mr Wode said he thought the Morgan Park facility was the perfect spot to build an outdoor stage.

"There's so much room out there," he said.

"We were in the Hunter Valley recently and saw Suzi Quattro live.

"There was a purpose built stage in the middle of a paddock, and they got a thousand people there.

"With names like Blondie, Darryl Braithwaite and more lined up to come.

"What's to stop Warwick trying something like that?"

As for the removal of the Leslie Park gates, Mr Wode said those gates were there to commemorate the Leslie Brothers.

"They should stay exactly where they are," he said.

"They're accessible to everyone now, why move of them out of town where nobody can see them?"

In his spare time, Mr Wode enjoys getting out on the road on his pride and joy, a 1300cc Honda Fury.

"I don't get out as much as I'd like to though," Mr Wode said.

"I've had the bike for seven years and have only done about 2500kms, so there's plenty more riding ahead for me hopefully."