The Red Awning Way

A TRIBUTE TO WARWICK RULE:

When we’re lucky and stars align, we have a chance to personally know true legends while they live and work among us.

When legends pass, we hold tight to fond memories and cherish lessons they taught. Warwick Rule, an Aussie who loved

life and lived life to the fullest, a legend and true friend, passed on March 11, 2021.

His laugh was big and robust like his caring heart and giving spirit. He was a brilliant engineer and consummate

entrepreneur with an insatiable curiosity for how things worked. Not just mechanical and physical things, things of

budgets and bureaucracies, but things of the spirit, things of cultures and continents, different things, human things.

Life things.

Helen Rule was at the center of stars aligning when we met Warwick. Helen - Warwick’s wife, life-partner, businesspartner,

Warwick’s Princess, confidant, best friend, and a corporate executive - was selected as were we to be in the

2000-2001 Fellows Class of the International Women’s Forum. Our class remains very close-knit and not surprisingly,

Warwick touched us individually and collectively in a captivating way.

A decade ago, Helen and Warwick purchased a bank building in historic downtown Hobart, Tasmania and converted

it into a home for their family. Restoration of the building’s exterior included the addition of beautiful planters and

bright red awnings. Yes. Warwick dared to introduce color to the sedate and strikingly monotone color palate of

Hobart’s historic district and beautiful architecture. Local governing bodies met to decide the fate of the red awnings.

They must come down! Red Awning supporters sprung up like bulbs waiting too long for Spring. Preservationists

decried the destruction of tradition. Local and national news outlets covered the story for weeks. Warwick held steady

and actually had fun in the fight. He prevailed. Today, the Red Awnings on Murray Street in downtown Hobart

continue to signal renewal as they bring smiles to the hearts of residents and tourists alike.

Warwick’s red awnings, and his many successful business and civic pursuits, capture his genius, his spirit, and his

heart. His lessons for us:

• Think outside the box

• Believe in our own dreams

• Draw allies through the genius of purpose

• Be authentic in substance and style

• Leave a place better than when found.

Warwick Rule, a giant of a man – a legend, has passed. We knew him as our friend because we were lucky and the stars

aligned.

The Fellows: Beth, Cindy, Debbie, Irene, Jennifer, Marilyn, Marsha, Mary-Ann, Sam, Sylvia, Totsie, Tracey, and Van