Warren - better known as "Wozza" - passed away on March 16 in Royal North Shore Hospital.

He was aged 82 years.

His life was celebrated at a memorial service on March 22 at his beloved Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club.

Good friend, Rob Burgess, was one of a host of people who spoke at the service.

"Australia lost a champion when Warren Molloy passed away peacefully at the age of 82," Rob said.

"The Australian Surfboat, surf lifesaving and Manly community are both saddened but enriched by his lifetime and achievements.

"Warren, or "Wozza" as he was known, was a legend in many areas in addition to surfboats.

"He exposed corruption in the police force, judicial and political system in the 1970s and 80s."

Warren grew up in Sydney joined the police force and Garie Surf Club, where he became boat captain and sweep at age of 19 in 1956.

He was transferred to Port Macquarie making an instant impact with junior boat crews who won numerous titles.

His crew included Don McManus of Bilgola/North Narrabeen fame and Dave Cooper who was inspired to come to Sydney for a successful rugby league and business career.

Port Macquarie's Larry Pullen said he was devastated by the passing of Mr Molloy.

"Warren arrived in Port around 1960 and quickly made friends," Larry said.

"He joined the rugby league club and was also an outstanding member of the Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club.

"He swept several junior surfboat crews to victory in the 1960 surfboat championships."

Larry also remembered Warren being involved in several river rescues, particularly during flood times.

"We would row up and down the flooded Hastings River rescuing stranded residents.

"In a separate incident, a surfboat crew swept by Warren also rescued eight Sea Scouts who were tipped out of their boat at the mouth of the river.

"It was quite a dramatic rescue, earning them an award."

Larry also recalled a fatal accident in 1963 which saw two of their popular rowing mates killed while returning from the Aussie titles.

Following Warren's stint in Port Macquarie, he was transferred to a one-man police station at Nymboida where he rode horses and rounded up "bush rangers".

He joined Yamba Surf Club and then moved to Woolgoolga Club for a successful couple of years.

Warren and family eventually returned to Sydney where he was stationed under the command of "Bumper" Farrell.

Wozza joined Queenscliff Surf Club in 1967 when a lifetime of success and influence followed.

He brought his country boys, Dave Baldwin, Dave Cooper and Rob Burgess with him. Burgo and Lofty together with John Poole and boat builder Roger Ninham won the club's first open boat title in Perth in 1971.

He was selected as captain of the Australian Surf Life Saving Team in 1972 to compete in New Zealand.

In the same year he was awarded the NSW Police Sportsman of the Year.

His Aussie titles did not end there and in 1977 he filled in for an injured sweep with the Warriewood Club and, in mountainous seas in Bancoora, Victoria, won the open title for a second time.

Wozza continued to compete and swept the North Steyne Masters crew to victory in the gruelling 182 kilometre George Bass marathons in 2004 and 2008.

His last competition was sweeping the Queenscliff Masters crew at the World Titles in France in 2014.

He was inducted into the Surfboat Rowers Hall of Fame in 2009.

His involvement in surfboats continued to the day he passed away when a crew he mentored from Woolgoolga won the Queensland Open Title and dedicated the win on the beach to Wozza.

Typical of Wozza he had two more sporting careers winning a State masters cyclist of the year award in 2011. He also became a keen paddler with the Manly Warringah Kayak Club winning numerous State and National Masters Titles.

Rob said Warren often acknowledged that his own achievements were secondary.

Another long-term friend and former Port Macquarie resident David Cooper also praised his former mentor.

"He took greatest pride in guiding young blokes on the right path teaching them how to be successful not only in sport but in life," David said.

"No matter whether it was his competitive sport or his daily life, his will to succeed and his will to win was rare.

"His commitment was always to people. They got behind him. They believed in him. He gave them hope.

"He was decent, he was brave, and he was always a gentleman."

Warren is survived by wife Helen, son David and daughter Vikki, grandchildren Charli, Jordan and Jayden, and great grandchild Willem.

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