Oz, I reckon in this case the controller got it wrong. He did state something about not being required to give a departure call if going out via one of the gates- otherwise he reckoned a departure call was required for VFR.
Wouldn't you think the Tamworth ATC manager would come on under his or her own name and explain the correct procedure!
They are probably stopped by the AsA bosses from doing this!
There never should be secrecy in relation to safety issues I reckon.