OBITUARY
“Tommy” Dean 18 April 1929 - 8 July 2023 Last week a huge crowd of family members, friends, shearers, farmers, graziers, townspeople, and district people from afar, gathered at the Molong Baptist Centre to farewell a much loved member of an early settler family, Tom - Tommy - Herbert Thomas Dean who passed away at 95 years of age. Tom’s family David, Brian, Kerry, and Graham (Toby) and their families organised a fitting farewell and tribute to celebrate a life that started
out in the days when the majority of Molong residents lived basic lives, battling to put food on the tables of their ever-growing large families. Tommy was born on 18 April 1929 into the family of Bessie and Victor Dean in a humble house on the Norah Creek Road. There were already 5 older children, then Tom - followed by another 3 younger children. Born between Australia’s war involvements - Tom was born on the cusp of the Great Depression. Life changed when his
father, Victor, a railway shunter, was killed in a workplace accident. At 13 years of age the young man of the bush became an adult with his life devoted to his hardworking mum, Bessie and his younger siblings. Tom’s future years, his future life took on a new meaning where there was still fun to be had for the bush boy - but also a lot of responsibility for the young Dean boy of Norah Creek Road. A committment to the lives of others and to the physical work that shaped his life.
Coonamble where he forged many When Bessie and the Dean friendships. family had to approach life Margaret and Tommy welcomed without Victor, there wasn’t the David in 1954 and Brian in 1955. same welfare support available A little while later, the young for families that is available today. family moved out to Cardington Tom told stories of going around where Tom was a share farmer. town to pick up scraps from the He reckoned he learnt more life hotels, the bakery and railway lessons share farming - but would refreshment rooms, to take home say that many were not profitable! to feed the animals. At the same Their daughter Kerry was born time he would deliver butter and into the family in 1958 whilst the milk to customers - fresh from the Deans were living at Cardington. family farm. In the early 60s, the family This morning routine meant moved back into town. Tom and that Tom didn’t always make it Margaret purchased a small 2 to school for the start of class. bedroom home in Riddell St. However, it was during this Toby joined the family in 1963. time that Tom remembered the Sadly, Margaret’s mother passed kindness and help of others that away prematurely. Her father and gave the young boy the values of brother Stephen, who was only a ‘simple kindness from others to few months younger than David, others’ that helped mould Tom’s came to live with the family a short personal values. At the bakery time after. Before an extension the lady would give him a freshly was built, there were 4 children baked item when he picked up the and their grandfather in one scraps. An act of kindness. room. This developed a close bond His first job, as a 13 year old between the family members. was not unusual for kids of the People who came and stayed, times. He went to work for local compared it to the TV show, The orchardist, Harold Campbell Waltons, with rooms that butted who Tom remembered as a kind, on to each other. Everyone had to gentleman who became his first say goodnight to everyone else – a mentor. long process. His second job was at Sparkes Tom warmly welcomed the garage where the boss wasn’t members of both the Dean and so kind. These 2 men set the McKeown families. At times, it example for Tom on how to treat was like a revolving door, with or not treat those he came into extras for Sunday lunches and contact with. for school holidays. The home He then went on to sewing was open to all including the wheat bags at Cherry Hill. He said neighbours across the road - with that this was the first time he had young Shawn arriving on a Sunday brown sugar on his porridge morning to climb into bed with indeed a treat! (Above) Tom as a child on the family Tom and Margaret and tell them, There were many rural jobs in farm on Norah Creek Road ‘A cookie would keep me happy.’ those first few years, wherever he Looking back, the family wonder could get work. how their Mum and Dad managed When he was about 16, Tom and - but they did - in the same way two Fairbridge Farm boys, hitchhiked to Queensland to seek adventure and to make ‘our fortune’ on the canefields. that families across town and district looked after each other. A kettle on the stove - put They made it as far as Gympie. With no money, they camped overnight in a park - some more vegies and water in the soup or stew simmering on the stove - a bed for the found in the morning by the local policeman, who saw their plight and took them to the night or longer? Move over kids. Makeshift beds on the lounge or on the floor under hotel publican, another kind man who gave them lodging and meals and found them a the kitchen table were another way of sleeping more bodies. During this time, Tom went away shearing. He would have preferred to be at home, job on the forestry. Another lesson in life of helping others when in need. As soon as he saved enough money, he bought his train ticket and high-tailed it back but he needed to provide for his family. He spent 26 years as a shearing contractor. He also did other jobs such as fencing, working at the gasworks, the abattoirs, and wood to Molong, never to leave again. Back in Molong - rabbits were a big problem for farmers in those days, so he went carting to supplement the family income. In the 1970’s Tom had a dream of having his own plot of land where he could run rabbiting with two local friends, Ray Bloomfield and Freddy Brown. There was a change then to working on the railways as part of the flying gang, going out to different places some sheep and other animals. He and Margaret managed to purchase 30 acres of the Vale Head property (behind the Molong Swimming Pool). The family moved into a new to do trackwork. He forged many friendships over that period. Around the time of his 21st birthday, he went to Queensland with his brother-in-law, home there in 1976 - Tom loved the opportunities this provided. He was industrious Frank Thompson, to work in shearing sheds. His accommodation was in a tent on the and used the many skills he had acquired, building sheds and other infrastructure using secondhand materials and whatever else he could find. He enjoyed using his bank of the river. Returning from Queensland, he obtained a learner’s pen with local shearers Charlie hands. If he could make it or adapt it to save a dollar, he would!. Over the time at the hobby farm, the Dean family hospitality continued. It was always Neville and Des Sullivan. He then went on to do some work for Jack McKeown. Seeing that he was a learner, Jack McKeown got Tom and Ray Bloomfield a job with Jack a welcoming, open house where a cuppa was always on the boil and good country food Davis at Eurimbla in a 2 stand shed. Tom described Jack Davis as a kind man. Jack was served - and a spare bed was found. There are many happy family stories to be told. During this time, David and Kerry married, Brian went off to see the world and Toby Davis described Tom and Ray as two of the roughest shearers and biggest eaters he had joined the Australian Army. Grandchildren started to arrive. ever had! When Tom was approaching retirement, Margaret’s health and injuries received in It was during this time, that he met Jack McKeown’s daughter Margaret and fell in love. They were married in Molong in 1952. It was a loving marriage and the 2 of them accidents caused them to re-think where they would live and so they moved up to 23 made quite a team. However, like a lot of marriages during those years - there were Wellington Street. Son, Brian and Margaret purchased the hobby farm from them. lean times that had to be negotiated. They shared fond memories with many other Tommy was a regular visitor, doing all sorts of jobs and projects – including shearing a couples of that era. Tom told the story of shooting galahs and Ursil (Shorty) Brown pen of sheep 6 months after a heart bypass. Life was good when he retired in 1994 - with Tom saying that one luxury he would cooking them up with Fred usually served up the toughest one! Still, it was food on the gladly live was to stay in bed each day until the frost had gone - which he did diligently table. Like other family men, Tom would travel to find work - fencing, shearing in right to the end. He had had too many years of getting up in the dark and cold! (to p7)
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MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 20 July 2023
