“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.

When Bessie and the Dean family had to approach life without Victor, there wasn’t the same welfare support available for families that is available today.

Tom told stories of going around town to pick up scraps from the hotels, the bakery and railway refreshment rooms, to take home to feed the animals. At the same time he would deliver butter and milk to customers - fresh from the family farm.

This morning routine meant that Tom didn’t always make it to school for the start of class. However, it was during this time that Tom remembered the kindness and help of others that gave the young boy the values of ‘simple kindness from others to others’ that helped mould Tom’s personal values. At the bakery the lady would give him a freshly baked item when he picked up the scraps. An act of kindness.

His first job, as a 13 year old was not unusual for kids of the times. He went to work for local orchardist, Harold Campbellwho Tom remembered as a kind, gentleman who became his first mentor.

His second job was at Sparkes garage where the boss wasn’t so kind. These 2 men set the example for Tom on how to treat or not treat those he came into contact with.

He then went on to sewing wheat bags at Cherry Hill. He said that this was the first time he had brown sugar on his porridgeindeed a treat!

There were many rural jobs in those first few years, wherever he could get work.

Coonamble where he forged many friendships.

Margaret and Tommy welcomed David in 1954 and Brian in 1955. A little while later, the young family moved out to Cardington where Tom was a share farmer. He reckoned he learnt more life lessons share farming - but would say that many were not profitable! Their daughter Kerry was born into the family in 1958 whilst the Deans were living at Cardington. In the early 60s, the family moved back into town. Tom and Margaret purchased a small 2 bedroom home in Riddell St. Toby joined the family in 1963. Sadly, Margaret’s mother passed away prematurely. Her father and brother Stephen, who was only a few months younger than David, came to live with the family a short time after. Before an extension was built, there were 4 children and their grandfather in one room. This developed a close bond between the family members. People who came and stayed, compared it to the TV show, The Waltons, with rooms that butted on to each other. Everyone had to say goodnight to everyone else – a long process.

When he was about 16, Tom and two Fairbridge Farm boys, hitchhiked to Queensland to seek adventure and to make ‘our fortune’ on the canefields. They made it as far as Gympie. With no money, they camped overnight in a parkfound in the morning by the local policeman, who saw their plight and took them to the hotel publican, another kind man who gave them lodging and meals and found them a 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 to Molong, never to leave again.

Back in Molong - rabbits were a big problem for farmers in those days, so he went 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 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, Frank Thompson, to work in shearing sheds. His accommodation was in a tent on the bank of the river.

Returning from Queensland, he obtained a learner’s pen with local shearers Charlie 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 Davis at Eurimbla in a 2 stand shed. Tom described Jack Davis as a kind man. Jack Davis described Tom and Ray as two of the roughest shearers and biggest eaters he had ever had!

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 made quite a team. However, like a lot of marriages during those years - there were lean times that had to be negotiated. They shared fond memories with many other couples of that era. Tom told the story of shooting galahs and Ursil (Shorty) Brown cooking them up with Fred usually served up the toughest one! Still, it was food on the table.

Like other family men, Tom would travel to find work - fencing, shearing in

Tom warmly welcomed the members of both the Dean and McKeown families. At times, it was like a revolving door, with extras for Sunday lunches and for school holidays. The home was open to all including the neighbours across the road - with young Shawn arriving on a Sunday morning to climb into bed with Tom and Margaret and tell them, ‘A cookie would keep me happy.’ Looking back, the family wonder how their Mum and Dad managed - but they did - in the same way that families across town and district looked after each other. A kettle on the stove - put some more vegies and water in the soup or stew simmering on the stove - a bed for the night or longer? Move over kids. Makeshift beds on the lounge or on the floor under 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, 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 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 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 home there in 1976 - Tom loved the opportunities this provided. He was industrious 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 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 a welcoming, open house where a cuppa was always on the boil and good country food 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 joined the Australian Army. Grandchildren started to arrive.

When Tom was approaching retirement, Margaret’s health and injuries received in accidents caused them to re-think where they would live and so they moved up to 23 Wellington Street. Son, Brian and Margaret purchased the hobby farm from them. Tommy was a regular visitor, doing all sorts of jobs and projects – including shearing a 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 gladly live was to stay in bed each day until the frost had gone - which he did diligently right to the end. He had had too many years of getting up in the dark and cold! (to p7)