“Tommy” Dean

(from page 6)

In retirement during the 2000’s Tom became involved in lawn bowls and succeeded reasonably well. There are stories of Tom taking a learner under his wing, and patiently teaching them the techniques of lawn bowls. This endeared him even more to others.

In 2004, Margaret’s declining health saw another move next door to Brian and Margaret in Gidley Street. This place didn’t have a big shed, but Brian’s place did and Tom was often over, tinkering with tools and machinery, usually in preparation for the next fishing trip.

His fishing trips were something he loved. The preparation was usually a greater event than the actual trip!

What else could he modify to make things easier? What other piece of equipment could he fit in? He shared these trips with good friends and also younger family members.

It gave Tom great pleasure to see his grandchildren starting to make their way in the world. In more recent years, there was the added delight of great grandchildren.

In his later years, even though his physical powers began to wane, his humour didn’t. He could always be relied on for a short witty comment. He enjoyed his family as well as friends. In his later years, loved extending hospitality to family and friends, albeit on a different level to the 60s and 70s. He loved seeing people coming through the front, or side, door.

In recent times, it was a joy for others to listen to Tom and Strapper Lay swapping yarns about the shearing sheds. Were they all true?

Tom shared many of his life experiences with his children and also his regrets, lest they make them as well, knowing full well they would. He was loving and forgiving in his advice and counsel.

Tom wasn’t only a mentor to his own children, but also to many other young people. He wanted to share with them what he had learnt in life in the hope that they wouldn’t make the same mistakes as he had. But he was ready to forgive if they didn’t get things right.

We salute Tom, who wasn’t perfect, but who lived and loved well, and was loved in return.

Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association’s “Beat Climate change by becoming vego”

I was shocked to read this article published in your Thursday 13th July edition Molong Express. If ever the saying, “Don’t let the facts spoil a story” is true, then this article would be the one. It was bereft of fact but overflowing with sweeping generalisations and motherhood statements. The truth was nowhere to be found. I can’t understand how you could think of publishing such an ideological spray against agriculture in a paper which serves a farming district.

I particularly took exception to, “The main benefit of vegetarianism is the world continuing to be able to feed itself while not perishing in a natural disaster caused by agriculture.” And then, “Worldwide agriculture is mainly about growing food for farm animals destined for the plates of non-vegetarians.”

There were too many plainly wrong conclusions in the article to mention in this letter, but these are the worst. They are totally wrong. One would think that the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association authors would check their facts before circulating stories that mislead and alarm their readers.

In the last few lines some balance is restored, “So, even if you gradually change over to vegetarian food, you can still, and perhaps even should, have some meat or fish regularly.”

I definitely would NOT trust any advice given by the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association.

Dougal Pottie, Molong