Thomas Patrick Murphy was born on February 5, 1927 in Dublin, Ireland to James and Brigid Murphy.
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He was the second of three children; he had an older brother named Eamon and a younger sister named Moira.
Thomas was educated by the Christian Brothers and left school at 14 to his first job, delivering bread around Dublin for a bakery.
Tom then went on to a cleaning position in the railways, where his father was a train driver.
Thomas played Gaelic football and hurling as a youth.
At 18, he joined the RAF, where he spent three years.
Tom served in Germany from 1945 to 1948 in the occupied forces. He was demobbed from the air force in 1948.
Tom then worked as an accountant’s clerk in London.
He returned to Dublin to be with his mother while she was ill.
Thomas again returned to England, where he worked for London Films International Ltd from May 1951 to May 1952.
One highlight in particular was when Tom met a young Scotsman by the name of Sean Connery.
Thomas applied to move to Australia and was approved in 1952, arriving in Australia on June 13, 1952.
Tom worked for Victorian Railways for 30 years, transferring several times from Barnawartha to Goorambat, and then to Camperdown, finally settling in Echuca, where he eventually retired from the railways.
He met his future wife, Carmel, at a local Catholic dance, although he took great pleasure telling all that he met her outside Young and Jackson on Flinders St, Melbourne.
Tom and Carmel married on April 16, 1955, and they honeymooned in Lakes Entrance.
They were blessed with five beautiful daughters: Colleen, Alannah, Janine, Diane and Sharon, and one charming son, Gavin.
After Tom’s retirement and all their children had left home, the Murphys bought a coffee lounge in Hay, NSW.
They worked long hours, six days a week, for 14 years.
Carmel cooked everything from scratch, whereas Tom entertained the customers while serving.
Later, Tom and Carmel moved to Rochester to be closer to accessible medical facilities.
Tom became well known for his voluntary work, including with St Vincent de Paul for 30 years, Rochester and Elmore District Health Service aged care for 25 years, Rochester Community House foodshare and the Rochester Lions Club for extended periods of time.
He continued to volunteer until just weeks before his passing.
If there was ever a barbecue needed, Thomas was always the first to volunteer.
Tom was awarded for his voluntary work, although he never asked for recognition, and was humble with these awards.
In 2001, he won the NSW Seniors Week Premiers Award and the National Australia Day Council Citizen Award.
In December 2021, Tom was awarded the Campaspe Communtiy Volunteers Awards, and was made a life governor of REDHS.
Tom enjoyed family get-togethers, with large gatherings for special occasions.
The family grew to include 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and recently, one great-great-granddaughter.
Carmel recalls Tom sneaking quickly over from work to the house to assist with feeding babies and changing nappies.
She has wonderful memories of outings to the homes of Linda and Graham Barnes, and Judy and Peter Anderson, their neighbours in Rochester.
The couple enjoyed meals at the Criterion Hotel in Rochester, and trips to the pokies in Moama.
They had many stays in Cobram-Barooga and holidays to Melbourne, Cairns, Port Douglas and The Entrance, NSW.
Thomas had a love for fishing; although rarely catching a fish, he always had an enjoyable time on the river.
Tom returned to Ireland once, in the early 1980s, and often reminisced about that trip.
He had an enduring love of music, and many who knew him will remember him singing, whistling, telling jokes and stories, and generally showing his happy disposition everywhere he went.
In his younger years, Tom sang in pubs, clubs and at concerts, as well as wherever someone would stand still long enough to listen.
You could always hear his Irish tenor voice echoing around the corridors.
Tom also enjoyed reading, always having a book on hand.
He was once heard to say, “you can get lost in a book, you’ll never be lonely”.
Thomas was a long-standing member of the Catholic Church, with a strong faith in God.
He was a true gentleman and a wonderful husband.
Tom was loved by all his family, extended family and friends.
He was respected by all who met him, and has left both a lasting impact and a huge hole.
Tom recently commented that he had been very lucky.
No, Tom, we have been lucky to have had your acquaintance, to watch your interactions in the community, your love of life, and those humorous stories, of which some were true.
You will be missed by many. Thank you, Tom.
— Words by Peter Anderson, a friend of Thomas Murphy.