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| Notes for Thomas Henry BROWN | ||||||||||
| Thomas Henry was the eldest of the 5 children of Edith and Harry Brown. He was born at Warragul in 1903 and for a short time .i before moving with his family to Tanjil South, had attended the Drouin East School. He resumed his schooling at Tanjil South and left at about the age of 15. After leaving school, he and his brother Ted continued on with their father's farm. The property was a 600 acres bush block which was partially cleared and where Tom and Ted were to run a dairy herd. At a later date this land was split up into two 300 acre lots with Tom and Ted running a farm each. Around this time, Tom managed a bullock team. snigging logs and timber out of the bush. Some of this was sold to the timber mill. Later he again worked in the bush as a truck driver, carting timber. In 1928 at the Willow Grove Hall, he married, Ethel Harriet Prudence Emily Stratton Holt, (Ettie), the daughter of Ethel Stratton and Henry Holt of Willow Grove. After their marriage, Tom and Ettie continued on with farming, clearing extra acres and running a mixed herd of dairy cows. During this time their four children were born, Betty, Tommy, Geoff and Ray. However, Thomas Henry (Tommy), when just a little lad of 3, contracted diptheria and died in 1936. Like his father before him, Tom Brown was elected to the Tanjil South school committee. He gave years of service to this cause, which was later recognised by the gift of a fine electric clock. As a regular attendant of all euchre parties and socials held at the school, he ably helped the evenings along by supplying music with his accordion. For just about as long as anyone can remember, Tom and Ettie Brown were familiar figures at nearly all social functions held throughout the district. At Balls and Old Time Dances held at the Willow Grove Hall, Tom frequently acted as MC, calling for the Alberts, Lancers, Fitzroy quadrilles and other sets. He acted regularly as MC at all school socials and occasionally at the Hill End dances. Tom Brown's other interests were sport. He first played tennis at Tanjil South when the court was placed at Miss Wilson's before the lst World War. Later he played at Willow Grove and continued to play and support that club until 1958. Before the 2nd War he played football for Willow Grove. When this club was reformed in 1946 as Hill End and Grove Rovers Football Club he occupied many positions, such as committee man, senior and junior vice-president team selector time keeper and MC for many football club social dances. He received a life membership for outstanding services to the club. For a few years during the 1950's Tom and Ettie Brown conducted a small mixed business at the Willow Grove store, while their sons, Geoff and Ray continued to run the farm. By 1960 Tom and Ettie were back living on their farm in semi-retirement remaining there until their death. Tom Brown gassed away on the 9/1/1967 aged 63 years. Ettle Brown passed away on the 31/5/1973, also aged 63 years. Both were buried at the Moe cemetery after a service held at St. George's Church of England, Tanjil South. Betty Geoff and Ray Brown have all supported the Tanjil South Tennis Club at some time or another over the past 30 years, either as members or players. They were also affiliated with the Hill End Football Club. Both Geoff and Ray as players, and Betty with canteen duties and as a member of the social club committee. Betty was made a life member of the club for her constant support. As a committee man, goal umpire, vice- captain, social club member, and long term layer of 20 years, Geoff Brown also received a life membership of the Hill End Football Club. | ||||||||||
| Last Modified 8 Apr 2005 | Created 10 Mar 2008 by EasyTree for Windows95 |