Former Fire Chief paid last respects

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 19, 11 October 1983, Page 8

Former Fire Chief paid last respects

When Thomas (Tommy) Austin died in Raetihi at the age of 8 1 the Waimarino lost one of its most colourful personalities. Tommy Austin had lived . in Ohakune for all but twelve years of his life and had been associated with the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade for 40 years. Tommy, who was born in Tasmania in 1902 came to live with his family in Ohakune when he was seven and after leaving school at the age of 14, he served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith with Huey Reid. On completion of his apprenticeship he moved to Tokaanu where he stayed for 5 years before returning to Ohakune where he set up business in H-uey Reid's former blacksmith's workshop on what is now the parking area next to Sports Country and directly opposite the Skiers Inn.

Tommy Austin seen recently at retired Fire Chief, Jim Chelley's farewell function at the Ohakune Primarv School in July of this year. Tommy had been given permission to leave hospital to attend this function. Starting as a blacksmith, shoeing horses and mending carts, Tommy gradually became the local engineer making carrot washers and other farm equipment needed by Ohakune's market gardeners.

Despite the long hours he put in at the workshop (101 2 a day) he still found time to serve with the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade and worke^ his way up through the ranks until, in 1950, he was appointed fire chief — a position he held for 19 years until he retired in 1969. His wife, formerly Ellen Hancox, died several years ago. Tommy's funeral on Tuesday 27 September at the Fresbyterian Church in Ohakune was attended by about 150 mourners and a guard of honour from both the Ohakune and Raetihi brigades who came to pay their last respects to their fallen comrade. The hearse was accompanied from the Fresbyterian Church to the cemetery in Lakes Reserve Road by two fire appliances from the Ohakune Brigade.