WATHEN, Thomas William “Tom”

Fond memories of working with Tom at Elizabeth Street, always a gentleman.Rest in Peace, Denise and Barry

Thanks for some wonderful memories Tom…. Particularly impromptu dinners at the Darnum Hotel… Linda, Don and Sarah Wishart xxx

On a personal level, thank you for your warm friendship over the years.
Thank you for your dedicated service to the AEU members across Gippsland, particularly the Latrobe Valley region. Your outstanding work as Treasure over many years was much appreciated by all. Rest in peace Tom.

On a personal level, thank you for your warm friendship over the years.
Thank you for your dedicated work for the AEU members across Gippsland. Your work as Treasurer of the Latrobe Valley Region for many years was much appreciated by all.
Rest in Peace Tom.

Rest in peace.

Will miss Tom at the rose garden. He was always happy and on for a chat. He saved us ladies emptying our containers and lugging the tarps. We will all miss his passionfruit sponges at times. A very kind gentleman. Sorry can’t be there. Mal

We would like to express our sincere condolences on Tom’s passing. He was a very well respected “Friend ” of the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden, and will be sadly missed. Tom was a true gentleman, with a great work ethic and a wonderful sense of humour.
Taken too soon.

A great time had with Tom as his bagman

Many wonderful years of friendship and AEU support in the Latrobe Valley. Tom was always up for a long chat and enjoyed catching up for a meal with us all, especially at Morwell Indian. His train trip 60th birthday was so much fun and so ‘Tom’ in so many ways. He was a dedicated teacher and a true gentleman. RIP Tom. 🚂

AEU supporter through and through. Always happy to see him. On my visits to Gippsland as Vice President

It doesn’t seem that long since I had an unplanned dinner with Tom at Silvers. Former student & later AEU colleague & stalwart. Condolences to his family & friends RIP.

Thanks Tom for being a special contributor to the steam preservation and rail fan community.
Your presence on a train always made for a fun journey, alongside your sharp sense of humour, generosity and people skills.
An ability to shift conversation to a positive note from something negative will be fondly remembered and you are sadly missed.

I worked with Tom for many years, he was a true gentleman and brought some fun to the staff room. My grandsons always enjoyed having him as a teacher at Morwell Park. RIP Tom.

A powerful man with many support too the many
A terrific teacher and a good listener and good friend
( Your wings have been granted) gone but not forgotten
Rest ln Peace Tom

Rest in Peace Mr. Wathen. You were an amazing teacher and I’ll never forget being in your class in primary school. You won’t be forgotten. Condolences to your family & friends.

I met Tom almost 47 years ago because of our mutual passion for steam locos and railways in general. Whilst it began in Victoria, it extended to South Australia and New South Wales and then to South Africa and Turkey.
Tom had a keen sense of humour and was extremely generous. He made a major contribution to rail preservation by running raffles on Steamrail tours and working on loco servicing on railfan special steam trains.
I spent 1982 firing steam locos at Kimberley in South Africa and Tom regularly wrote to me giving the local Victorian steam news. Whilst it did make me homesick at times, I really appreciated knowing what was happening. Tom also made cassette tapes with friends sending messages and updated rail news. They were fantastic and filled with his humour. That December Tom joined my now wife Roni and I for a 5 week tour of the country – naturally to see steam trains. We had a fantastic time. Tom was bitten by the South African Steam Bug and returned to the country several times to film steam. I introduced Tom to local railfans the late Dusty Durrant and Charlie Lewis with whom he became firm friends.
We spent Christmas in Kimberley with a friend I had made, the late John Underwood and his family. Tom, John & his wife Colleen became firm friends and he kept in regular contact with John until his recent passing and was also in contact with Colleen until Tom’s own sad passing.
On our tour I was able to arrange a cab ride for Tom on a steam passenger train and he also had a short drive. He was ecstatic. We each bought South African Railway’s wall clocks which we both cherished. We also bought beer steins from the Kraankuil railway hotel, which I know he regularly filled and emptied after our return. At the time home video cameras were brand new and luckily I had one. I gave Tom copies of what I had shot on our holiday and soon after our return to Australia Tom bought one. When Roni & I married in 1986 Tom made a treasured video of the ceremony with that camera.
In May 1987 Tom joined Yuri Sos, Graham Knight and I on a steam tour. We celebrated his birthday in fine style during the tour. Tom loved a beer ….
Sadly, Yuri passed away a few days before Tom.
As our family grew, Tom became a fine friend to our daughters Asheleigh and Simone. They loved his sense of humour. When Ashe had a daughter in January 2022, Tom gave Amelia an MCC membership nomination. This was typical of his immense generosity.
We well know of Tom’s health battles which he faced with much strength and certainly did not deserve. Our last meeting was on the final ARE Seymour tour and we agreed to make arrangements for a lunch so that he could meet Amelia. When I spoke with Tom to make that date he said “Sadly my time is not my own – it’s with the doctors. I’ll let you know when we can meet.” Alas when we next spoke, he informed me of the poor prognosis and the lunch never eventuated.
However, our last meeting was a happy one with Tom in fine form with his jokes. Our family will always remember the good times we had with Tom. Enjoy the great Roundhouse in the sky. RIP Tom.

I have many fond memories of Tom, as a fine man, colleague and teacher. Certainly “old school”, but one of the best, with a wicked sense of humour. I regret not seeing you in recent years. Vale Tom.

Friday night at Mia’s won’t be the same without you. We will miss your wit and many stories.

I met Tom at a dinner group in 1993 and we became good friends. He, of course, quickly introduced me to steam trains and I spent many happy times either sitting in a dining car or enjoying the experience of chasing the trains and videoing.

We travelled to Sth Africa twice where I met Dusty and Chris Tarrant who were his second family. They treated me like their own daughter.

Tom and I married in 2001 and spent some happy times together but unfortunately it didn’t work out.

I will always cherish my memories of Tom . May he be at peace.

Dianne Richards

Farewell mon ami; my AEU Comrade in Arms’
A teacher in the truest sense whose focus on the welfare of students was always paramount.

Oh Tom, you have left us much too early. So pleased we caught up at Joan’s for the small Elizabeth Street PS get together last year. Such a friendly person & so pleased to catch up with your news. So dedicated to his teaching profession and touched so many young people in their early years.
You were in our thoughts recently when a stream train past us bye.
Rest in Peace dear friend and colleague.
Deepest Sympathy Rod and Pat

My sincere condolences to Toms family. He was a wonderful and respected teacher at MPPS. with a great sense of humour. He is fondly remembered for his kindness, witt and genuine interest in others.
RIP Tom. 🌹

Angela Lane on behalf of staff at Morwell Park PS. ❤️

Remembering Tom from his Elizabeth St years, his wicked sense of humour and commitment to the school community. He worked on many fronts from the ice-cream shop to staff rights through his union work. I know my son whizzed around bringing the bins in on Fridays for one of Mr Wathen’s icy poles. He took underdogs under his wing and looked for ways to give them a boost like getting one boy a paper round. Gone way to soon.
Karen Salienko.

Such sad news of Tom’s passing.
A true gentleman in every sense.
Rest peacefully Tom

John Callaway and Staff
Cedar Lodge

Well it time to say “see you later” old mate.
I wish i could be there today with our steam preservation mates, your friends and family to celebrate your life. A life well spent..

I remember the first time we all met. It was on a steam rail heritage trip of course. What a way to start an amazing journey of friendship and laughter and many misdeeds! It was about 35 years ago and with a few gaps here and there we have been riding the (steam) rails ever since.

Do you remember the night bucket? Well i guess i wont have need to prove it to you now
You had great entrepreneurial skills Tom I am thinking of the “spumante” raffle, No one ever accepted it as the first prize-ever! Where even did you get it from? Oh yes, i believe it cost you $7,00 from the Moe supermarket.

I think of the many lunches and excursions over the year to places like Muckleford, Captain Midnight restaurant, Ballarat Lakes , Castlemaine rail, to name just a few , where we all enjoyed much camaraderie and laughter .

You were more than a mate , you were like a brother to me as as to Frank, Garry, Roger and others.

I will always remember our Friday and Sunday phone calls where we talked a lot of bullshit while solving the problems of the world.

And my long suffering family will never forget your “Tom” jokes either! You have always been a great mate and a true friend to our family. Now you are will Milly
“So mote it be”
Till we meet again Tom

We lost contact in later years but he would often pop in to see me Friday night’s on his way to the Morwell record shop,1972.. He was a good school hood friend and in those days, a big Neil Diamond fan. ! R.I.P. Tom.

Tom’s knowledge of politics and Australian history made him an interesting conversationalist. Good analysis as well as humour and broad ranging interests. A great friend. You were terrific mate and I’ll miss our talks on the phone..

Without a doubt the best teacher I’ve ever had throughout my schooling.

I’ll never forget the joy and smiles he brought to the classroom, from his riddles book that had the cover falling off from age, to asking what size sauce I wanted on my hot dog (large meant covering the whole hot dog until you couldn’t see it), to his infamous “Johnny Johnny whoops!” game, and so many more memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I saw Tom only a few months ago while I was grabbing my breakfast, and the conversation we had was nothing short of incredible. His wisdom and humour made each occasion I saw him so irreplaceable, and is something that I’ll never forget.

Rest in Peace Tom, till we meet again 🍻

Tom you were a great cousin, friend to me during all the years we were growing up. The time we spent in Bendigo and Morwell are memorable time I will cherish for ever. RIP my friend.

RIP Tom. It’s been a long time old friend.
Your parents would have been so proud.