The much-liked Tom Lowe, renowned builder and all-round sportsman.
Tom Lowe will be remembered as renowned builder, a Burramine Gift winner and handy Pigeon footballer, Yarrawonga Gun Club Life Member and wonderful family man who endeared himself to all.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Tom, 87, passed away peacefully on March 29. The funeral service was conducted by Fr. Alan Jarrad in a packed St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Yarrawonga last Wednesday, April 5.
Included in the eulogy so well delivered by daughter Erin York follows: “Thomas Edward Lowe, a son for Olive and Tom Lowe Snr., was born at the Yarrawonga Hospital on the 8th of November, 1935 moments before his little twin sister, Dorothy May.
“In the adjoining room was Annie Ryan, who had a newborn son named Noel. Annie said to Olive, wouldn’t it be lovely if the boys became friends.
“Tom and Noel indeed became lifelong friends, with Dad attending as best man at Noel and Isabel’s wedding and living with Annie and Dick at their Tom Street home after the loss of his parents.
“It was the middle of the great depression and Olive already had six children at home when the twins arrived.
Despite the hard times, the twins were doted on and spoiled by their older siblings Norma, Hazel, Rod, Frank, Jack, and Shirley at the family home in Belmore Street, a house which was built by Tom Lowe senior (now over one hundred years ago) and in which Dad lived for the first 30 years of his life.
“Everyone had a job to keep the house running, Tom Lowe senior set the expectations, and they were to be met. Olive provided a warm and welcoming home with Dad often remembering the huge slabs of jam and coconut slice, cakes and the bottomless pot of rabbit stew that was continuously topped up and ever-present on the wood stove.
“The stories and adventures that informed us of Dad’s childhood would not be out of place in a Mark Twain novel. A youth spent along the Murray River rabbiting with his ferrets, fishing for Cod and yellow belly, chasing crays, yabbies and shooting ducks.
The rabbits were sold to Yarrawonga house wives for 9 pence each or 1 and 6 a pair. As a young boy Dad learnt the art of bee keeping by helping Dick Jose, an old worn-out man who lived in an iron humpy down on the river bends, it was a hobby that he enjoyed and took great pride in, well into his 80s.
“Tom worshipped his Dad and left school at the age of 14 to begin his builder’s apprenticeship with him, working together to construct so many 1950’s brick and weatherboard homes within and around Yarrawonga, many of which still stand today.
In Dad’s words: ‘My father was tough (no one could be tougher) and fair, with a fine sense of humour, he disliked attention, was very quiet, and wasn’t one for unnecessary conversations’. It seems the apple didn’t fall far from the tree!
Winning the Burramine Gift in 1968; pictured with trainer Fred Johnson.
“Dad’s workmanship was renowned and sought after, that level of old school precision and excellence took a lot of time, something that Tom always seemed to have plenty of…hand on heart I don’t think I ever saw him in a hurry.
“Dad was proud of the work he did for his customers and also in retirement, notably the restoration of JC Lowe’s 1928 Chevrolet an absolute labour of love, red gum dining tables, dove tailed blanket boxes, cedar tall boys, honour boards for local clubs, all from the organised chaos of his Orr Street shed.
“It was at the age of 14 years that Dad first played football for Yarrawonga, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and admired older brothers Rod, Frank and Jack, on the oval that his grandfather had cleared by hand.
“The Lowe boys were tough and skilled footballers, but Dad was fast. It was his speed that led Tom to seek out Fred Johnson as a trainer, at the age of 18 to concentrate on his running.
“Dad along with Fred ran in the first Burramine Gift in 1951 at the Yarrawonga Showgrounds. He eventually won the title in 1968 in a time of 14.2 seconds. He competed in a total of 20 Burramine Gifts, was a finalist at Wangaratta and an unlucky semi-finalist twice at Stawell.
“Dad loved the training, his stable mates, his coach Freddy Johnson and the opportunities the Gift circuit gave him. At his best, Tom had the same resting heart rate as the great Herb Elliott.
“Amongst the running, football and work there were district dances, open air theatre nights and cabarets to attend with his wide circle of friends. At the risk of leaving someone out, key players included Ken Barnes, Peter Wood, Tony Browning, Danny Maroney, Joe Dixon and the Ryan boys.
“Dad was the best man for six grooms, finally it was his turn on the 30th of July 1970 when he married the love of his life Fran. It was an instant family with Fran’s five beautiful children Sharon, Bronwyn, John, Megan and Ian. The addition of myself and Scott added to the busy life at their Tom Street home.
“Tom found the time to serve as a shire councillor, treasurer of the Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club, assisted with the Burramine Gift and was presented with Life Membership of the Yarrawonga Gun Club in 1979.
“He enjoyed playing tennis on Saturdays with Fran, and discovered lawn bowls during his retirement, competing at pennant level, successful in the club championship, and back-to-back State triples champion. Tom was an excellent shot at Sunday Gun Club meets, winning double barrel champion and 12–16-yard champion.
“Dad loved the sport of shooting, especially ducks with family and mates. But nothing matched the love he had for Mum, always holding her hand. The world would be a better place, if there were more Tom Lowes in it, go on Dad, go on.”
Other local winners of the prestigious Burramine Gift were Mick McCarthy (1955), Kevin Hilet (1956) and Daimien Vodusek (1999).
Long running secretary, from 1992 to the Gift’s completion in 2015, Frances Connell, recalls Tom’s brilliant victory.
“In 1968, Tom ran in Heat 7 of 13 heats in the event, won the Gift final, was presented with $200, the Gleeson sash and two valuable trophies,” the first female Life Member of Victorian Athletic League, in 2005, the secretary of Burramine Sports Club and author of “A History of Burramine, on the occasion of the 60th Burramine Gift in 2011, told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“He was always there to help with the preparations for the annual Burramine Gift Carnival.”
A statement from the Yarrawonga Football Netball Club read: “The Lowe name has been synonymous with the YFNC for many years, with the JC Lowe oval being named after Thomas’s grandfather. JC Lowe was president of the club between 1919-1923. The Lowes held positions as far back as 1898.
“JC was also the first life member and cleared the oval of trees. Tom Lowe senior played and coached. Rod, Frank, Jack and Tom all played, and Tom first played with Yarrawonga at the age of 14 in 1949.”
Songs ‘What A Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong and Perry Como’s ‘Catch a Falling Star’ were played during a pictorial presentation of Tom’s life. The recessional music was John Williamson’s “Cootamundra Wattle’.
A scriptures reading by champion Australian tennis player, Tom’s step son John McCurdy, appropriately included the words “I have done my best in the race, fought the good fight, run the race….” And he won.
