Celebrating the life of a quiet achiever

STAR News Group coowner Ian Thomas told the inaugural Florrie Thomas Berwick Pakenham Historical Society Memorial Dinner that his mother, Florrie Thomas, became a life member of the society during the late 1990s.
Mr Thomas said the idea of forming an historical society came from the Rotary Club of Pakenham and that the society would celebrate its 45th birthday later this year.
His father, Herb Thomas, and Pakenham Consolidated School principal Charles Hicks, both Rotarians, played a vital role in calling the public meeting on 3 November 1961 to launch a historical society.
“This was an extremely enthusiastic meeting and after considerable discussion the Historical Society of Berwick Shire was formed,” Mr Thomas said.
Members of the inaugural committee were councillors Trevor Kilvington, Gren Hosking, George Rae and Earl Towt.
Others were Max Weatherhead, George Shelton, George Bould, Peter Hoyles, Eugene Drossaert, Claude Harris, Alex Hein, Les Futcher, Bill Mann, Jack Bayliss, Roy Langley, Roy Dewar, John Glismann, Lou Warren, Herb Thomas, and Ian Thomas.
“My father, who had chaired the public meeting, was elected inaugural president of the society, with Jack Bayliss as secretary, a position he held for many years,” Mr Thomas said.
“Initially meetings were held at the Consolidated School, where the historical documents were also stored.
“Then the society moved to the old police station, in Main Street, the present site of the ambulance station.
“When Les Futcher donated land in John Street, a purposebuilt building was constructed and served as the society’s home for many years.
“As development of the area expanded, the council arranged during the late ’80s or early ’90s to move the headquarters of the historical society to the library site, further north along John Street, at the same time storing some of the larger items in the prefab buildings, as part of the old shire offices.
“Finally, after protracted discussions and debates, the old shire offices were relocated to their present site, at the corner of Main Street and Princes Highway and this building now serves as the historical society’s headquarters.
“Throughout that period of almost 45 years a loyal band of people supported the society and worked tirelessly to ensure that this district’s history is preserved.
“The Thomas family has featured prominently over those years.
“Herb Thomas served as president from 1961 to 1976, when his sister, Beatrice Thomas, who had served as secretary of Berwick Shire Council from 1951 to 1966, took over as historical society president, from 1976 until 1988.
“Both Herb and Trixie were made life members of the society.
“Helen Hudson became the next president and served in that role for almost 10 years, before the current president and Cardinia mayor Bill Ronald took over in the late ’90s.
“Helen and husband Bill’s support for the society has been outstanding, as it has been for all matters historical in the area.
“This luncheon was the brainchild of Helen many years ago, and I’m pleased that today her son Geoff has played a leading role in its organisation.
“Today we remember and pay tribute to my mother, Florrie Thomas, who died on Tuesday 9 August last year, at age 98.
“As with everything she did, she worked quietly in the background, attending meetings, helping with suppers, doing numerous jobs at working bees, staffing the centre on open days, helping with cataloguing and in many other ways.
“Throughout her life she was the quiet achiever, and a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother.
“Thank you to all members of the historical society for the wonderful work done over the past 45 years, and best wishes in the future as you continue to work diligently to preserve the important history of this area,” Mr Thomas said.