Ted Tobin: A true gentleman of the Illawarra

By Michelle Hoctor
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:55pm, first published February 9 2010 - 10:27am
Ted Tobin with his wife Beverley.
Ted Tobin with his wife Beverley.

Ted Tobin OAM was a leader of his generation, a civic-minded man dedicated to the advancement of the Illawarra.Mr Tobin died on Monday evening at Wollongong Hospital after a heart attack. He was 72.Tributes have been paid to a man who served many roles, from Wollongong City Council alderman to sports administrator, mentor, master of ceremonies, fund raiser and family man.

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  • Editorial: Gong loses a true champion "Ted was a larger than life character and a remarkable contributor to the city's future," said the council's general manager David Farmer. "He has definitely left his mark on Wollongong."In his early years, Mr Tobin was an accomplished sportsman before, at 29, he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis that results in rigidity of the spine."I struggled. I still tried to play sport at that time, but it became impossible because of the pain," he told the Mercury last year.Undaunted, the father of three turned his sights to civic leadership and was elected as an alderman on Wollongong City Council in 1971. He served for 13 years, during which he was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for services to local government.He served three years as Illawarra County Council chairman, 15 years on the Wollongong Sportsground Trust, 15 years as captain-president of Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club and 20 years on board of Illawarra Leagues Club, 10 of them as chairman.In the early 1980s, Mr Farmer said, Mr Tobin led support for what is now Crown St Mall, believing it would lead to job regeneration, city pride and save the city's shopping heart.In 1985, he retired as John Lysaght NSW operations manager (building division), on medical advice.He celebrated his children's achievements, including son Glenn's rise through the NSW cricketing ranks, an association that led to his involvement with the Illawarra Academy of Sport, of which he was foundation chairman.Mr Tobin was a director of City Coast Credit Union for nine years and was made a Fellow of the University of Wollongong in 1992.His outstanding service to the community was recognised in 1995, with an Order of Australia Medal.But his life was not without tragedy.He was shattered when Glenn took his own life in 2001 during a bout of depression. The family created the Glenn Tobin Memorial Fund as a result, and it has since raised more than $250,000 for youth suicide prevention initiatives.Yesterday, Wollongong MP Noreen Hay described Mr Tobin as a "people's man" who provided countless hours laying the foundation stone for a better community."Wollongong may have lost a real gentleman, but the results of his work will remain with us for a long time," she said.Former Keira and Wollongong MP Col Markham said Mr Tobin's setbacks never daunted his community spirit."Ted was just larger than life ... in his whole life and everything he did," Mr Markham said.Keith Phipps, who served on the council with Mr Tobin, said although he was an ALP member and Mr Tobin an Independent, they shared great respect."I looked up to Ted in that he was quite gifted with his oratory skills," Mr Phipps said. "I tried my best to follow the way that he would present a case to council. I was never as good as Ted, though."Cunningham MP Sharon Bird said she last spoke with Mr Tobin at the launch of the new Headspace Illawarra premises."His contribution and service to our community will be missed," she said.Mr Tobin is survived by his wife, Beverley, children Ian and Narelle, grandchildren Scott, Amy, Kiara and Dominique, and great-grandchild Peyton.His funeral is expected to be held on Friday.
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