Laughs, tears for Illawarra legend Ted Tobin

By Michelle Hoctor
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:55pm, first published February 12 2010 - 10:14am
Ted Tobin's mischievious spirit was remembered yesterday. Pictures: ROBERT PEET, DAVE TEASE
Ted Tobin's mischievious spirit was remembered yesterday. Pictures: ROBERT PEET, DAVE TEASE
Daughter Narelle Tutton pours sand from Port Elliot over the casket during the service.
Daughter Narelle Tutton pours sand from Port Elliot over the casket during the service.
Members of the 531 group enjoy a Tooheys Black at the wake for Ted Tobin.
Members of the 531 group enjoy a Tooheys Black at the wake for Ted Tobin.

Even at his own funeral, Ted Tobin's mischievous spirit was entertaining an audience.As mention was made of his larrikin humour, a little skink trotted across the chapel and past his coffin, turning tears of grief into momentary laughter."Ted always had a great sense of humour," Reverend Gordon Bradbery noted.

  • PHOTO GALLERY: Ted Tobin farewelled More than 1500 people packed the chapel of Hansen & Cole Funerals at Kembla Grange yesterday, among them Australian representative athletes, politicians from three tiers of government and the hundreds of others Mr Tobin, or "Tuck", had come to know in his 72 years.His coffin, draped in orange gerberas and purple lilies, reflected his life; the Australian flag, a Vikings Rugby Union Club jumper, a brick from the old Wollongong City Surf Life Saving Club building and a small garden of seashells. Overhead hung the Wollongong SLSC pennant.In his eulogy, Graham Hamilton, a former Illawarra Academy of Sport chairman, paid tribute to Mr Tobin's history of community service."If you add up the number of years spent on executive appointments alone, it's about 86 years, and you start to get a good idea of how much this guy has put in," he said."He was available to all and sundry. His ability to give counsel and remain confidential and instil common sense was amazing."He didn't do it by himself, he built teams. When it came time to do the heavy lifting, he was there up front, but he encouraged young people to put back into their community."But it wasn't all hard work, not when Tuck was around."If you look at his photograph, you will see there is mischief in those eyes, a larrikin spirit," Mr Hamilton said.He told the story of how, in negotiating the lease of the new Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club building, the club was advised it would be responsible for paying excess water usage charges.This was a surprise to members who had never before been responsible for the expenses, or so they thought.A quick check with former president Tuck revealed the truth. The clubhouse had bypassed the water meter and was connected to the main by a plumber who owed him a favour."'We're a surf club,' he said. 'We save lives, we can't be paying that'."Daughter Narelle Tutton said her father was a great raconteur with a penchant for embellishing a story."He had this knack, every time he told a story, it grew," she said. "One of those was the time he was surfing and caught a wave at Shellharbour."It was so big he could see Robertson. By the last time he told that story, not only could he see the potatoes at Robertson, he could shake hands with the potato pickers!"Ms Tutton said there were three goals her father wanted to achieve, reaching his 70th birthday, celebrating 50 years of marriage to Beverley ("BJ"), and making it through his last Christmas."As was Dad's way, he scored three out of three," she said.Son Ian displayed the fierce devotion and pride shared by Mr Tobin's family.``Dad was an inspiration. He asked little for himself but gave so much to others.``He had every right to be called a legend in the truest sense of the word ... He was such a special man. In being himself he could make you feel special.''He spoke of the soul-mate relationship shared by his parents, and the legacy of love passed on to himself, Narelle and his late brother Glenn.Mr Hamilton said the best way to honour Mr Tobin was to continue his passion for community service.Rev Bradbery agreed: ``If you want to make a memorial to him, let's build on some of the things that he leaves behind.''At his graveside, Beverley and Narelle joined other family members in sprinkling Mr Tobin's coffin with sand that had come from Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club in South Australia.Mr Tobin had instigated a sister city relationship between the Wollongong and Port Elliot clubs more than 50 years ago, and members of the South Australian club had made the journey with their special cargo, carried in beer bottles.But it was Ian Tobin's reflection on a precious afternoon, spent swimming alone with his father during a moment of respite in his failing health, that resonated.``It was a lovely afternoon.`` I got to share an hour with him and he told me that in everything he had endured, had to give up or was unable to do, it was simply swimming he missed the most.``It left a message with me: enjoy the simple pleasures. Appreciate what you have, it's something to be treasured.''
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