of Eden
David John McBurnie Thomas
January 16th 1941 – November 9th 2023
Family and Friends are invited by his wife Ann to Celebrate and Reflect on
David’s Life at the Robbie Burns Hotel, Wyndham NSW at 3:00p.m., Friday 1st December, 2023.
…for Afternoon Tea and Poetry…
(20 minute drive from South Pambula on the Mount Darragh Road)
Funeral Details
Date & Time
3:00 pm, Fri 1 December 2023Venue
Robbie Burns Hotel, AUView on Google Maps
Funeral Director
John R Whyman Funeral Services
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Funeral Director
John R Whyman Funeral Services
Serving families in Bega and surrounding suburbs.02 6492 4111
admin@whymanfunerals.com.au
5 Little Church St, Bega, New South Wales 2550
Unfortunately I only knew David for a short time when he was in Uniting Eden
I would review David fortnightly on a Tuesday as the Palliative Care Nurse. We had an instant connection and he shared many personal stories with me.
David faced his mortality with courage and sadness. He shared his love of Anne and their life together.
I will miss your stories, sense of humour and holding your hand as we recited the Lord’s Prayer together.
May your soul rest in peace
I met David some years ago when he attended a series of writing workshops that I ran in Eden. Very quickly I realised he had an extraordinary mind and an excellent talent for writing. He wrote with eagerness and determination and his writing was a delight – well-crafted with a unique voice. David and Ann were a beautiful couple. Ann, I am so sorry you lost him.
I met Thomo as a young EHO not long out of uni. He took me under his wing and was a fantastic mentor, with so much knowledge in the field. We loved hearing his stories about his different EHO experiences.
We missed him so much when he left Shep for the mountains and the beach.
RIP Thomo, you will be missed. Your stories and poems live on. 💕
Thomo has so many stories to share about his personal and professional experiences throughout his extraordinary life. Such a talent, and I am glad he managed to publish a collection of these in his book – The Beach at the end of the Street. Thomo shared many of these amongst the Environmental Health team at Greater Shepparton Council. I miss the weekly Friday poems, and the annual Christmas poem read by Thomo at the last morning tea of the year before the Christmas break and think of him often. He became the grandfather to all of our children in the Environmental Health team, and left lasting legacies with our kids. Many great memories, time to reflect and remember. Thinking of you Ann. RIP Thomo.
I shared desk space in the GSCC Environmental Health Team with Thommo for a time before he headed off to the coast. He entertained me with his stories and poems and we shared enjoyment of Scotch Finger biscuits with our morning tea. In 2021 he was watching my travels on Facebook and asked me to take a photo of the honour board at the Golf Club in Tennant Creek, he was pleased to see his name is still there.
RIP Thommo, a life well lived.
David was my big brother I was his little sister . He was the big brother who wanted to throw me in the Brompton Pug Hole because I was a girl. That thought didn’t last for long. When I started school he was in Year 7 and every lunch for the first week he came across to the junior school to check that I was okay. His story telling began at a young age. Mum and Dad went to the pictures on Friday night and in the quietness of the house we ate Lifesavers and David read to me, Little Golden books.
Dear David was a close & genuine friend to our Family
for many years.
Rest in piece dear one.
Ann, you have been a wonderful wife.
Such constant & caring
Support for David.
With our Love
Joan & Sonia.
A work colleague and a friend who became known as Uncle Dave to us and our two daughters.
Plenty of good times were had with yarns spun.
Already missed – A top bloke
See you Uncle Dave…..Love , John, Marg, Joey and Amanda…
David Thomas, what a legend. A loss to the Environmental Health profession and the few who like poetry.
Hello David
We know you can hear us from wherever your beautiful soul is. We simply treasured the amazing times with you and Ann in Thredbo, Shepp and of course lately, in Eden. You and Ann just went so well together – inspired and inspiring, loving, caring and made everyone feel comfortable. Poets and your poetry are always transcendental.
Love from
Acacia and Pete
A privilege to have met David although briefly – through. Ann’s caring stories of his life he was blessed to have such a caring and kind partner in his world.
I’ve got the DT’s
A dedication of memorial poetry to David Thomas by Callum Morrison 1/12/2023
As EHO’s mature,
And harden in their shell.
They gradually start to lose some hair,
And wrinkles start to tell.
They start to do their “bottle”,
You probably know the feeling well.
Something little sets them off,
A dirty problem or a smell.
I don’t mean “bottle” of sanitiser,
Or a “bottle” of lovely red.
They grapple with a problem,
Until it’s well and truly dead.
“Community’s white blood cells”,
That’s why EHO’s are about.
Honing in on injustice,
Before people get a bout.
They learn the problem inside out,
Attack from every angle.
Do their bit for public health,
Or at least they try to wrangle.
So when you get the DT’s
Ask what David Thomas would do?
Calm down and write some poetry,
And narrowly avoid the poo!
Cheers David from Callum Morrison
I remember Uncle David as a kind and intelligent man who was always ready for an interesting conversation about books or history, or his wide ranging life experiences. I always looked forward to his poems for the family at Christmas time. I’m thinking of him and all of the family today.
Love from Emma xx
David, I have known you for 74 or 75 years. Our times at Glengowrie were grea and pity the Dunleath gardens tennis shed we burnt down. Rest in peace old buddy,and I will see you one day again.