Accountant
& Member of Parliament,
Victoria, Australia
1910-1973
Geoffrey Walter Thom was born in Geelong West,
Australia in 1910, the son of William Nathaniel Walter
Hamlet Thom and Doris May Cortous. His ancestors came
from Inverbervie, Kincardineshire in
Scotland.
****
Geoff, as he was usually
known, was an accountant with Ford Motor Company in
Geelong, and served in World War II in the Australian Imperial
Force, 2/6 Battalion, Australian Cavalry Commando Unit, New
Guinea. Later he founded his own public accountancy firm in
Geelong.
****
Over the years he served the
Geelong community in numerous different roles. He was
Treasurer of the Geelong Hospital Gala committee, President of
the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Geelong
Promotion committee, a member of the Geelong Regional Tourist
Authority, Chairman of the Geelong Marina committee, a member
of the University for Geelong committee, a member of the Grace
McKellar Old Folks' Home committee, a member of the Geelong
Town Planning committee, trustee and Secretary of the Ashby
Methodist Church. He served as a Geelong West city councillor
1946-1958 and was Mayor 1955-1957. He was a keen
sportsman and Rotarian.
**** In 1858 Geoff was elected
as a Member of the Legislative Council, the Upper House of the
Parliament of Victoria, representing the electorate of South
Western. He retired in June 1970. He was the
Government Whip from 1964 to 1970.
**** For many years Geoff was a
strong advocate for a major bypass around Geelong and in
recognition of his contribution to the community was
recognised in 2009 with the naming of a major bridge spanning
the Barwon River in his honour. There will be more about the
bridge on our Member's Musings page.
****
Please click here to
read Geoffrey Thom's official biography on the Government
of Victoria's website.
