Gazette

Fire truck farewell

24th June 2009 02:00:24 AM

BERWICK identity Thomas Scanlan was farewelled with a vintage fire truck yesterday (Tuesday).

The Berwick CFA life member was born at Berwick Hospital on 13 June 1934, spent all but one year of his life in Berwick, and passed away peacefully at the same hospital just after his 75th birthday this month.

Mr Scanlan, who went by the names Tom, Tommy, Doubting Thomas and Squirrel, among others, was the second child of Doreen and William Scanlan. Mr Scanlan was the manager of Edrington, the historic property of Lord Casey.

Tom Scanlan was educated at Berwick Primary School and Oakleigh Technical College. He became a mechanic and married life-long love Dorothy Pyke in 1963.

Family members said the couple’s dream was to have four sons and a black and a white cat. They had four daughters - Tracey Slattery, Anne van Vliet, Michelle Shannon and Nicole Scanlan – and, eventually, did get the cats.

Mr Scanlan’s family said he was proud of his daughters and looking forward to walking Nicole down the aisle when she married Xavier.

The Scanlans had four grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

A keen supporter of Berwick and Carlton football teams, Mr Scanlan enjoyed fishing and shooting, boating, motor bike racing and racing cars.