Thomas G Hoffman
Melbourne Rowing Club then Corio Bay Rowing Club and finally Bairnsdale Rowing Club (VIC)
The following eulogy of Tom was written by his son John and provided to this site by Tim Hamilton.
Thomas George Hoffman came from a very old district family. His Great Grandfather James was among the first settlers to take up land at Bengworden and Meerlieu.
He was born to Jack and Elsie (16.12.1921) in a cart on the way from Bengworden to Bairnsdale. He was their first child.
Jack and Elsie built a house on a soldiers settlement block opposite the State School at Bengworden. Tom's father John William (Jack) returned from the First World War to become a T.P.I.. Jack and Elsie battled to clear and run the small property but with the assistance of young Tom and brother George they battled on. The boys used their dogs to catch rabbits and underground mutton was part of a staple diet. To this day Tom liked rabbit!
Tom attended school at Bengworden to the 8th grade and then shifted to his grandmother's house in Bairnsdale to attend the Bairnsdale School of Mines and Industry from 1935 to 1937 inclusive. His grandmother tutored him in two more subjects and he gained an apprenticeship with the Victorian Railways in 1938. His title was Apprentice Electrical Fitter and this was the start of 43 years of service with Victorian Railways. Tom won a scholarship to go on at school but times were hard during the Great Depression.
It was as a Special Officer of the Signal and Communication Division that Tom retired in 1981. Tom had obtained promotion through the many and various grades at different locations and sat on various Boards.
Back in 1941 a friend introduced Tom to rowing at the Melbourne Rowing Club. It was during the war years when competition was limited, but he was fortunate to have the opportunity to row with many interstate oarsmen who came to the Melbourne Rowing Club when stationed in Melbourne.
He became vice captain in 1942 and learnt from an old boat builder how to maintain rowing boats. (It was about this time that the fleet changed from poppet rigging to swivels) .
Fortunate in developing a good rowing style Tom was in the winning crew of most open races.
Joe Goddard and Tom, rowing for Melbourne Rowing Club, were surprised that to win they had to put in a greater effort, something they had not had to do previously. They won. The race brought Tom under the notice of Albert Bell, from Corio Rowing Club, and a close relationship developed in future years with the rowing.
Tom married Vera in 1945 and took up a position at Geelong as Electrical Fitter in charge for the district. John and David were born at Geelong.
Soon after moving to Geelong he became involved with the Corio Bay Rowing Club and was elected Captain. By this time rowing was being re-established on a post war footing by the VRA (Victorian Rowing Association).
Tom was selected by Corio Bay Rowing Club to row seven in their junior eight. The crew went through a thorough training period and by the time Henley Regatta came along they were able to take out the Founders Challenge Cup - the premium event. The race was against metropolitan and interstate competition. It was the start of the "Harmony Eight'. Automatically the crew was placed in the senior division which was re-introduced. Tom rowed seven being known as the strokes stroke as his past experience with Melbourne Rowing Club was of immense value to the young crew.
Corio Bay's Harmony Eight with Tom in seven seat
The crew represented the State in the 1948 Kings Cup rowed in Hobart.
The club was on a high, winning the senior, junior and light weight championships. With Tom "three" they won the Champion fours of Victoria race rowing over 2.5 miles and winning by lengths.
From the fours win of the Championship Tom was selected to row in his 3rd Kings cup to be held at Brisbane 1951. They ran second to NSW.
Unfortunately Tom contracted Hepatitis and this put an end to his competitive rowing.
The year 1952 came with the family shifting to Werribee, for the next move in the promotional scheme of things. Family and work then became all important as John and David were at school and the job required 24 hour attendance with call outs not uncommon. It was at Werribee that Rosemary was born in 1954.
Some years later whilst living at Cheltenham, Tom was invited to return to Corio Bay rowing club for a celebration. It was 25 years since the beginnings of the Harmony eight, and the original crew met to row on the Barwon.
The scene on ABC television was as if it was yesterday, with equal pools each side of the boat as it lifted out of the water and glided. A sight to behold!
After this Rosemary who had grown to be a tall girl expressed a wish to take up rowing. The YWCA rowing club on Albert Park was one of a few clubs catering for women and after a short while Tom realized that he wanted to be involved and found that he was able to teach the fundamentals of the sport. (He went on later in life to do the same for Dick Bayles a local chap who became a veteran gold medalist many times)
Rosemary finding it difficult to be placed in crews of her own stature, decided to give sculling a go. This was the start of a new era. Tom's work load had reduced to office hours (no week end work) and he found that her potential was to be a good sculler. Tom became her coach and spent many hours riding around the lake early morning and late and on the Yarra morning and night. It was during this period he was able to renew friendships with oarsmen from the past as well as present. As a member of the Old Oarsmen's Association, he valued the friendships and it was that connection that enabled the Bairnsdale Rowing Club to later obtain a great deal of support.
Another part of Tom's world was a project at Blackwood. His time was spent building and then enjoying a week end house. From involvement with people at Blackwood he stood for and was elected Councilor for the South Riding in the Shire of Ballan for the period 1976 to 1981.
Upon retirement in 1982 Tom and Vera shifted to Paynesville. The main sporting interest became golf. Tom was elected the Chairman of Thursday Golf and with the assistance of Ian Wigg as secretary they developed a very popular competition. When Veterans golf was proposed for East Gippsland Tom was elected Secretary and later President.
Another move was the creation of a daylight Lodge for the more elderly members with the inclusion of wives and widows as part of the proceedings. Annie's Cottage became his pet project with many a person taken past to see what was achieved.
In 1986 Bairnsdale residents called a meeting to re start the Bairnsdale Rowing club. Tom and Rosemary attended and found that their experience with rowing was well regarded. The club started from scratch. All they had was a river and plenty of memorabilia. Today there is a shed, boats and an annual regatta with one of the competing boats named in his honour.
Tom was very lucky to share a room with Vera until his passing. The room at Maddocks Gardens became known as "The Honeymoon Suite''. They had regular visits from their three children five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
A full life, married to Vera for 69 years, Tom passed on age 93 years on the 11 September 2015.
Extracted by Andrew Guerin
June 2026