General News
11 June, 2024
Street name approved for a pillar of the community
A surname synonymous with agriculture and community service in Horsham could soon be assigned to a street, lane or road.
Horsham Rural City Council has cleared the way to remember the late Thomas "Tom" Blair by naming a public thoroughfare in his honour.
Councillors resolved unanimously at their monthly meeting to add "Blair" to Horsham's register of officially approved street names.
This means it is now available to be used within the municipality.
Mr Blair, who died in December 2022 aged 84 years, was a member of the Victorian Farmers Federation for half a century and was president of the organisation's Horsham branch.
He served the Wimmera Machinery Field Days committee for 55 years, as well as Pea Growers Co-operative at Donald.
He was a Horsham Agricultural Show committee life member, known especially for the success of his sheep in carcase competitions.
He also held life membership of Horsham City Bowling Club.
The field days committee and bowling friends formed a guard of honour for Mr Blair at his funeral in Horsham, attended by more than 500 people.
Mr Blair was born at Donald and, after the death of his mother while he was still a baby, spent much of his childhood on the land at Warracknabeal and near Watchem.
After their wedding in 1960, Mr Blair and his wife Heather settled at Bangerang Plains, Kalkee.
Their four children - Peter, Geoff, Susie and Kellie - were raised in the district. In considering Susie's request that her father's name be added to the register, councillors paid tribute to Mr Blair for his standing within the Wimmera.
Cr David Bowe described him as "a pillar of the community".
Cr Les Power referred fondly to Mr Blair as "Tommy" and said anyone who didn't know him "missed out on something".
Cr Ian Ross said although he didn't ever meet Mr Blair in person he took a phone call from him about two months before his death, during which the pair chatted about issues for half an hour.