The amazing story of the amazing Tom Pauling

21 hours ago

3 min read

Woods Subbies player, Wallaby, 1st grade coach, Chairman of Australian Selectors and son of an All Black! - who was this bloke?

Well actually , there were 3 amazing Tom Paulings.. so lets start at the beginning

Tom Pauling (1).

Thomas Gibson Pauling b.1873 in a little country town outside of Christchurch in NZ. Turned out to be more than just a good footy player. Selected to play for New Zealand in the 1897 tour to Australia he became All Black #62

When he toured Australia, he liked it so much he stayed. Settled down in and played for Randwick and then NSW. He was even picked to play an international v the Lions before withdrawing with injury. Later, became an international referee, senior police officer and prominent local politician - Pauling Avenue in Randwick is named in his memory

And he had a son… Tom

Tom Pauling (2)

Thomas Percival Pauling, the hero of this article. b.1912 in Leichardt, he grew up as an outstanding athlete in multiple sports. At Sydney Boys High, he rowed, competed in athletics and played footy all at the highest level. In his final year he was the All Schools fullback.

Well before there was an Eastwood District Rugby Union Club, the local district Club was Western Suburbs and straight after leaving school young Tom joined with high expectations. History records however that “ he did not live up to his reputation”

This is where the story becomes fascinating.

No doubt a bit disappointed, young Tom turns out for Eastwood who were then in sub district footy. How do you reckon he went? The answer is he was going so well that a representative selector was sent to watch him play. Unbelievably, the next week he found himself back in Wests 1st grade and 2 games later was selected in the NSW squad to play against the 1932 All Blacks! He didn't make the final cut that time and for 3 years dropped out of the game - some health and study issues it seems.

1936 comes around, Tom’s back in 1st grade at Wests, this time as a #8. You know what happened, in short order he’s picked for NSW, then Australia, tours NZ and plays his first test match against the All Blacks - as an inside centre!! Wallaby #298

So how and why did Tom - who was born and raised in the Eastern Suburbs - end up at Eastwood? His family story is a sad one. Tom’s mother died when he was barely 11 months old and his father remarried a year later. When young Tom was still at High School his father became ill with a long term illness that eventually in 1927 killed him. It seems the financial impact of his long illness and his inability to work, must have caused great stress for the family.

Anyway the next thing we read is, in the early 1930s, young Tom with his step mother living in Bertram Ave just off Vimiera Rd at Eastwood.

He’s still keen on footy so off he goes to the old top oval in Eastwood - opposite Eastwood Railway Station - and has a run for the Eastwood Young Men’s Institute Football Club and the rest as they say is history

When his playing days were over, the new Eastwood District club had been formed and having a former international as coach was too good an opportunity to miss.

In retirement, Tom moved to Brisbane where he passed away in 1978

And he had a son… Tom

Tom Pauling (3)

Thomas Ian Pauling b.1946 in Drummoyne

Tom (3) was not a sportsman like his father and grandfather but had an equally impressive career this time in the Law and Government. Appointed QC 1984, he became the Administrator of the Northern Territory in 2007 and in 2008 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Prominent as well in the Arts in the Northern Territory

Tom died a couple of years ago in Darwin. The government marked his passing with this public recognition

“Mr Pauling was a great Territorian who will be dearly missed. He was larger than life, involved in the arts, and creative space, Tom was present at nearly every Territory event, with a warm smile and laugh.”

And he had a son… Fred, not Tom

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Thanks to TPP's daughter Sue Hawick AM and his grandchildren Zoe and Fred for help with this story and the photos"