Thomas Edward PETERSEN - his final eulogy

28 November 1988

I make no apology for covering the earlier years of Tom's life, because to a large degree, those years were what made him the unique person we remember and honour at this time. Soon after Tom began school at Mt. Bruce in the Wairarapa, his parents moved to Masterton to take over a store at Kuripuni. Tom remained at his school in Mt. Bruce boarding with a local family. Then his family moved to the South Wairarapa near Martinborough where one teacher taught for 3 days in two separate schools (at Hathaways and at Wentford Flat) which were one mile and three miles from the Petersen home. Tom walked the distance for 6 days each week. It was the era of the Proficiency Exam (a pre secondary school requirement. The conditions referred to required Tom to cover the lessons of both Standard 5 and 6 in the one year. Tom passed.

The next move was to Solway south of Masterton from where he had to walk 3 miles to and from the High School. But the inadequacy of his Primary schooling soon became apparent. Tom was not up to the standard of his town dwelling classmates. After 2 to 3 hours on the road each day he faced long hours of lonely study each night. He eventually left school without further academic qualifications when the family moved to the Kopuaranga district (his father managed the Geo. Bruce property).

Tom was 17 years of age when his parents moved to the Horowhenua and took up a farm of 1,000 acres in the foothills east of Ohau. Tom warmed to the new locality and entered into the activities of the district including local dances which apparently inspired a hidden talent. He became a leader of the dance band. Having carried out the chores associated with farming all his young life he naturally turned his interest in that direction and sought a suitable property for himself. After 2 attempts and living in a single roomed shack in Tararua Road, he acquired 72 acres bounded by Tararuas and Arapaepae Roads, somewhat rough and undeveloped. Tom re-fenced the boundaries; sub divided the property for dairying and cleared tones of stones from the land by hand. He followed that old adage “if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well”. No doubt in subsequent years his own family would have heard those same words from Tom's lips on many occasions. The in order to gain the maximum return from the property, he undertook Town Milk supplying, milking 60 to 70 cows twice daily for 365 days in each year.

Tom was fortunate to choose a partner who was as committed to achieving as was Tom. He and Phyllis married in 1937. They made a good partnership. Together they continued the initial tempo of work for over 30 years, seldom leaving the property for even 2 or 3 days until they moved to 35 Featherston Street, Levin about 16 years ago. But that moved did not result in giving up work. Regularly they both cycled to the farm to maintain the property, the house, the buildings, the fences, trees, hedges, and garden. Eventually a more satisfactory farm arrangement enabled their lifestyle to change. Tom took up outdoor bowls which he continued to enjoy until his deteriorating health prevented him.

When Tom was not working, he was enjoying people. Being a practical person he seldom visited a home or talked to another person without becoming aware of something that needed to be done or provided. As an Elder of St. Andrews Church, his involvement with people increased as did the range of tasks and duties. These later included Meals on Wheels, the Church newsletter, mowing lawns, digging gardens, visiting the sick and elderly in their homes or hospital, reading the newspaper to those with deficient eyesight, sharing problems and difficulties, and almost always offering practical and helpful advice. Wherever he discovered a need he acted to meet it, even if meant postponing something personal. In doing so Tom made nonsense of the belief that only a person with a degree in philosophy or social science or at the very least with some specialized training is fitted to deal with the problems and needs of people. Tom demonstrated that to encounter hardship, adversity and difficulty in one's own life and to have overcome them, is to have acquired the ability to assist others in similar circumstances. The vital factor in either instance being to degree of loving concern for one's fellow human beings. Tom possessed this later in abundance. It relentlessly impelled him to act. Enabling him to relate to and communicate with persons of all ages, status, and circumstances. If a personal visit to a home or the hospital was not possible, he did not turn aside from or postpone action, he would put pen to paper.

He wrote scores of letters, perhaps hundreds, to older persons and those bereaved messages of comfort and consolidation. Only 3 days before he died he wrote such a message. It took him about 3 hours to do so but he did it, such was his concern for the widow. To the younger generation with whom Tom had an amazing rapport, Tom would offer sound advice and encouragement, in situations of doubt, difficulty or defeat, and warm commendation in circumstances of achievement. The grandchildren could testify to the value and appropriateness of his advice.

There are many many people who are glad that their path and that of Tom Petersen crossed. My coming to Levin 4 years ago and the renewal of my childhood associations with my oldest cousin (Tom) has proved a bonus for me beyond all expectations. Tom was a man of impeccable concern for others, of patience and understanding, of calm determination, of selfless serving. In short, not merely a believing Christian but a practicing Christian gentleman. But above all else he was a loving, loyal, devoted and dutiful son, husband, father, and grandfather, and brother. Thank you Phyl and family, Max and Marge, for sharing him so generously with us all.

His was a life from which we all have gained immensely. May we each, young and old, follow his examples and come to know as did Tom himself, the truth of Jesus' words there is more happiness in giving than in receiving. Well done Tom, your life long labour of feeding out is now completed. You have earned your entry into the Peace of God's eternity.

________________________________________