Herbert Thomas Healey

Eulogy

Herbert ‘Herb’ Thomas Healey

27/01/1933 – 29/12/2022

We have all heard the heart-warming stories about just how great their Father or Grandfather was, but Herbert’s family says he was THE BEST!

Herbert, affectionately known as Herb, gained his angel wings on the 29^th of December at the Bathurst Base Hospital. Herb was 89 years old.

Herb's life was cut short less than four weeks before his 90th birthday, in which he celebrates every year with who he called ‘his little flower’, his beloved wife Daphne, who is just 1 day older.

Herb suffered ill health the past couple of months. He fought hard. He was so brave, so stoic, still smiling and joking with his family and the staff right up until the end.

Herb was born in Goondiwindi to parents Hilda Mabel Healey and Arthur John Healey in 1933. He was 5^th born out of ten children, all predeceased except Robyn, known as Doddy.

Herb’s siblings were Roy, Monica (known as Aunty Mon), Gertrude (known as Mickey), Edward (known as Jacky), Eileen, Janice (known as Jimmy) who sadly only passed away less than 3 weeks ago, Francis (known as Frankie) and Billy.

Hilda and Arthur moved Herb and his siblings to Bathurst where Herb attended St Patrick’s Catholic School, leaving school at 14 and 9 months of age. Herb gained employment as an ice cart driver, which he thought was very cool. He was also employed at Gurdon Motors in the workshop for a period before he joined the Railway in 1949.

Herb drove the old steam trains shovelling coal in the rain, hail or shine and later the diesel and electric trains. He was one of only a few that had the privilege of driving all 3 train types.

When Herb retired, he was ranked the Number 2 driver for years of service in New South Wales, something which he was very proud of.  The only reason Herb wasn’t Number 1, was because the Number 1driver refused to retire!

Herb met the love of his life Daph, both aged 18, when she moved to Bathurst from Narrandera to work as a nurse with her sisters at Bathurst Hospital in 1951.

Daph’s sisters were boarding with Herb’s older sister Aunty Mon, so it wasn’t long before Herb and Daph’s paths crossed and the rest they say is history.  They married soon after and welcomed baby Brian in 1951 where they too lived with Aunty Mon until the twins Robert and Christine arrived 3 years later in 1954. Their family of 5 moved to the duplex adjoining Herb’s mother Hilda in Lambert Street.

In 1955 Herb moved his family to Hill Street, where they remained until 1978 when Herb accepted a transfer with the Railway to Cambridge Park. Herb continued to drive electric trains in the Penrith area until he retired in 1990, a total of an amazing 41 years of service.

In 2021, Herb’s family presented him with a plaque at the Bathurst Railway Museum, honouring his Railway service. Although Herb didn’t like any fuss, they could tell he was very proud of himself and loved having his family together. A very special memory for everyone.

Herb and Daph’s home in Cambridge Park became a much-loved holiday destination for their children and grandchildren with many fond holiday memories of swimming in their pool, playing bad minton, table tennis, Scrabble, Mastermind, Rumikub, watching the Australian Tennis Open and even getting to go to work with their Pop and take the wheel of his train over the Harbour Bridge! An experience I don’t think would be allowed these days.

Herb loved being with his grandchildren and loved telling them stories. His favourite story was telling them that his bent second toe was trodden on by an elephant when he was little, which he still has them believing to this day!

His favourite game was letting them play hairdresser with his hair, which they thought was the funniest thing ever. He also used to spoil them with Coco Pops, Fruit Loops, Jelly and take them a coffee in bed with Daph, which he continued to do for Daph, EVERY day.

Herb and Daph decided to leave their beloved home in Cambridge Park in 1991 and retire to Camden. They lived in a lovely retirement village making many lifelong friends, however their hearts remained in Bathurst where they returned in 2004. They made their home at Number 21, Ilumba Gardens where they have now resided for almost 20 years.

Herb loved watching cricket and Rugby League, especially his beloved Eels. He also loved playing lawn bowls, which he had success at both club level and district pennants. He also had a pretty good eye for darts.

Herb was talented in many aspects of his life. He was a master of gardening, an impressive knowledge of current affairs, fabulous at telling yarns and most importantly an exemplary husband. When Herb wasn't in his garden, he could be found drinking his favourite black tea with the love of his life Daph, or in more recent years in ‘Barry’s Bar’ with his adored Ilumba Gardens friends.

Herb’s children can testify that they were never given a smack by their Dad. He had good cause to at least smack Robert on occasions, but he didn’t. An example of one of those occasions is that being a train driver, he would get home at all hours of the night and always attend to his beloved vegetable garden. During the course of the day, Robert would dig a hole between the rows of vegetables, cover it over with newspaper and dirt, after filling it with water! Herb of course would always put his foot in it, but never let on that it happened!

Where Herb’s talents didn’t lie, was that he was not so dexterous at hammering in a nail or cutting a piece of timber off straight! He also didn’t have the best singing voice, but he had the courage to sing ‘Moon River’ live on Sydney radio to try and win Daph tickets to see her favourite Andy Williams in concert. He actually won the singing competition, but we think it was for being the most hilarious!

Not a day went by where Herb didn't talk about how much his children and family meant to him. His family was arguably his most important achievement in life. His names Herbert Thomas will live on with his son Robert being known to everyone as Herb, his grandson Daniel Thomas and great grandsons Flynn Herbert and Jack Herbert.

Herb is survived by his loving wife Daph, his children Brian, Robert and Christine, his grandchildren Melinda, Daniel, Lauren, Jeffrey, Michael, Craig, Shaun, Cameron and Heidi, his 18 great grandchildren and countless friends.

How will Herb be remembered? – an adoring husband, ultimate family man, true gentleman, always smiling, down to earth, do anything for anyone, cheeky, loved a joke, loved a yarn, the patriarch of the family, AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND.

Herb’s family would like to thank you all for being here today. Herb didn’t want any fuss other than an ad in the paper letting people know that he passed last week. I think though that he would be smiling seeing all of you who loved and cared for him, show up for him today, so thank you.

Posted by Melinda Walsh 18/01/2023

12 mths today since you left us Dad, the saddest day of our lives😢you are thought of everyday and missed so much, love you forever💙

Posted by Chris 29/12/2023

Happy Heavenly Fathers Day Dad, this is the first year you haven’t been with us for this special day, you were sadly missed but thought of all the time and not forgotten, love you💙

Posted by Christine Bender 03/09/2023

Thank you for being a wonderful Dad,you will live in our hearts forever, we will always love you and never forget you💙

Posted by Chris 18/01/2023

Adored Husband, Dad, Pop, GPop, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Friend.

We will never forget the way he touched our hearts. His smile, courage and grace through life.

Memories are eternal.

Posted by Melinda Walsh 02/01/2023