The following is an excerpt of an address by David Woolley, (Tom’s nephew and a representative of the Thomas O’Toole Foundation) at the official opening of the Industrial Skills Centre.
“Thomas O'Toole, known to all as "Tom" was the son of Thomas and Jane O'Toole nee Melican of Wangoom. He was the oldest of five siblings, Mary Woolley,Maureen Murray, Jean O'Toole and the late Lady Leah Lynch.
He grew up in Illowa and went to school there by horse and cart, later he went to St Patrick's Ballarat. His time there was short, as he wanted to return to the family farm "Glencullen" in Illowa.Here he worked with his father growing vegetables, raising prime lambs and milking cows - any thing to make a dollar. Tom was trained to work hard by his Grand father who left Ireland during the potato famine hungry and penniless to come here to what he called the Promised Land.
Tom never married and was a local successful farmer and businessman who lived and worked all his life in Illowa. Farming was his life but he diversified into many different areas including racehorses, hotels, the timber industry, real estate and the share market. He relied upon and admired greatly the many tradespeople that he employed over the years to keep his various enterprises going.
Tom always encouraged and supported education. It was his wish that upon his death his assets be used as a legacy for a philanthropic trust to assist local charities and the community. Because of this we the trustees of the Thomas O'Toole Foundation thought it fitting to support Emmanuel College to develop this centre so the students of today have the opportunity to learn their skills with some of the latest technology and equipment available - technology and equipment that was only a dream a few yeas ago.
We hope all students, both female and male gain valuable hands on leaning with in this centre and that it helps them to chose a career path in the trades area, because the work is out there and we need young highly skilled people for our county to prosper.”
