Tommy Boomer / Bulmer was born at Dingo Creek in 1865.2 He was a very good fisherman and diver, catching up to 10 lobsters each time. He dived into caves infested with wobbegong sharks, but was fearless of the dangers.3 He once caught a big sea turtle that washed up at Saltwater, it measured 46 cms across the back and weighed about 11 kgs.4 In his younger days, Tommy was a great cricketer, often top-scoring for his team which toured the districts.5
Tommy was also a detective at one stage in his life. He became renowned for his tracking ability and was put on the trail of Thunderbolt the bushranger several times. He also assisted police when a mother, Mrs W Mills, mysteriously went missing from her home not far from Wingham.6
Tommy Boomer died in a railway accident on 13 December 1928. He had been visiting at Mt George and was going to catch the train home to Wingham. He was walking along the track to the station when the train came along. The driver blew the train whistle but Tommy was going deaf and didn’t hear it in time. After he was hit, he was put on the train and taken straight to hospital but he died before the train could reach Taree.7
Tommy used his skills and abilities to help the people in his community. He was a role model and will be remembered.
Authors: Luke Croker and Kan Kityanyong, Year 5, Taree West Public School.
References:
1 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 17 November 1925.
2 Wingham Chronicle, 19 and 30 June 1925.
3 John Ramsland, Custodians of the Soil, Greater Taree City Council, Taree: 2001, 101-102.
4 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 15 May 1901; Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette, 23 November 1904.
5 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 17 November 1925.
6 Macleay Argus, 7 June 1921.
7 Wingham Chronicle, 14 December 1928.
