What’s In a Name delves into the fascinating stories and personalities behind some of the city’s best-known street and location names. This week the Journal looks at the Tom Houlahan Community Centre in Foster Street East.
City of Greater Dandenong Living Treasure Tom Houlahan was born at Axe Creek, near Bendigo, in 1916 and raised on his parents’ small mixed farm.
His parents, despite hardship, sent him to Assumption College in Kilmore for his secondary education.
Tom then worked on the farm for four years before he realised his mother’s dream and became a teacher.
He completed his training shortly before World War II broke out.
Tom joined the Army and his leadership qualities resulted in promotion.
He said his service provided him with important lessons in tolerance.
While home on leave in 1945 Tom married his childhood friend Mary Mannes and by 1953 they had settled in Dandenong.
Tom gained the reputation for being a fine teacher and in 1972 was appointed as Dandenong Primary School’s principal.
He is also known and respected for his commitment to community welfare.
In 1955 Tom recognised the need for greater welfare assistance and helped to form the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Dandenong.
For more than 43 years he worked tirelessly for the organisation and assisted thousands of people.
Tom’s optimism was steadfast and reassuring. He cited his parents as the role models for the compassion and generosity for which he was known.
His Living Treasure tribute said that in building a strong network of social welfare volunteers through his own quiet leadership, the gentle, unassuming man reinforced the best values of community involvement for all the people with whom he came into contact. Tom died in 2004.
– Compiled with assistance from the City of Greater Dandenong.
