Tom celebrates 100 years of faith, farming and family
As Resthaven Malvern resident, Mr Thomas (Tom) Richards, celebrates his 100th birthday, he reflects on a life well lived: ‘I’ve had a bloody good life,’ Tom smiles.
Community-minded and dependable, Tom’s life has been shaped by hard work, strong family ties, and a steady, grounded presence.
Raised in the Riverland, Tom was one of five children in a household where life revolved around the rhythms of the land. His father had served in World War I, fighting at Gallipoli and in the Middle East with the Light Horse Brigade, and upon returning was granted a 13-acre Soldier’s Settlement block, where the family grew grapes – mainly sultanas and currants.
‘We were only about a mile from the school, so we would walk there or ride our bikes each day,’ Tom says. ‘It was a great childhood.’
Outside of school, Tom was always helping on the land.
‘I did whatever needed doing,’ Tom says.
World War II broke out when Tom was just 13, and it was at about this age that he left school to help run the farm.
‘My older brother Bill joined the army, and after just 10 months was killed while fighting on the Kokoda Track, New Guinea,’ Tom says. ‘My mother’s brother has previously died in World War I, fighting in France, so you can imagine Mum’s response when I told her I was going to sign up too.’
Tom joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1944 at the age of 18, working on the ground before being sent to Japan. He remained there as part of the Allied occupation after the war had finished, and saw first hand the damage caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Whilst there, Tom was involved in a vehicle accident, resulting in him sustaining serious injuries to his foot. He was taken to hospital for treatment and after being assessed by the doctor, was sent home to Australia with an early discharge.
‘I thought it would be a few days or maybe a week before I left the hospital,’ Tom says. ‘But, they had me on a plane the very next day. It took six days to get back to Adelaide — now you can do it in about 15 hours!’
Returning home, Tom found work on a local farm in Barmera, driving tractors and helping manage about 100 acres of land. It was around this time that Tom met a local nurse, Phyllis, who was working at the Barmera hospital. They knew each other socially, and Tom asked her to a dance. Their romance blossomed and they were married in 1951.
As with his father before him, Tom received a Soldiers Settlement block, and in 1952, he set to work planting and cultivating it, growing grapes for dried fruit and wine, as well as apricots.
‘In the first year we had a Nissan hut on the property with no electricity or water to the house,’ Tom says. ‘It was a lot of hard work, but for many years we made an excellent income,’ Tom says.
Their children came along steadily: Heather in 1952, Susanne in 1954, Bill in 1955, and Simon in 1960. During the summer holidays, the children would help out on the block.
‘Early in the season, the apricots were ready to pick and dry, and later the grapes would start ripening,’ Tom says. The family also made time for holidays to Port Lincoln, Melbourne, and Sydney.
A move to Adelaide
In 1973, with irrigation concerns and labour shortages making farming increasingly difficult, Tom and Phyllis sold the property at Loxton and moved to Adelaide. Phyllis began working for a local doctor, and Tom took on a new role with the War Graves Commission.
‘Almost every town in South Australia has some war graves in it,’ Tom says. ‘I would travel to each grave to make sure it hadn’t been damaged, and to maintain it in good condition and remove weeds. I’d also go as far as Mildura and Broken Hill. It was good work, and I was on my own much of the time, which suited me.’
Tom worked in the job for exactly ten years, before retiring. He and Phyllis then looked to travel, visiting England, China, and Bali, as well as exploring all over Australia. Tom and Phyllis lived in several homes within the Mitcham council area over the years, before moving into retirement living at Kingswood (now a Resthaven Retirement Living location) where they lived for 27 years. When Phyllis’ health declined, she moved into Resthaven Westbourne Park. Sadly, Phyllis died in 2020. Tom moved into Resthaven Malvern in June 2025.
Constant faith
Faith has long been central to Tom’s life. He and Phyllis were active members of St Albert’s Catholic Church in Loxton, supporting fundraising efforts and assisting parish needs wherever possible. Tom continues to attend church each Sunday, with his daughter, Susanne, driving him to Mass at Our Lady of Dolours, Kingswood.
‘I think I’ve been to church just about every Sunday for the past 80 years,’ Tom says. ‘When I was younger and during the war I didn’t go, but once I was back in the Riverland, a neighbour suggested I start going again. And that was it, every Sunday the whole family would attend.’
Outside of work and church, Tom has always enjoyed gardening, establishing beautiful gardens at every home he and Phyllis lived in. He is also a lifelong reader, enjoying both fiction and non-fiction, particularly history.
Looking back, he says he feels fortunate.
‘It’s been a good life,’ Tom repeats. ‘I had a great marriage, good kids who have all grown up to be successful in their own right, and a bit of good luck along the way.’
Now a proud father of four, grandfather of two, and great-grandfather of four, Tom keeps active with exercise classes at Resthaven Malvern and enjoys keeping his mind sharp with Sudoku puzzles. To celebrate his birthday, family and friends will gather at Resthaven Malvern.
Happy birthday, Tom! Thank you for sharing your story of 100 years well lived.