The Boggabri man turned 100 on Monday at the John Prior Boggabri Multi-purpose Centre, with an early party on the Sunday with his sons, grandsons, great granddaughter, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, great, great nephews and nieces, and close family friends. 

Guests travelled from Sydney, Harrington, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Emerald Hill and Maules Creek. Sadly, the newest addition to the family, Tom’s great, great granddaughter Evelyn Fay was unable to attend because of her age.

Tom received many cards and best wishes and congratulations from Parkes MP Mark Coulton, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Queen.

Tom Heiler was born in Boggabri on July 30, 1918, the fifth son of Valentine and Sophia Heiler of "Greentree". 

A block of 640 acres, “Greentree” was situated between Dripping Rock and Boggabri and was purchased by 20-year-old Valentine in 1900. The following year Valentine married 16-year-old Sophia Dederera, a local girl. 

The pair welcomed nine children into the world over the years but tragically lost one of their children at a young age.

"Greentree" was mainly self-sufficient, with an extensive orchard and grapevines and a large vegetable garden. Valentine’s father had brought grapevine cuttings with him all the way from Germany.

The family raised their own poultry and stock for meat along with rabbits and farming was done with horses and bullock teams. Valentine pioneered growing wheat in the district.

The house ran on kerosene lamps, with a chip heater for baths, copper boiler for washing clothes, and drip safe for refrigeration. 

Tom’s day started before the sun came up as he headed out of the house to milk the cow. The milk was separated and butter was freshly churned.

The young lad also watered the fruit trees and brought wood up to the house for the chip heater.

When his morning tasks were done, Tom travelled the eight kilometres to the Blair Athol School where there were 25 students and one teacher. He attended school until the age of 12. 

A trip to Gunnedah from "Greentree" meant a long day with an early start to traverse the 38 kilometres in a horse and sulky. The family would reach Cohen’s Bridge around midday and stop to have a packed lunch before going in to Gunnedah. They would arrive back home around 8 or 9 that night.

Tom left home at about the age of 16, taking up shearing and taking on the role of farm hand in Manilla. He met his wife Emily McGrath (known as Emmie) at a tennis afternoon at "Therebri", Boggabri and in 1937 they eloped and tied the knot in Manilla.

Tom and his father were founding members of Wean Fire Brigade, which was the first rural fire brigade in the district. All the neighboring farms gave one pound to fund the venture in 1933 and they drew water from a nearby well. The brigade is now known as Boggabri Number One and Tom’s son Russell is currently the group leader.

During the war years, Tom tried to join the army but was too young to meet the age requirement so he tried to join the police force. He was unsuccessful and ended up working as a guard on the trams in Sydney.

Valentine became unwell, so Tom and Emmie returned to Boggabri in 1945 to work on the farm, purchasing their first tractor, a Titan.

“I ended up going back and that was it,” Tom said.

He followed in his father’s footsteps, continuing to grow wheat and run cattle and sheep, though he preferred the latter of the two. A small mill also operated on the farm.

Over the years, Tom and Emmie raised a family of three on the farm – Barbara, Tony and Russell. 

On top of “Greentree”, Tom shared-farmed with long-time friend Len Silver  at “Bayley Park”, Boggabri. After a time, he gave up “Bayley Park” to share-farm for Jack Amos in Gurley, pioneering wheat in the district.

“He had half the town up there,” Tom’s son Russell said.

Tom split his time between the Gurley property and “Greentree” for 16 years, with help from family.

“When pop was up at Gurley, [Emmie] ran the farm,” Tom’s daughter-in-law Julie Heiler said.

The Heilers moved to “Brighton”, Boggabri, in 1972 and sold “Greentree” in 1974. A few years later, they bought "Roma", which bordered “Brighton”.

Russell said his parents opened their home to many, so their children grew accustomed to regular visitors.

“We used to have an open-air verandah and you wouldn’t know who would be next to you,” Russell said.

“Half the town used to be there.”

In the early 1970s, Tom and his son Russell partnered on the properties and in the last 20 years they were joined by Russell’s sons Phillip and Daniel. 

Tom was very proud to have three generations working together and in 2008, he passed the reins to Russell and his boys, confident that it was in good hands. Sadly, Emmie passed away in the same year after 72 years of marriage.

In 2011, Tom became a resident at the John Prior Boggabri Multi-purpose Centre but still enjoyed day trips to the farm with Russell. 

“Up until then, Tom was seen each day riding his Honda ATV accompanied by Molly the dog, around the crops or cattle or beside Russell and the boys in the ute,” Julie said.

“You can take the man off the farm but you’ll never be able to take the farm from the man.

“Sadly, today he is unable to leave the hospital, but remains interested in what is happening on the farm.”

Julie said Tom’s 100 years have been “full of hard work and long hours”.

“His home was always a second home for his many nieces and nephews and their families. They all have fond and lasting memories of their visits to “Greentree” and "Brighton",” she said.

“His memories are full of fun and laughter and family... His family and friends feel blessed to still have him in their lives.”

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