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Heidi Douglass |��h.douglass@unsw.edu.au��

On November 16, 1920, in the working-class heart of Balmain, New South Wales, Thomas Matthew Sample entered the world - a child born into a lineage of resilience and purpose. Over the next 104 years, he would live a life defined by service, family, integrity, and a rare blend of determination and warmth that made him both remarkable and loved.��

Tom Sample was more than a centenarian; he was a gentleman in the truest sense. He was a loyal husband, devoted father, proud grandfather and great-grandfather, tireless worker, and inspiring friend. He lived through a century of change but remained steadfast in the values that shaped every chapter of his life: generosity, kindness, humility and hard work.����

A Legacy Rooted in Family and Character

Tom’s story was grounded in deep family roots that stretched back to English coalminers who arrived in Newcastle in 1883. He was the treasured son of parents who had known loss, born after the passing of three sisters.��

From his earliest days, Tom’s quiet determination was evident. Slight in build, he didn’t let that stop him from embracing a love of sports - rugby league, tennis, and later, golf. His grit took him into an apprenticeship at just 16, setting in motion a career that would shape critical pieces of Australia’s infrastructure. His professional contributions included time at the railways and Clyde Engineering, but his proudest work was at the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage & Drainage Board, now Sydney Water, where he helped build the iconic Warragamba Dam and later rose to become Engineer-in-Charge at the central workshops in Waterloo.

But it was not career accolades or personal achievements that Tom would have spoken most proudly of - it was his family. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Nona, in Adamstown. Their marriage spanned an extraordinary 66 years, a testament to enduring partnership. Tom stood by Nona through her long illness with unwavering care and loyalty, a quiet act of devotion that spoke volumes about his character.

Together they raised two children, Paula and Mark, in a home filled with laughter, warmth and steady guidance. Their Bondi Junction years were followed by the move to Tunstall Avenue, Kingsford, in 1966; a home that became the heart of family gatherings and cherished memories. Tom would later welcome grandchildren Sara, Matthew, Rhodri, Rohan, Bradley, and Todd, and great-grandchildren Addi, Grace, Logan, Mackenzie, Jack, and Elliott, taking deep pride in their lives, interests and triumphs.

A Model of Healthy Ageing

Tom lived with vitality that defied the numbers. His later years were not marked by slowing down but by renewed purpose. At 95, he joined the Sydney Centenarian Study, a decade long CHeBA-led research project involving 445 people aged 95 and older. The study explored the genetic and environmental factors that influence living to 100 and beyond – including lifestyle, health and family history, as well as cognition, care needs, brain structure and function, genomics and epigenomics.��

Tom quickly became a favourite of researchers for his enthusiastic participation. From cognitive tests to brain imaging, media interviews to live panels, Tom embraced it all with cheer and curiosity. He developed a strong rapport and friendship with project lead Adam Theobald, whose words capture the essence of Tom’s rare and powerful example of healthy ageing.

Adam, who spoke at Tom’s 100th birthday, called him “an outlier among outliers” - still driving, golfing, and living independently well into his 100s. His longevity was earned through discipline and lifestyle - he drank little, stayed active, remained socially connected and maintained deep intellectual engagement. And while Tom humbly credited good fortune, those who knew him saw the consistent effort and values that shaped such a long and meaningful life.

Tom’s deep love for sport never faded. He played elite-level tennis and was a devoted member of Bonnie Doon Golf Club from 1975 onwards. He played well into his 90s, often walking the course, always competitive, and never far from a witty comment. His legendary kicker serve might have retired, but his fierce competitiveness never did - whether on the golf course, at the card table, or in a spirited game of sudoku.

His sense of humour was both charming and famously unfiltered. Tom had a way of saying exactly what he thought - sometimes tactless, always memorable, yet somehow never offensive. His granddaughter Sara recalls his habit of greeting people with brutally honest observations delivered with a cheeky grin. He got away with it not because people didn’t notice, but because it came from a place of affection and authenticity.

Sara also remembered their shared milkshake outings and his lessons in politeness, delivered with both humour and firmness. These moments, seemingly small, left a lasting imprint - because Tom didn’t just teach values, he lived them.

​A Life Celebrated and Remembered

Over the course of his long life, Tom was honoured many times: a letter from the Queen on his 60th wedding anniversary, a grand 100th birthday celebration at Bonnie Doon Golf Club, and his role as a VIP guest on the Qantas Centenary flight, sharing a birthday with the airline itself.

In his final years, Tom found companionship in his dear friend Valmai Howell and remained surrounded by the love of his growing family. He was a constant presence - reliable, caring, full of stories, and always up for a laugh or a debate about sport.

Tom was fortunate he was able to live at home till very close to the end. ��He passed away with his daughter and son-in-law by his side only a week after moving to the nursing home he had resisted for so long. Fittingly also, Tom passed while his son and grandson were on the golf course, the game he loved echoing into the next generation.

​A Constant in an Ever-Changing World

Tom Sample’s impact cannot be measured in titles or years alone. It is seen in the quiet strength he showed in caring for others, the joy he brought into rooms, the values he passed down, and the fierce pride he held for his family.

He lived through war, depression, technological revolutions, and societal change - but through it all, he remained true to himself: a kind, tough, loyal, and generous man. A real gentleman. A constant in the lives of those lucky enough to know him.

We honour his extraordinary life with deep gratitude and love.