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Fergus Thomson, OAM, Eurobodalla's former mayor, has died this morning, with his family at his side.
His family released a brief statement shortly after 11am, on Friday, July 24, reporting the long-term councillor had died at his Belowra home after an 18-month battle with brain cancer.
"He was with his family and had been supported by the Community Palliative Care team and Queen Street (Moruya) practice doctors," Cr Thomson's wife, Yvonne, and the couple's sons, James and Brendan, said.
"We thank our friends, family, colleagues and community members for their wonderful support."
Cr Thomson had battled a brain tumour for more than a year, but continued to serve on the council until he could no longer do so.
Sitting mayor Lindsay Brown said Cr Thomson would be missed and described him as "a passionate believer in his community".
"He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the residents of the Eurobodalla shire," Cr Brown said.
An emotional Cr Brown said Cr Thomson, even while battling a brain tumour, showed concern for others, including when Cr Brown was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
"It is extremely difficult for me, because Ferg was an inspiration for me in my battle and his strength and interest in others, at such a difficult time for himself, I will always hold in fond memory," Cr Brown said.
Councillor Thomson was first elected in 2004 and was mayor for 18 months. In 2008, he became the first popularly elected mayor in the Eurobodalla, serving until 2012.
Mr Thomson spoke to CARMEN McINTOSH when he was named in the Order of Australia.
Mr Thomson grew up on, and lived at the family's Belowra farm.
He was nudged into community involvement by his father, former Eurobodalla Shire president (mayor) Douglas Thomson.
“My father was probably the greatest influence on my life and through all of the things that he did,” Mr Thomson said.
Mr Thomson joined Moruya Surf Life Saving Club in 1962 and spent every weekend during summer at the beach, either volunteering or competing.
Among his many achievements in the organisation was serving as the Far South Coast branch state delegate, chairman, president and deputy superintendent. He was former chairman of Country Branches and was manager of the touring competition team to New Zealand.
He became involved in several local environmental pursuits, including founding the Belowra Landcare group. He later played key roles in water catchment management committees and the Rural Lands Protection Board and was even an advisor to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
It was not until 2004 that Mr Thomson revisited the idea of walking the family’s well-trodden path to council.
Two months after he was elected, Mr Thomson was thrown onto the national stage as one of two NSW representatives to the National Sea Change Taskforce.
“We did some really good stuff,” Mr Thomson said, of the group.
In 2013 Mr Thomson was elected director of lobbying group Local Government NSW. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.
Mr Thomson said that, at the end of the day, his motivation came down to a love for the Eurobodalla.
“I love the community and I think that is the only reason you could ever go into local government,” he said.
“There’s nothing better than to walk down the street in Moruya or Batemans Bay or somewhere and (see) all my friends, and people you’ve actually been able to help - that’s the reward.
“They talk about getting an OAM or something, that’s the not the reward - the reward is having been a part of it.”
Being a part of it is something Mr Thomson could never have done without his wife, Yvonne, by his side.
“There was nothing that I’ve done in my life that I could have done without her,” he said.
“I will always say it’s been an absolute privilege to have been able to represent this shire and this community. They’re my friends and they’re the people that are wonderful,” he said.
“You’ve got to acknowledge there’s life and there’s death.”
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