BRIAN – Antony Theodore

A TRUE FRIEND AND NEIGHBOUR
WILL BE SADLY MISSED BY ALL.
A QUIET GENTLEMAN.
RIP TONY.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of such a valued member and president of Moe old Gipps town men’s shed. He was always there with a paint brush in hand , giving many tireless hours .. I enjoyed our debates fiving both of us new ways of seeing the world . Truly missed by all who worked beside him , taken to soon .

Rest In Peace Uncle Tony. You were always very fun and very nice to Gary and I. I always remember the day we were at Oma and Opa’s house and you were moving and gave us lots of treasures you no longer wanted. It was like Christmas to us :) Heaven will be more fun with you up there. xox

Our deepest sympathy to Liz & Graham
We will miss Tony very much, as I am sure you will too
Guenter & Heidi

The Management and Staff of Old Gippstown would like to thank Tony for his tireless management and support of the many Men’s Shed projects that now enhance our park . Our sincere condolences to Tony’s family. You will be sadly missed. Farewell Tony.

Dear Tony
You came as a stranger to our little street and left as a friend. You embraced your new country life and enjoyed all the new people you met along the way. Thankyou for being my neighbour, I will miss our chats , may you Rest In Peace knowing you did your best and will be missed .

Dear Tony,
I am so saddened by your passing, but also happy that you are at peace now. It was a privilege to have you as my brother.
Love, Marian

We had the pleasure, of your company for such a short time ! But will leave great memories of a wonderful neighbour to all at, Mitchell Grove. R I P. Tony.

Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord

BLESSINGS AND LOVE TO ALL FAMILY MEMBERS

TErry and Beverley Price

Sincere sympathy to the families of Tony.

Fond memories of our neighbour and friend.

We all enjoyed his company at our Dinner gatherings, (pre Covid) and having chats around the wetland area.

Rest peacefully Tony.

Sue Riches.

Love and blessings to Liz and Graham. The talks, sadness, laughs and love you shared with Tony will be everlasting. Love Marg & Bren.

Although such a brief time in the journey of life, meeting you will last forever. A true gentleman. You will be greatly missed.
Alastair and Cheryl Doherty

Tony, we first met in the early 80’s when you had a shop in Hampton Street and then reconnected when you returned from Adelaide if I am correct and it was there a great friendship began. You were both a client, mentor and friend the latter I cherish the most. I watched as your career in the motor industry evolved and tried to apply the principles you talked abut in my business and it was those principles that made yours and Helen’s time owning Brown’s Bakery so successful. You were a great support to me in our endeavours to make Hampton Street a more vibrant and successful retail precinct. You were also one of the founding members of our small wine group. Tony thank you for your support as a client but most importantly thank you for being a friend . You will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace. David

I was 10 years old when Tony was born at home in Utrecht, the Netherlands (49bis Lepelaarstraat) on 23 February 1949. Tony was four years old when the Brian family (Frank and Louise, Rob, Marian, Ben, Tony and Liz) migrated to Australia to seek a better life with fifty pounds ($100) and a few sticks of furniture. We came to Australia by plane and because there were so many children on board we stopped in a different city and hotel every night: Rome, Cairo, Karachi. Calcutta, Singapore and Perth. Tony remembered “eating the world’s largest ice cream at an enormous hotel in Singapore”.

Despite our Dad’s very hard work with often two or more jobs at the time, poverty was a reality. Every penny had to be spent wisely. But what the family lacked in material resources, was amply compensated by the deep and affectionate love we all had for each other. Tony was no exception. In the Brian Family Profile, which we prepared to commemorate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of our parents on 28 December 1987, Tony starts off his six-page contribution thus:

“I had a very mixed childhood, often being regarded as the rebel or black sheep of the family, having developed a stubborn determination to have my own way at a very early age. Fortunately, age and experience have changed all that and I now regard myself as a very positive thinker with a willingness to compromise where the benefit will be mutual.”

Our parents instilled in us the values of hard work and honesty, of reliability and determination, of love and respect. We were taught to live simply and not beyond our means, but at the same time to use our intelligence and abilities to progress in life and thus being able to care for others. At the age of 12 Tony had secured a paper run, which paid 30 shillings per week. Tony writes: “A family policy (and a good one) was to contribute a portion of one’s income to our parents thereby teaching us the importance of budgeting and the value of money.”

Tony was no scholar. At 14 he went to Blackburn Technical School, where he seemed to be very happy. He writes: “I would have the whole class in stitches all day, thus infuriating the teachers and causing me to be punished on a regular basis”.

Tony had a very interesting and varied career, which he describes in some detail. He was a born and successful salesman, ranging from selling Men’s underwear at Myers to BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Whatever he undertook, both in business and in retirement, he earned the respect of his peers, and many became his friends.

His loyalty and love of family continued always; he never failed in giving joy to Dad during that Wednesday evening game of canasta during Dad’s final years. His lifelong closeness to our brother Ben was especially evident to all in his touching eulogy at Ben’s funeral.

His final illness was a terrible burden, of course, but whenever I rang him, he managed to sound optimistic, and he never lost his sense of humour.

Rest in peace, little brother, and no longer “rage against the dying of the light” but do “go gentle into that good night” (with apologies to Dylan Thomas).

Rob Brian

Helen, my sincere condolences at the loss of Tony. What a great guy. We spent so many, many hours together in the dealerships. Sitting in Tony’s office with Bib….talking about business and ways to make more business. Those were the days…and such memorable experiences. I have so much respect for his enormous sales skill and ability. Sadly lost but truly remembered. Fondest regards Robert Stillwell

Tony was a new found friend when we first moved to Moe. We enjoyed his company and the extensive knowledge of BMW that he shared so freely.
He will be sadly missed.

I first met Tony at the Moe Old Gippstown Men’s Shed , where he was a great asset. As has been said, he was aways looking for ways to help out the group. He did a great job when he became president, as he used the skills he had gained in life to do such a great job as our treasurer as well.. He will be sorely missed by us all.

Tony always had a quiet, calm strength about him when we worked together for the Stillwell Family. Our deepest sympathy to Liz and Graham, and all the Family. Regards Dawn & Ray Dethridge

[Uncle Tony] It is with sadness that I write this tribute to you. You came into our story at a later chapter, our story joined from here where we shared a friendship. Together we held conversations of a business nature that we could both relate to. I enjoyed these moments. I struggle to understand why our stories are sometimes shortened, why they don’t go further beyond our imagination. You accepted our family into your story, as we have yours. We felt connected, loved, and let go of the idea of a judgmental creator. Your journey has not run short of path, your exploration now begins another chapter with love itself. To thine own self be true, Luke

Your true sense of family, especially spending valuable time with Opa in his final years, are a tribute to you, dear Uncle Tony. I always enjoyed catching up with you each time we went to Melbourne to visit Oma and Opa. I will never forget your dry sense of humour and that laugh!

Karsten and I were so grateful that you and Helen came to Sydney to be a part of our marriage celebration in 2006. This was the last time I saw you.

Rest peacefully dear uncle reunited with your Mum and Dad and your brother Ben.

Love Katie

Farewell old mate, we did not have your friendship for very long, but we filled it with fun, laughter numerous challenges and many successes. Your insight and life experiences you shared with us was always a source of amusement and respect. We will miss your fussing around in the shed, picking up and cleaning up after us with the occasional growl, anywhere flat has become a darn storage area. You will be sorely missed mate.

Loved your sense of humour and positive outlook on life.
I remember you gave a speech at our engagement, showing that you looked out for me in a special way.
I’m so glad I was able to see you earlier in the year. You are now at peace and you are remembered with love.

I have fond childhood memories of Uncle Tony on our holidays to Melbourne to see Oma and Opa and the extended family. I remember his good sense of humour, his charm and his warmth. He was the ‘fun’ and slightly rebellious Uncle, which as a child seemed such a contrast to his brother, Rob (our Dad) who was as far as we were aware rather conservative. There was something captivating and exciting about Tony. He was certainly his own person which I was both intrigued and inspired by. As a child I thought you had to ‘be’ what was expected of you. I guess you could say that Uncle Tony showed me you could decide your own path in life.

Whilst I didn’t really know Uncle Tony well, especially in my adult years, I feel he enjoyed the best life had to offer, despite challenges along the way. I know he experienced love and loss, success and failure, happiness and grief. Forever the salesman, I believe he approached everything in his life with passion and determination. A true and loyal friend and loving family man.

Rest peacefully Uncle Tony. You will be remembered well.