Dunn, Thomas Henry.   18.5.1942 - 19.4.2019

At Mauriceville, Wairarapa. Dearly loved husband and best friend of Norma, loved stepfather of Christopher and Olga Barnett and "TOM" of Alexander and Matthew. Loved son of the late Richard (Dick) and Myra (Chum) Dunn. Loved brother and brother-in-law of Charlotte and Michael Williams, Les and Judith Dunn, Julia and Paul London, Richard and Christine Dunn. Uncle Tom to his nieces and nephews and their families.

Tom was a Life Member of Stop Out Sports Club, Boxing New Zealand and Mauriceville Fair Association. There will be a private family cremation, and a gathering to celebrate Tom's life will be held at a later date. Details to be advised. Messages for the family c/- N.E. Dunn, RD2, Masterton 5882.

While death notices give details of a loved one passing, they often give few clues to the life and times of the person. Few people knew Tom Dunn better than his long-time friend Jack Plowman. We will leave it to Jack to tell us about some of the life and times of Tom Dunn.

Tom was the second oldest child of Dick and Myra Dunn's five children. In leaving school, he joined New Zealand Customs as a sixteen year old and retired from the New Zealand Government Department  some 45 years later. In that time, he held the position of Collector of Customs in Wellington, Christchurch and Blenheim. Much of his work involved roles in teaching protocols and procedures.

I first met Tom, at the Railways Boxing Gym in Naenae, where many youngsters learned the art of boxing under the tuition of Dick Dunn and Les Domney . It was a place where you were taught not just boxing but many life skills. We travelled to many boxing tournaments all over the country, which was always an adventure for a kid from Naenae. Tom who was ten years older than me, had a take-no-prisoners approach to training and sparring and was always a tough uncompromising competitor. In its heyday the Railways Boxing Club was a real force in New Zealand boxing competition.

As a young man Tom played and excelled in boxing, cricket, soccer and was a keen sailor. Tom won numerous Wellington and other provincial boxing titles and in 1963 won the New Zealand Boxing Association National Middleweight title. Older boxing fans will remember his tremendous battles with Kahu Mahunga and others, in the preludes to professional fights at the Wellington Town Hall, during the late 1950's and 1960's.

A love of the sea  was a passion for Tom who was a gifted weekend sailor and keen fisherman with an extensive knowledge of all things nautical .

A lifetime role in (volunteer) sports administration was on the cards, after he was appointed Secretary of the Stop Out Soccer Club in the Hutt Valley, at just seventeen years of age. He served in various roles in the club including maintaining the history of the one hundred year old organization , being elected a Life Member of Stop Out.

Tom's roles in boxing administration were many and varied. President, Chairman and Executive Council Member of Boxing New Zealand and Secretary of the Wellington and Hutt Valley Coaches Association. He also played a big part in reforming the Wellington-Hutt Valley Boxing Association around 1987, holding numerous administration roles until 2002.

One Boxing New Zealand position dear to his heart, was as the Boxing New Zealand Insurance Fund, serving as Chairman and Trustee. The Insurance fund was originally derived from a percentage of professional boxers purses in the 1940's to the 1960's.  Those were the days when all boxing in the country was under the control of the New Zealand Boxing Association. The trust was set up to fund boxer insurance for New Zealand representative boxers on overseas trips.

I served with Tom on the Insurance fund for many years, with Tom being adamant that the funds be used for only their original purpose and not be allowed to be diverted to any other activity. Tom, had a big hand in setting up some of the funding Boxing New Zealand receives today, such as a percentage of TAB income that is derived from sports betting. 

Tom's expertise was in writing rules and administrative procedures and he excelled at chairing meetings in an orderly fashion.  He was made a Life Member of Boxing New Zealand for his tireless services to the sport.

I have many fond memories of Tom during various stages of his life, whether sportsman, coach, administrator or good friend - his straight talking and problem solving abilities combined with lateral thinking earned him a huge amount of respect by all, for a life well lived.

Jack

RIP Tom Dunn

added: Wednesday 24 April 2019