1922-1937 Youth

Tom was born Thomas Aloysius O'Brien on June 21st, 1922 and baptised at the Passionist Monastery (St Paul's Retreat).  Tom was the second of seven children of Thomas and Teresa O'Brien.

Tom O'Brien with grandfather Bernard, parents
Teresa and Tom, and siblings Pat and Gus (along
with Gus's plane he got for Christmas).

Tom grew up in the family home at 289 Portrush Road Glen Osmond, then moved next door at the age of around 10 or 11 (with brother Gus or Kevin) into a room at the back of the grandparents house (287 Portrush Road) to make room as the family grew.

Schooling

Tom went to primary school at the Convent of Mercy, Parkside, Adelaide (1928-34).  Tom then attended the Marist Brothers Secondary School (St Ignatius) in Norwood, up to second year.  He Left school on the day he turned 14 (he'd been counting down the days).  Most of Tom's memories of school involve getting the cane!

Tom with his first bike, received at Christmas

Tom with his 22,
around age 14.

Tom has memories of wandering the hills behind Glen Osmond with a 22 hunting rabbits at the age 12 to 14.

The family also had friends next door (Langleys, who were plumbers) that had a holiday shack at Victor Harbour.  The family were able to in the shack for 2 weeks over Christmas (and use the canoe!).  Jean pitched in lending the family her car so they were able to drive down.

Around about the age of 15, the family home in Glen Osmond was rented out to Uncle George and family (son Robert) and the O'Briens rented a house in Brighton to allow Thomas Patrick O'Brien easier access to the vineyard he'd recently bought in Warradale.

First Jobs

Tom worked at the brickworks at Glen Osmond (City Bricks) for a while, then Ellers Cars on Unley Road (now Ellers Motors) before working for SA Tailors.  SA Tailors was located in Pultney Street and was established by Tom's Aunts Margaret and Nance (married to Tom and George Phillipson).  This is where the old foot-operated sewing machine came from: it belonged to Aunt Martha.  Tom delivered suits (two or three at a time, piled on the handle bars of the bike) to other menswear shops around Adelaide.