Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas was the son of Albert Ernest WEIDENHOFER & Elizabeth Louise ELY and was born on the 16th of July 1917 in Adelaide, SA.

His parents were married on the 3rd of April 1915 in Pt Adelaide

His mother was the daughter of Thomas ELY & Louise Anny Mary SCHULTZE and was born on the 3rd of April 1889 in Pt Adelaide, SA.

His father was the son of August WEIDENHOFER & Mary Ann JACOBS and was born on the 15th of January 1888 in Woodside, SA.

Thomas was the second son born into a family of 4 children.

The family moved to Church Street, Pt Adelaide and his father was a labourer.

His little brother; Samuel, was born on the 14th of June 1919, but sadly he died 8 months later.

As a child Thomas became known as Arnold, then Arnie which evolved further to Barney.

In 1922 the family moved to Jervois where his father was a dairy farmer and leased block 968 in the Hundred of Brinkley, containing 49 acres, from the Irrigation Commission. He also held the adjoining property.

When the family moved to Jervois on the Lower River Murray, school was taught in a room of someone’s house, but only children seven years or more, could attend. Thomas, aged only five, missed out.

As more families moved into the area, a stone school was built so Thomas completed his primary schooling at Jervois.

At an early age he and his older brother, George, helped their father with farm work.

Later, while living at Jervois, Barney worked at the Jervois cheese factory where he qualified as a boiler attendant.

After his father, Albert died from Bronchial Pneumonia and Tetanus on the 26th of January 1939, the family continued to live at Jervois.

Thomas enlisted into the RAAF on the 10th of December 1940 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 28252.

He was stationed at Point Cook in Victoria, where he was a boiler attendant.

During leave Thomas married Dorothy M STACEY on the 4th of April 1942 in the Methodist Church, Tailem Bend. Dorothy was the daughter of H STACEY of Wellington.

He returned to the RAAF and served in Darwin until he was discharged on the 26th of March 1946 in Darwin, he was a Corporal.

They had 2 children.

Returning after his discharge he and Dorothy settled in Wellington. For some years, Barney worked at harvesting the nearby salt lakes, the salt from which was transported to the Onkaparinga Woollen Mills at Lobethal where it was used for fixing the coloured dyes in the fabrics.

After a few years he took up professional fishing on the River Murray and the lakes near the mouth of the river. He spent the rest of his working life as a fisherman becoming well known in the area, not only for his fishing expertise, but also as a musician. He taught himself to play the organ and was often requested to entertain passengers on tourist vessels that travelled along the River Murray.

It was Barney who realised the potential of the yabbies (which were plentiful in the River) and assisted in introducing them to the Asian market.

In February 1986 Barney proved there were still large cod in the River Murray. He caught a 75 pounder (34kg) in a four inch mesh net near the top of the lake. The big fish was about 1.6 metres long. It appeared that the 'monster' went into the net while chasing a small European Carp. The cod was caught by the gills by only two strands of the net.

In retirement, Barney and Dorothy continued to live in their home in Wellington until in their late 80s when their health declined and they moved into the Lerwin Nursing Home in Murray Bridge.

Thomas died on the 15th of December 2003 in Murray Bridge and is buried in the Bremer Road Cemetery, Murray Bridge; 6th Section General, Plot 336.

Dorothy died on the 29th of May 2007 and is buried in the Bremer Road Cemetery, Murray Bridge; 6th Section General, Plot 336, with Thomas.