Tom Herzfeld
HERZFELD, Thomas Alexander Albert BE(hons) MIEAust MLA (1936-2023)
Tom was born in Berlin, Germany on January 29, 1936, the eldest son of banker and accountant Hans Herzfeld and his wife Edith Erna Hildegard Herzfeld (nee Scherer).
In 1939, Hans and Edith Herzfeld and their young family moved to Siam (Thailand) where Hans was working as the Chief Accountant for the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation. Tom’s primary schooling was in Thailand. During World War 2, the family lived in Japanese occupied Thailand, moving out of Bangkok to the countryside for safety. After the war, Hans returned to his role with the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation.
Tom travelled on his own to Western Australia, on the “Charon” on June 9, 1948, to attend Guildford Grammar School. His brother, Michael Otto Hermann Herzfeld, joined him at Guildford Grammar School in January 1951. Their mother, Edith, moved, from Bangkok, to live in Western Australia, in April 1951. Tom’s father had died in May 1950, in Bangkok, aged 57. Tom was successful in obtaining an engineering cadetship, with the WA Public Works Department, that he commenced on March 6, 1954. This supported his study of an engineering degree at the University of Western Australia . He completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours in 1958.
From 1959 to 1968 he worked as a civil engineer in the Public Works Department. His initial engineering posting was with the North West Branch in the Pilbara and Kimberley. In 1963 he transferred to the Irrigation and Drainage Branch working in the Southwest of the State. In 1968 he joined the Country Water Supply Branch.
In 1968 he moved to the private sector with an early posting being as Engineer in Charge of constructing the East Perth Rail Terminal with Maunsell and Partners. He subsequently worked with Thiess Brothers, Bell Brothers and Lumeco until 1975.
Tom was elected to the Mundaring Shire Council in 1975 becoming Shire President in May 1976. In February 1977, he was elected as the Member for Mundaring in the WA Legislative Assembly, a seat he held until 1983. From 1983 to 1987 he was a Research Officer for Ray O’Connor and Bill Hassell.
He became General Secretary of the Liberal Party in WA in April 1987 and then State Director from January 1988 to December 1989. He was also State Campaign Director for State and Federal Elections.
Tom was a national board member of the Australian Shareholders Association from 2007 to 2011.
He married teacher Alison Marjorie (Sally) Gare on March 3, 1962, at St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington and they had three children John, Andrew and Wendy.
Tom joined the Institution of Engineers Australia as a Student Member in 1958, becoming a Member in 1963. His brother Michael also became an engineer and a Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia.
Tom died on June 6, 2023, aged 87. He was survived by his wife Sally and their three children.
References:
West Australian 13.4.1951, p16
Daily News, 7.5.1955, p12
Margaret Sacks (Editor), The Way 79 Who is Who, Crawley Publishers Pty Ltd, 1980, Crawley
Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia
WA Public Service Lists 1954 to 1968
