Suddenly passed away on the 21st of November 2022 at his home in Tenterden at the age of 68yrs.

Father of Luke, Dean and Amy. Grandfather to Madeline.

Brother to Maureen, Daphne, Doug (deceased) Janice.

EULOGY

Laurence George Thomsen 1954 - 2022

Laurence George Thomsen was born to Gladys Maureen “Jo” Charters and George Arthur Thomsen on the 13th of June 1954 at the Herberton Hospital, Herberton in the Atherton tablelands, Queensland, one of 5 children father to 3 (Luke Dean and Amy) Grandfather to 1 (Madeline).

Growing up he played rugby went to a lot of local dances and married his first wife Annetta in Queensland. They divorced and Laurie moved to Norseman where he worked for Charlie Hull Contracting in the earthmoving, civil construction, and mining industries then for Brambles as a plant operator and leading hand.

Laurie met Julie when she was travelling back from Nursing in Port Augusta heading to Geraldton and stayed in Norseman for a week with family friends.

Laurie was a mad speedway fanatic helping to building the speedway track in Norseman. He drove a sprint car and travelled to Kalgoorlie, Esperance, and Geraldton for race meets. He could be seen testing the sprint car on the salt lakes near Norsemen airport with his mechanic John Outram and John O’Callaghan.

Laurie and Julie married in 1985 and continued to live in Norseman for some years. They briefly moved to NSW but not long after arriving there, Laurie had a car accident and ended up in hospital with multiple fractures which took months to rehabilitate. As he was unable to work, they moved back to Geraldton with Julie’s mum where Julie worked at the Geraldton Regional Hospital, while Laurie recuperated. They then moved back to Norseman where Laurie again worked in the open cut mine and Julie worked at the local hospital.

In 1991 Luke was born closely followed by Dean. In 1993 Julie and the boys moved to Albany with her mother to help with the boys while Laurie sold the house.

The whole family moved to Kendenup in October 1993 so that the kids could be brought up in the country and Laurie worked DIDO until 1997 when he decided to come home to Kendenup and purchased his beloved 12G grader. Laurie continued operating his grader as “Kendenup Grader Contractor”, in the Kendenup, Tenterden, Mt Barker area whilst Julie ran the office.

In 1998 they welcomed Amy who was born at the Mt Barker Hospital. Luke, Dean and Amy attended Kendenup Primary School. Dean Joined the Speedway in Mt Barker for a few years. Both boys played cricket and football for Kendenup and Mt Barker. Amy played netball and attended West Plantagenet Pony Club and to this day is heavily involved with her horses as she owns and runs All4hoovesWA rescue rehabilitation and rehoming.

All of Laurie’s children know how to operate a grader and Dean worked with Laurie in the late 90’s on projects around Kendenup and Mt Barker. Both of his sons are in the earthmoving industry.

Laurie and Julie Divorced in 2010 and Julie and the kids moved to Albany where the kids completed their schooling and now live.

Laurie lived in the Kendenup home for a while before it was sold, and he then purchased a place in Tenterden. This is where he met Lorene, living with her till the time of his death.

Laurie passed away from a heart attack in the early hours of Monday 21st November 2022.