Such a great person
Had many fond memories of Tom alias the crow at Norlane High

R.I.P Tom..

You will always be in my memories and never forgotten…♥️💐

Remembering great memories of Tom from childhood and teenage days.
Enjoyed many good times and his music chats were legendary.
Heartfelt condolences to Lena and his family - a great person and friend to all.

Tom, gone too soon.
I have wonderful memories of beer & chips in Queenscliff on a Sunday afternoon discussing many and varied issues.
He had great knowledge of history, birds & music & we discussed them all.
As well as coffee overlooking paddocks outside Drysdale. He could tell me all the birds that flew past.
As for music we had hours of great discussions on all bands in particular Jethro Tull.
Alison & myself will miss these discussions. We had much more to talk about.
Thanks for all the memories Tom.
Our condolences to Lena & family for their loss.
- Geoff & Alison.

I got to know Tom through Lena, my partner in crime at the university in Gothenburg, Sweden.
His interest and knowledge in music was extraordinary!
At our trip to a.o Australia, we drove with Lena and Tom from Geelong to Cairns, enjoying Toms knowledge of history, nature and wildlife.
Especially out trip to Dunk Island was fantastic!
I hope you have found your peace Tom, and my thoughts go to Lena and family.

Vale Tom Neill.
Condolences to the family and friends.

Tom, we did High School together back in the 60's/70's, and recently caught up with some High School reunions, so glad we did, the kid your were then, basically was the 70 year old version off that!
Comical, light hearted, knowledgeable and above all a caring nature, goodbye Tom, you will be sadly missed R.I.P. 🥀

Tom was a great friend and mentor to me when I was fresh out of school, starting my first full-time job, and enjoying the freedom of trips down the coast.
I include a couple of photos from a bush dance at Derrinallum.
Sadly I can't make it to the memorial, but condolences to family and friends.

Tom’s wall of records in the James Street house.
Tom introducing me to the music of Rory Gallagher.
Tom’s beloved Peugeot meeting a sad end on the Werribee bypass.
Walking past the Neill household on my way to school.
Many fond memories of Tom.
Vale Tom Neill.

Thanks for unforgettable memories from our time in Göteborg.
You’re in our hearts together with your family.
Lena, sending you love and support💕

Although it was many years since we spoke, I am of course very sad to hear about Tom passing away in a relatively young age. The memories of our conversations around medieval topics and our daytrips to historical sites in Scandinavia during 1990's will always be with me in a positive way. The discussions were all stimulating and creative with Tom with his wide and deep knowledge as a major contributor.

Rest In Peace, Tom. My condolences to the family.

Till minne av Tom.
Tom var faktiskt en av Sveriges största historiker, särskilt vad gäller Östergötlands medeltid.
Men han var också en mycket god vän. Han finns alltid bevarad i mitt hjärta.

Fänad dör, fränder dör
Själv dör du likaledes;
ett vet jag som aldrig dör,
minnet av en god människa!
Stig

Tom- an engaged and warm person, has left this life.
Condolences to Lena, Annika and Nathan from Jack and me.
My memory of Tom goes back to the early 1980ies from the hotel in Björkliden. Tom made an immediate impression with his life experience and opinions. Together he and Lena were important support for the very young Elisabeth lacking a clear direction in life. I will forever treasure the many deep conversations Tom and I had about life and death during some weeks in 1993 when Tom stayed with me in Stockholm doing research for one of his papers. There was a family back home in Fritsla that he was longing for but at the same time he was very engaged in his research. I very much appreciated the days I had together with you all visiting Australia in 2016.
Lovely memories.
Rest in peace dear Tom.

The first time we met was through Lena when you’ve just started dating.
You’ve just met in the north of Sweden.
I was a surprise-guest together with old friends at your wedding party.
You were a surprise guest at ours.
We’ve met on and off during the years in
Uddevalla, Göteborg, Fritsla and even in Borås.

You will always be remembered!
Sending all our love and support to Lena and the family.
Lena & Håkan
Per & Hans

Tom, as in Tom and Lena, was an important person in my life when I moved to Sweden in the early 80’s. We had our “kärngäng”(main group), four young couples, one partner Swedish and the other English speaking (well, three Americans and our Tom). We were all learning Swedish and trying to feel at home in Sweden, getting together gave us all positive energy.
I have many memories of Tom, hanging out talking, drinking “homemade” wine, playing games like Cosmic Wimpout or Trivial Pursuit, throwing boomerangs (yes, this is true), or a special birthday party with a cake made out of foam rubber. And of course, listening to music, Tom was very interested in music. I think he went by Skivhugget, a local record store, weekly to check on new releases. Remember, this was the era of Men at Work, Down Under, which Tom adamantly claimed was not the best music Australia had. His interests were definitely not in mainstream pop.
Tom, calm, warm, knowledgeable with a sense of humor, continuously moving to a new short term flat (apartment), biking everywhere. Now mind you, we live in a city with excellent public transportation, yet Tom and Lena chose to use their bicycles. I have a memory of Tom and Lena taking a bicycle vacation in the Pyrenees mountains. They were ecstatic, I was in disbelief!
I could go on and on but this novel must come to an end.
Tom, you and Lena have a place in my heart. Thanks for everything. You will be missed by many.
Heartfelt sympathies to my dear friend Lena and of course Annika and Nathan.

Tom was one of the most authentic, knowledgable, humble and interesting fellas I met after moving to Sweden back in the 1980's.
He and Lena were some of my favorite people to hang out back in the day.
Tom and I shared a great admiration for the rock group Jethro Tull and we could talk for hours over our home brewed beer over various aspects of the "flute rock".
I hold many cherished memories of Tom as a great guy allaround.
May he rest in peace.
- Stuart Pledger

Tom we where friends from long ago and same neighbourhoods, going to the coast almost every weekend and any other free time.
We shared a love of music and so many pubs for live music, concerts in festival hall an amazing number.
Going up and down Melbourne road. Sharing houses and transporting our dogs and albums with us.
The time Julie and I spent with you and Lena in Fritsla holds special memories, I did not have a best man at our wedding as you were in Sweden and you because I was in Australia.
Sorry that I missed being around by being other side of the country and now other side of the world.
I miss you now my brother.

Tom was a great friend from our early teens and we shared many things along the way, playing football, going surfing, partying going to see bands and concerts all to a musical soundtrack laid down by his encyclopaedic knowledge of latest music and with his dry sense of humour. He was always a history buff too engrossed in some novel about the exploits of long haired Vikings and the like, unlike everybody around him.
Might have been a bit of underage drinking too, we did our share of skal(ing) if that’s a Swedish word.
Fond memories of those years.
Didn’t catch up much later in life more’s the pity, but sounds like you lived it fully in Sweden and Australia.
Condolences to Lena and children. Wish you well in the future.
- Cheers Greg

Tom
I have known my old friend Tom for over 50 years, growing up in the sometimes challenging streets of Norlane and Corio.
We became good friends at Norlane High School.
Tom’s knowledge and love of music was second to none. He was always introducing me to new bands and different styles of music. It always amazed me years later when we would chat about music how he could quote the lyrics of a song, word for word from the 60’s and 70’s.
In our mid to late teens Tom, Carso and I decided to learn to surf. We’d hitchhike down to Ocean Grove, stopping at my parents farm in Wallington to pick our surf boards and make our way to the beach. Before long, several of our school mates joined in, and what started as a couple of mates trying something new became a group of friends sharing some great times.
Surfing carried on for years with Tom myself and several other good mates.
Wye River was our favourite place (it had a pub!), we mostly stayed and surfed around this area.
In the 80’s things changed, people leaving, moving on, years spent living overseas. Tom and I would see each other once or twice in 20 years or so and it would just seem like yesterday when we last spoke, picking up where we left off, like no time had passed at all.
Over the past 12 months Tom and I met up and would chat about old times, music, friends old and new – sit for hours over coffee and swap stories about all sorts of things.
Those conversations are memories I will always treasure.
I will miss you old friend.
Thank you for the friendship, the laughs, the music and the memories.
Our condolences to Lena, Annika, Nathan, Laura and the Neill family.
Tom will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
– Alan and Yvonne

Tom. Vetskapen om din bortgång är mycket svår att ta till sig… Närmast omöjlig! 2000 mil från dig och familjen gör det inte lättare. Du hade förtjänat många år till Tom! Lena, Annika & Nathan: Ta riktigt väl hand om varandra nu och alltid i framtiden! Vi tänker på er här i Mölndal.❤️❤️❤️ Annelie & Gunnar

Lena I was saddened to hear of Tom’s passing.
Tom and I were not only neighbours but very close friends during our childhood and teen years. I remember many hours spent listening to music and credit Tom as being the greatest influence on my own musical taste. Even now, whenever I play Jethro Tull, Cream, Free, Rory Gallagher etc I think of who introduced me to them.
I remember also making Airfix models with him although his were always far better than mine.
Tom was originally in my wedding party but left to go to Sweden (and the rest is history ).
Although we lost contact over later years I will always remember him.
Unfortunately I can’t be at Tom’s memorial but I am sure there will be lots of old friends and many great memories.
Take care Lena
- Mick Bates

I’m living the 70’s and l get paid for being a freak.
The ocean road was our freedom ride every weekend to Wye River.
Tom and Robbie in the HK Holden with me in the back seat hitching a ride to Kennett River for a Sunday arvo surf.
The Sony Auto Reverse cassette player awaits Tom’s subtle touch of play.
It was the first time l heard Ricky don’t lose that number.
Many years later when I introduced vinyl to my then 10 year old son I put on Pretzel Logic and it took me back to that warm Sunday afternoon.
Music still holds the key and you were front and centre of it.
Vale Tom.
To Know you is to Love you.
- Goss.

Hi Tom - owe you $20! You said Dangerfield should be in the team this year and when I said he would retired. Guess what - he signed on again for 2027!! What is he thinking mate!! Maybe that means I owe you $40!! I’m sure you would have agreed that he retired end of this season! Lena’s too emotional about the Cats to be rational like you! Don’t worry - I’ll pass on the $20 to Lena!! Love you buddy - we will definitely miss you when the Cats play!! Glad we had a few great days together in Port Macquarie! ❤️ Shiva & Cheryl

Tom, jag har saknat dig sedan du försvann från Sverige. Vi hade så många gemensamma forskningsintressen, men någon samskriven artikel blev det aldrig. En gång efter flytten till Australien träffades vi, en mycket varm sommardag i Göteborg cirka 2010, och vi satt under ett äppelträd i min trädgård, drack något svalkande och pratade om allt som forskningen hade missförstått om 1100-talets Sverige. Sov i ro, min vän!

Dear Tom,
Looking back on life, one realises that there are only a few people that you really would characterise as your close friends, without whome your life had not been the same, and that you have a very hard time imagining living without. Thank you for all our many endless discussions on our way to explore medieval Scandinavia, for all fun in between, and for making the academic world a habitable space.
/Henrik

Lena, Annika and Nathan, our deepest condolences to you all.
Henrik, Marie, Agnes, Petter, Adam and Lena

Well Tom (Woodrow), got some of the best memories ever from about the age of 10 till now. Pushing the bikes all over...from the You Yangs to the Moorabool. Great concerts at Festival Hall...Tull, Eric, Roxy Music and then the best..Rory.
As Geoff has said, great times out on the Bellarine drinking, eating and solving the problems of the world, music and otherwise. We owned that peninsula. Think of the stimulating times every day.
Thoughts too with Lena, Annika and Nathan.
Liz, me and the girls are here for you anytime.
Phil (Gus).

Tom för mig är du en kär familjemedlem som nu har lämnat oss alldeles för tidigt.Du förde alltid glädje med dig och hade så nära till skratt. Saknaden är stor men du lämnar så många ljusa minnen efter dig. Tack för allt positivt du bidragit med.
Vila i frid Tom
Morgan

TOM,
You gave me back my love to Van Morrison when I was visiting Lena and you. You were playing "The Man" all week long after I have told you that I was disappointed after visiting to concerts in Gothenburg.
I was even lucky and met your lovely children, Annika and Nathan.
It was fascinating that Annika had been visiting Ireland and that Nathan had been to the northern part of Sweden and even spent a year in Uddevalla and visited our old high school, Sommarhemsskolan. Such a blessing it must have been for morfar to have his grandson living with him and even for Nathan to be able to spend so much time with his grandfather.
It has been so interesting to have get to know you in Uddevalla when we where young and then that week when we where middle-aged. To discuss our lives, our countries etc.
After been traveling around Ireland several times and even been working there for a little while I can imagine that it was your Irish blood who gave your sense of humour I appreciated so much.

I saw how much you cared for your lovely family and I believe it is so empty after you now.

I am so sorry that you have to leave them.

Lots of love
Yvonne

Tom
We first met in Florence, Italy, in the fall of 1980 when Lena and I were backpacking in Europe. We all got along really well and after that we travelled togheter and became friends. TOM surprised us, knowing more Italian history than we did.
Thank you TOM, for being my friend and brother for more than four decades.
Also thanks to Lena, Annika and Nathan, for always beeing there for me. You all have a special place in my heart.
As I said to you the last time we spoke Tom; We will meet again on "the other side"
All my love.
From your "sister"
Jeanette
Sweden 00.15 27/7

The Beautiful Bellarine
Swan Bay - Basil's Farm

The first time I met Tom was when I was in Australia in 2012. I stayed with them for a couple of days and they among other things showed me the Great Ocean Road. We had some good dinners with nice talks and interesting conversation as well with Tom and Nathan over several cappuccinos! Nathan was learning to be a barista for his summer job. Tom was very friendly and a person with lot of knowledge.
A year or two later they visited us in Fjällbacka where we enjoyed shrimp and crayfish, much to Lena's delight!
Wonderful gatherings and lovely memories.
I'm very sorry for your loss of a very nice man, husband and father. 🥺 It was way to early.
My heart is with you Lena, Nathan and Annika.💛
Kram Anette

My thoughts to Lena and family.
I have only good memories of Tom from the time we shared in Gothenburg .

A lonely figure walks through the bar door at the Wye Hotel...He looks around and sees someone playing Pub Pong in a corner.. In the distance he could hear the "clicking" of pool balls... Harry the publican asks "can I help you"... He'd just given his order when a voice calls out "TOM"... "DAVE" replied Tom.. The two old friends hugged... Tom asked who are you here with? Just then 3 familiar OLD friends appeared from around the pool table ... Alan Howie, Robbie Neill (Tom's brother) and Paul Boin... A smile and a tear appeared on Tom's face.. He was back in the 70's and a pot of beer was 16 cents... Whose shout is it asked Dave (the pig of steel) ?
The 5 friends went back to the pool table laughing over old times...
Vale Tom.. Condolences to Lena and family... Rabbit.....

Farewell Tom!

It's hard to accept that you've left us. But the memories of you are so strong and will stay with me for as long as I live.

I will miss your soft, kind and pleasant way to be. Always laid back with a lovely sense of humor.

When I was a young boy I remember how you thought me how to whistle. I'm still not good at it, but the small progress I've made is thanks to you. 😊 Among other neutrofiler memories I cherish that one very much. Also how we shared musical taste when I started discovering the music of the older generation. That taste is still dominant today and because of that the memory of your knowledge about music will stay with me.

I wish my children had memories of you too, because I'm sure they would cherish them just as much as I do.

Rest forever and we will always remember you, Tom.

Tom du lämnade oss alldeles för tidigt. Vi saknar dig otroligt mycket även om vi inte setts på många år. Det började på Scanlens ihop med Lena. Vi firade midsommar tillsammans när barnen var små och ni bodde i Fritsla. Tom och jag kunde sitta och prata musik som kunde bli ganska ingående.Vi snackade också om fåglarna runt omkring som han också förde journal över.
Vi brukar säga att det är få människor som är
så intressanta som ni två är. Det är med tungt hjärta jag skriver dessa rader, fast vi inte har träffats på många år så känns det sorgligt. Vi känner så starkt med dig Lena.
Hoppas Tom har det bra nu och slipper kämpa med cancern något mer.
Var stark Lena.