James Toms
James “Jimmy” Toms
Mr James (“Jimmy”) Toms was born in Clunes, Victoria in 1885. He was manager of the Badgebup branch store of Richardson and Company Limited, when he passed away on 5th September 1936. He married Christina McLeod, daughter of George and Annie (Foley) McLeod in Katanning on 23 December 1908. The couple had one daughter, Daphne Dorizzi (nee Toms), who was born on 2 September 1922 at Katanning and died in Woodvale, Western Australia on 5 October 2012.
Mr Toms, who was 51 years at the time of his death, originally came from the Goldfields to the Katanning district and joined the staff of Richardson and Company Limited in 1904. He remained at Katanning for a number of years until transferring to Badgebup as manager of the firm’s branch store. Later he undertook similar duties at Nyabing.
For a period, he severed connection with his employers and worked with Mr G. McLeod. and at a business in the South-West. He subsequently re-joined to resume his post as manager of the Badgebup branch store. This position he held up to the time of his death.
Both in his business and private life at Badgebup, Mr Toms endeared himself to the whole of the community. He took an active part in social and sporting pursuits, and there were few instituted bodies at Badgebup in which he did not hold office.
In his younger days he was a keen footballer and at one time was considered one of the best goal sneaks in the district. When in latter years he was precluded from taking part in sport, he gave of his best in an advisory capacity and could always be relied upon as one of the prime movers in the matter of organisation, entertainment, or the conduct of social functions. Possessed of a cheerful, carefree disposition he fairly radiated joviality.