OBITUARY
THOMAS (TOM) FRANCIS LINNELL
(Honorary Fellow of the IOQ NZ)
Sadly, The Institute of Quarrying New Zealand was informed of the death of Tom Linnell on the 21st of December 2004.
A life of quarrying and commitment – to the Institute, and to his wife and partner, Mavis.
Tom was a founding member of the NZ Branch of the IOQ which was formed in 1968, and served the Institute as Vice Chairman 1975 -1977, before he was elected Chairman for the period 1977 to 1979. Tom’s last post was as NZ Secretary from 1994 until his well deserved retirement in January 2002.
During Tom’s career he was the winner of the “Lynn Jordan Memorial Award” and the “Winstone Aggregates Safety Award”.
In looking back at Tom’s career, like most he started at the hardest end of the quarry, on the floor with a shovel. However he enjoyed the job despite working away from home at times, and in the rough Northland conditions.
Tom also served in the military earning himself a commission as a First Lieutenant in 1954. Tom then had a change in scene in 1964 when he joined Winstone Aggregates as a Quarry Manager for their Otaika Quarry, Whangarei and remained with the company until he retired in June 1997.
On behalf of the Institute of Quarrying NZ, and Tom’s many colleagues within the Institute around the world we salute Tom Linnell and pass on our sincere condolences to Mavis and family,
Brian Bouzaid
President
Institute of Quarrying
New Zealand