Leslie Thomas Lehmann
Leslie Thomas Lehmann was born 2/07/1922 at Jeparit, the second son and third child of a family of 12 children born to Herbert Edgar and Annie May Lehmann. The family were farming at Tarranyurk at this time.
In 1926 the family sold this land and moved with children Gladys, Bill Lesley and Reg to a farm at Kinnabulla West.
Leslie was educated at Curyo West School and on leaving worked on the family farm and was known a ”dad’s horse man” in-charge of the 2 teams of working horses. . He was a very social young man as per his day book that he kept in those days, many entries for dances, picnics, balls etc.
It was around this time that Les was given the nickname of “Tunny”. (his parents always referred to him as Les)
The family stories are told and passed down that when the Jimmy Sharman boxing troops came to the Birchip Show with the catch cry “who will put the gloves on” and “ a round or two for a pound or two”. Les was up to it and apparently gave the pros a run for their money, he had a formidable left hook, most of the time boxing in his best blue suit. He was after these matchups always known as “Tunny” (after Gene Tunny, the American boxer)
Tunny (VX85352) joined the army at the age of 20 enlisted 15 February 1942 and was discharged 31 October 1945, He was a Sapper in 8th Aust Mechanical Equipment Company, stationed at Darwin.
Whilst in the NT on a day off presumably, he was swimming with some mates and on diving into a waterway, hit a rock or tree branch and badly injured his neck, his mother said he was very lucky to not have been paralysed.
Tunny’s world changed after enlisting in 1942 and so it was that by his discharge in 1945 farming had also changed, Tunny’s beloved horses had been sold and the new era of tractors had taken on.
Records show that Tunny was also a good shearer, keeping up to the re-known shearers of his time.
After his marriage to Elizabeth Ann Gaylor ( daughter of Sophie and Jack of Narraport) on 20th April 1949, Tunny and Betty made their home on a farm at Rosebery East, bought from Mr Walsgott .
Their first two children were born at Hopetoun. Judith and John.
Tunny sold this property in 1954 and moved to Horsham. While living at 62 Bennett Rd, the couple had two more children, Suzanne and Pamela.
Tunny bought a farming property just west of Horsham. Later selling this property Tunny was employed as a delivery truck driver.
Leslie Thomas Lehmann (Tunny) passed away on 18th July 1972 after a long and nasty battle with cancer and was buried in Horsham Cemetery.
• Tunny, middle row, 2nd on right.
• Tunny, back row, 2nd on left.
