Twist, Thomas
DESCRIPTION
NameTwist, ThomasOccupationElectricianPlace of ResidenceAlbion ParkBiographyThomas Henry Twist was born in 1940. At the age of 14, he moved with his mother and brother, to the Illawarra and completed school at Wollongong Junior Secondary Technical School.
Tom responded to an add for an Electrical Apprentice with Australian Fertilizers Limited at Port Kembla in 1956, and spent five years there, as an Electrical Fitter and Instrument Repairer. Tom’s apprenticeship was complete by 1961, and he took an opportunity to work on contract in New Zealand with an American firm, for twelve months.
On his return to Australia, Tom worked on the construction of the Port Kembla Hospital and Warilla High School. He spent time in Berry doing mostly farm repairs where he had to compromise with materials found on site, as the farms were well out of town.
An opportunity arose for Tom to establish his own contracting business in 1965. He began working with Commaccio Brothers and several small builders on the housing estate at Barrack Heights.
House wiring, home maintenance and servicing small business was the beginning. From 1965 to 1972, the business grew from one person to an average of five staff. Three apprentices were trained in this industry. He commenced an Electrical Contracting Business in 1965 with his wife Lynette, trading as TH & LM Twist.
Some major works during this period included a rewire of the Shellharbour Hotel, major extensions to Bulli Woonona RSL Club, and the rewire of the World War Two Officers Quarters at Lake Illawarra. On one occasion, he bounced around in a small “tinnie” at the end of the Bass Point Jetty while he worked on the electrics. Most of the major project builders at that time employed Tom’s services, which meant his company wired the majority of Mt Warrigal, Kanahooka and Barrack Heights homes constructed between 1966 to 1973. He is reminded of this today when he meets old customers, and they inform him they still have the advertising card he left, wound with fuse wire in their metre boxes, 30 years later.
Some of his work was social. One lady in her 90’s would have him come each year to her home to replace a light globe and to ‘shift her piano’ while he was there!
From 1973 to 1976, work opportunities faded and Tom made the decision to close the business and moved to Melbourne to a position of Electrical Trades Teacher with TAFE Victoria. He returned to the Illawarra in 1981 with the Apprenticeship Directorate, supervising conditions for apprentices in the Illawarra and Tablelands.
Tom commenced work in 1981 at Shellharbour TAFE as an Electrical Trade’s teacher. During his time working at TAFE, Tom worked on the installation of several Scout Halls, the new building at All Saints Church at Albion Park and several projects at Shellharbour TAFE.
During Tom’s time as a member of Shellharbour Rotary Club he worked on the Gateway and Rangers’ huts at Bass Point
Tom retired in 1999, satisfied that his working life was complete. When Tom began in 1956, the radio had valves and Television was just beginning. By 1999, computers had made typewriters redundant and electrical control equipment was grossly high tech. Tom believed that keeping abreast of the many changes in the industry was a challenge best met by those younger!
Contributed by Tom and Lyn Twist 2006
Tom responded to an add for an Electrical Apprentice with Australian Fertilizers Limited at Port Kembla in 1956, and spent five years there, as an Electrical Fitter and Instrument Repairer. Tom’s apprenticeship was complete by 1961, and he took an opportunity to work on contract in New Zealand with an American firm, for twelve months.
On his return to Australia, Tom worked on the construction of the Port Kembla Hospital and Warilla High School. He spent time in Berry doing mostly farm repairs where he had to compromise with materials found on site, as the farms were well out of town.
An opportunity arose for Tom to establish his own contracting business in 1965. He began working with Commaccio Brothers and several small builders on the housing estate at Barrack Heights.
House wiring, home maintenance and servicing small business was the beginning. From 1965 to 1972, the business grew from one person to an average of five staff. Three apprentices were trained in this industry. He commenced an Electrical Contracting Business in 1965 with his wife Lynette, trading as TH & LM Twist.
Some major works during this period included a rewire of the Shellharbour Hotel, major extensions to Bulli Woonona RSL Club, and the rewire of the World War Two Officers Quarters at Lake Illawarra. On one occasion, he bounced around in a small “tinnie” at the end of the Bass Point Jetty while he worked on the electrics. Most of the major project builders at that time employed Tom’s services, which meant his company wired the majority of Mt Warrigal, Kanahooka and Barrack Heights homes constructed between 1966 to 1973. He is reminded of this today when he meets old customers, and they inform him they still have the advertising card he left, wound with fuse wire in their metre boxes, 30 years later.
Some of his work was social. One lady in her 90’s would have him come each year to her home to replace a light globe and to ‘shift her piano’ while he was there!
From 1973 to 1976, work opportunities faded and Tom made the decision to close the business and moved to Melbourne to a position of Electrical Trades Teacher with TAFE Victoria. He returned to the Illawarra in 1981 with the Apprenticeship Directorate, supervising conditions for apprentices in the Illawarra and Tablelands.
Tom commenced work in 1981 at Shellharbour TAFE as an Electrical Trade’s teacher. During his time working at TAFE, Tom worked on the installation of several Scout Halls, the new building at All Saints Church at Albion Park and several projects at Shellharbour TAFE.
During Tom’s time as a member of Shellharbour Rotary Club he worked on the Gateway and Rangers’ huts at Bass Point
Tom retired in 1999, satisfied that his working life was complete. When Tom began in 1956, the radio had valves and Television was just beginning. By 1999, computers had made typewriters redundant and electrical control equipment was grossly high tech. Tom believed that keeping abreast of the many changes in the industry was a challenge best met by those younger!
Contributed by Tom and Lyn Twist 2006
Photograph
Object
Family
CONNECTIONS
CollectionPeopleLocalityAlbion Park
Twist, Thomas. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 16/12/2025, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1894