The Cootamundra Herald continues its weekly feature profiling some of the many interesting people living in our community. This week we caught up with Alan Thompson on his 80th birthday.
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Mr Thompson and his wife Jill have made their life and home in Cootamundra but it wasn’t always the plan.
Originally from Sydney, Mr Thompson taught automotive engineering at TAFE before arriving in Cootamundra.
“In those days the agreement was that you had to do six years country service,” Mr Thompson said.
Given the choice of Narrabri or Cootamundra – Mr Thompson headed for the state’s south-west in 1966.
It’s a decision he hasn’t regretted, and when the six years were up? Mr Thompson stayed.
Together with Jill, they raised three children Craig, Dean and Linda, and Mr Thompson got involved with the town’s car clubs, Scouts and other community groups.
“Cars have been my life, I’ve been playing with vehicles all life,” he said.
“Even when I was young, I was mechanically minded, I would amaze my father with what I built with the Meccano set.”
During his career with TAFE, Mr Thompson has taught mechanics and then taught their sons, including John Chambers and Jason Chambers plus others.
Even after retiring – playing with cars is something Mr Thompson still enjoys.
“I still play with cars, I have three Studebakers.”
While cars have been a part of his life from a young age, music has been as well which was something Mr Thompson’s dad fostered.
“I’ve been very fortunate that music came naturally, I’m not a music reader, I play from ear,” he said.
When not in the garage or at work Mr Thompson spent plenty of time on the drums and was a member of a few bands in Sydney.
“I’ve been in four different bands or groups playing bass guitar, I used to be a drummer and played drums with dad in another band in Sydney,” he said.
He kept going with the music in Cootamundra.
“A band I joined in Coota lost its bassist, and I’d always wanted to play bass,” he said.
“Bass and drums go together, so I stepped into it.
“You’ve got bit of freedom and get to play in your own style.”
Cars and music aside, there’s another thing Mr Thompson enjoyed – teaching.
“I never wanted to not go to work,” he said.
“It’s the interaction with students, I learned as much from them as they learned from me.
“It’s great to see them succeed as they finish school and go on to start their own business.”