Footprints, Melbourne, Volume 8, Number 2, June 1991, pp 1-5:

We had intended to publish in this issue a tribute to Fr. Tom Linane but, death intervening, we publish the Homily that was delivered by Most Rev. Ronald Mulkearns, Bishop of Ballarat, on Wednesday 10th April 1991 in the Cathedral Church of Ballarat.

The photograph reproduced on the front cover came into our possession a few months ago. It was taken at Horsham in 1947 and we feel fairly certain that Father Linane would heartily approve of its reproduction.

Readers of Footprints and historians around Australia and overseas will lament the passing of Fr. Linane. His contribution to the history of the Church in Australia has been inestimable. May his kindly and determined soul rest in the peace of the Lord.—Editor

Funeral Sermon delivered at the Requiem Mass in St. Patrick's, Ballarat, on 10. 4. 1991 for Tom Linane who died on 5.4.1991.
Most Rev. R. A. Mulkearns, D.D., D.C.L.

"Here is a list of generous men whose good works have not been forgotten. In their descendants there remains a rich inheritance born of them ... Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for all generations."
Ecclus. 44:10-11, 14

With these words from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, Father Tom Linane introduced, in the first issue of Footprints - in January 1971 - his monumental work of summarising the lives of 2000 generous men, priests who had laboured in Australia from the time of foundation to the end of the nineteenth century. His own name has now been added to the list of "generous men" whose good works have not been forgotten, who have left a rich inheritance, whose bodies have been buried in peace and whose names live on for all generations.

It is a mark of the importance he attached to the priesthood that Tom Linane undertook this daunting task and persevered with it to produce the volumes "From Abel to Zundolovich". This love for the priesthood showed itself again in his co-editing in 1975 with Father Frank Mecham, with us this morning, of the volume "The Men of '38 and other Pioneer Priests".

But of course we have run ahead of ourselves in contemplating the history of this particular priest whom we have come to mourn and whom we commend to the love and mercy of God in the most effective way at our disposal.

Thomas James Linane was born on September 30th 1910 at Wallace, in the Parish of Gordon which, in those days and for many years thereafter was in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. This strange quirk in diocesan boundaries was straightened out only in the 1970s. He recorded, with his true historical instincts, that he was baptised in that parish by Father Keenan. He attended Wallace State School, St Michael's Springbank, St Alipius' Ballarat East and St Patrick's College Ballarat. In March 1929 he went to St Columba's College, Springwood, in New South Wales to commence studies for the priesthood. From Springwood he moved to St Patrick's College Manly and he was ordained priest in this Cathedral on November 25th, 1934. In his inimitable way, he noted on a 'curriculum vitae' which he completed for diocesan records in 1942 that he was ordained "with Rev. J. Kirby, to whom I am senior".

Father Tom has made history in many ways and in recalling his ordination we may record that he was the last survivor of the Ballarat priests who studied at Manly. He was proud of that heritage and maintained that it was at Manly that he acquired his interest in Australian and Catholic history. He was ordained by Bishop Foley, whose episcopal ring I thought it appropriate to wear for this Mass.

Fr. Linane served in a number of parishes as Assistant, that being the expectation in those years when it took a long time to become a Parish Priest in this Diocese. He served in Colac, then on loan to Goulburn Diocese at Bega in 1936, subsequently at Stawell, Mildura, Nhill, Horsham, Terang, Hamilton and Coleraine.

During these years prior to becoming Parish Priest, Father Tom occupied two portfolios of a diocesan nature which would have kept him busy. From 1942 to 1948 he was Assistant Archivist - presumably to Fr. Coughlin - and he was thus given some opportunity to pursue his historical interests; and he was Diocesan Director of the National Catholic Rural Movement from 1943 to 1956. It would be a pity if his contribution in this area were to be overlooked. The few letters on file referring to this period reflect his concern, at a time when many migrant people were coming into the Diocese, for their welfare. He made suggestions for structures in the Diocese and in individual parishes to try to ensure that migrants were welcomed and cared for in every possible way. He urged the setting up of 'Migration Committees' in parishes and, of course, the participation of the National Catholic Rural Movement Groups where they existed in this work. In 1954 he proposed a Land Settlement scheme. A property was to be made available should such a scheme for helping people to settle on it and work co-operatively go ahead. The proposal was seriously considered by the then Bishop and Consultors but did not win approval. However, the fact that it was raised by Father Linane indicates his desire to take some practical steps to help struggling people.

In 1957 he asked to be relieved of the Diocesan Chaplaincy to the N.C.R.M. on the grounds that "a feeling of staleness had developed by reason of his long association and that a new appointment should be made".

Father Tom then became Parish Priest of the Parish of Nhill and he remained there until early 1965, at which time he was appointed Parish Priest of Bungaree. On the occasion of his Golden Jubilee of ordination I recalled that he had requested Bishop O'Collins, just as the Bishop was leaving for a visit to Rome in 1970, that he be released from his parish involvement so that he could devote himself to historical research and writing. His release was not possible at that time, but he got his wish in 1977. In January of that year, he was released from parish duties and was able to move to Torquay to devote most of his time to historical projects. In the meantime, I had been pleased to appoint him Diocesan Historian in 1974. And he had combined his parish duties with extensive research on the history of the Ballarat Diocese and the history of pioneer priests.

Father Tom's interest in history was not confined to these areas. For example, he was an acknowledged authority on the Eureka story. Apropos of this interest, he was delighted to recount the story to me of an enquiry made of him in December 1989. He wrote to me how 'The Age' magazine told of a man seeking information and quoted: "A farmer living at Wallace told him of a Father Linane, nearly one hundred years old, a Catholic historian living at Torquay". He signed his letter to me: 'Yours sincerely, not yet 80"!

That his interests and influence extended well beyond the Diocese was documented in a letter of congratulation written to him by Archbishop Little on his 50th anniversary of priesthood. The Archbishop wrote: "In a special way may I thank you for the quite remarkable service you have offered beyond your own Diocese in being "Mr. Footprints" for so many years ... You have been friend to us all".

Many of us who have devoured the pages of Footprints will echo these sentiments. With Father Jack Keaney, Father Tom launched a project which attracted willing helpers and educated its readers. He welcomed the later formation of the Ballarat Diocesan Historical Commission as a sign that his work would not be lost. For all his historical interests however, Father Tom was first and foremost a priest. In 1974 he wrote to me about an anniversary of ordination. He said: 'The score is 40, as I was ordained from St Patrick's Manly, in 1934. The score of 50 may not be reached and so it might be wise to celebrate now. I rejoice and thank the Lord that He has given me so many years of unbroken service. If you are free to come, would Your Lordship be so kind as to speak on the priesthood". Forty was duly celebrated, as was forty-five, with a gathering at Barwon Heads, and fifty, in this Cathedral on December 3rd, 1984. Always the theme was priesthood, rather than the person who had been priest for those years.

At the ceremony of ordination, a new priest is enjoined to
"share with all people that Word of God which you have received with joy" and to
"see that you believe what you read, teach what you believe, and put into action what you teach".

It is because Thomas Linane strove to live up to these injunctions that we acknowledge this morning his life and death. It is because we are all members of Christ's body and so are bound to each other that we acknowledge his contribution to the building up of that body. "The life and death of each of us has its influence on others" (Rom. 14:7). Father Tom has had his influence on a great many people over a long period of priestly life. Typically, he arranged his affairs carefully in recent months. He spoke to me earlier in the year about ''when the end comes" as though this would not be too far distant.

Years of nourishing a life of faith made him well prepared to say, after the manner of his Saviour, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit". (Lk 23:46) In death we can only yield ourselves unreservedly into the Father's hands. But we do so in the knowledge that Jesus rose to new life and his resurrection is a pledge of a new life for all who are members of his body.

As we commend Father Tom Linane to his God, I would like to take the opportunity to thank some of those who took such care of him. Elsie Pierce must rank high on the list of his benefactors. She was attentive to him for very many years and I thank her. His relatives, Brian and Joan O'Connor, have also cared for him and given him that human affection so necessary to a balanced life. Sister Teresa, the priests of the Geelong district and, in very recent times, Rose Paynting, have helped to make his life full and happy. May God bless all of you.

Father Tom Linane has gone to where there is no more death, no more mourning or sadness. We pray that he will drink water from the well of life which is the rightful inheritance of the one who proves victorious. (cf. Apoc. 21:4. 6-7)

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The article below is reproduced with the kind permission of Fr Paul Bateman of Aranda N.S.W.—Ed.
Rev. P. Bateman, Vale Fr. Tom, Footprints, Melbourne, Volume 8, Number 4, December 1991, pp 19-20:

The death occurred a month or so ago of Fr Tom Linane, one of the Ballarat priests who laboured as young men, in the mid-nineteen thirties, in the then Goulburn diocese.

Later he became known to many as the editor of Footprints, the journal of the Melbourne Historical Commission, and through his publication of From Abel to Zundolovich, in which he attempted the mammoth task of presenting a short biography of every priest who graced the Australian scene to the end of 1900. His research was painstaking and thorough.

Take "Donnelly, Peter, Irish, Pambula pastor for many years". Fr Linane records:
"In the winter of 1936 the writer was at a clergy conference with old Peter at Bega on the south coast of N.S.W. Bishop John Barry presided, or rather was continually interrupted in presiding by my P.P. at Bega, Dean Michael Carey. Present also were Fr Ned Hanrahan, P.P. of Cobargo and a rigorist in theology; the Adm. of Moruya, Fr Les McKenna; and Bombala P.P., Fr Joe Keating - a silent one in the happy proceedings.

After the opening prayer Carey bowled the first canon ball by pointing to a Mona Lisa etching in the musty sitting room and called on Fr Ned Hanrahan for an opinion on the propriety thereof. Ned donned his blinkers, peered closely, and came up with the verdict against Carey that he should be ashamed of himself in scandalising his curate and housekeeper with such a travesty of modesty. This aroused episcopal chuckles audible in the main street.

Next, being the junior, I was asked by John Barry, still chuckling, to demonstrate rub[r]ics of the Mass, with Peter Donnelly as critic. This was appropriate, contended Barry, as my P.P., Carey, was the worst rub[r]icist in the Goulburn Diocese. Reaching the stage of donning the amice, an argument set in between Carey and Donnelly as to whether I should swing the linen round my shoulders or put it straight over my head.

Proceedings terminated, theologically and liturgically, but not banter-wise. Come 1 p.m., we sat down to turkey and plum pudding and all the while my sympathies were with Peter Donnelly who couldn't have a glass of "fiery water" of any species as he was under the "ipso". (Any ancient cleric will explain.) Despite the abiding thirst, Peter was a loveable and zealous man, working the scattered coastal territory south of Bega under tough and rough conditions."

The biography ends with Peter Donnelly's detailed Curriculum Vitae. There is the final note: "the writer often seeks his intercession as to how to don the amice!"

A few years ago with Brian Maher I visited Tom Linane in his "retirement" at Torquay. At one stage he left the room to return with an old note-book. He explained that while stationed at Bega he had noticed this battered object lying around at the presbytery. He had picked it up and taken it with him, unaware until later of its historical significance. It comprised the jottings of the first resident pastor of Bega as he made his "Station" rounds, now referred to as "the Saddle-bag Diary", and recognised as a significant source document in Australian parish history. Coming from the county-side covered by the diary, I was thrilled when he said, "I have decided to give it to you".

Fr Tom's time with us was short, but many will want to remember him in the traditional way, towards his robing with that heavenly "amictus" stored up for him.

P.S. The solution to the above-mentioned deep liturgical problem may well be found in the meaning of the verb "Amicire", "to throw or wrap round".