Once in the middle of winter, abt 3 years ago, just as it was turning from twighlight to darkness, I was walking along beach road and out of the gloom came this figure in a pair of bathers dripping wet and with a big grin said, goodaye mate. I just picked my jaw off the ground and said, oh, hi Tom......

Tommy spoke to us at school before year 12.

I'd be lying if I said that I remembered a whole lot, the year was quite overwhelming for me on other fronts.

One thing i will always remember is that he got up every morning, did his routine at St Kilda beach regardless of anything that happened the day before.

"No excuses".

A great man, and an enduring example.

Genuinely upset about his passing.

RIP Tommy.

Edited May 13, 201411 yr by HFF

As a young boy I remember in the dead of winter whilst doing a paper round at Parkdale the fimiliar sound, out of the fog, of wet runners coming up the hill behind me. To look around and hear the fimiliar "Good morning son keep on riding" it was Tom Hafey but it wasnt really a surprise just an amazing sight.

As the the years went on I was fortunate to see Tom in the surf at Portsea on a surfski, he really did turn back the clock, just an amazing man.

Later as I did some work at MFC as a trainer the players reflected how they had a presentation by Tom, they said that they wanted him to continue but unfortunately time did not permit. He spoke in silence at a group in awe about his 4 "D''s= "If you live your life with Determination, Discipline and Dedication you will always arrive at the Destination you want in life."

A few months ago I was fortunate to bump into Tom at Coles at Sorrento two of my four boys were present (11 and 7) Tom beautifully dissected their game, they had no idea who he was but were just like so many who were fortunate to meet him left in awe.

There are many characters in the game but he was just the most amazing dedicated and lively warm hearted man I have met.

The world has lost a great character, RIP Tom.

I looked up my work diary today, 25 October last year we had Tommy in to give us a talk about men's health, well being and team motivation. He was fantastic to listen too for all us footy tragics, but to hear about his relentless agenda of visits to schools, prisons and country footy clubs was mind boggling. How many people, kids did he touch I wonder?

He met us at lunchtime in Melbourne but was then due for a talk in Colac later that day, then back home by the evening. Tommy was a one man band, he drove himself everywhere yet somehow kept up the relentless fitness regime of a run, a swim and what was it 700 sit up, push ups and so on? In our short meeting my impressions were that he was such a life force filling the room and that he was indestructible surely. A larger than life figure whose relentless mission in life was to motivate others to achieve their potential.

Tommy seems to have been one of those great human beings who just wanted to help others with no ulterior motives. In this day and age he was unique.