THOMAS HENRY LELLO
1936- 1996
Five sets of pages record Thomas Lello's career in the Tasmania Police Force. From a 22-year-old recruit, who left school at 15 to work as a labourer in the Public Works Department, Thomas (always known as Tom) rose to become a distinguished and respected Superintendent. This was a remarkable achievement, rare in the Force, and speaks of Tom's outstanding qualities. He demanded a great deal of himself, using his considerable intelligence to do a first class job wherever he went. The most striking thing is how Tom was constantly seeking to improve himself. To this extent, he was an example to us all, and demonstrated how it is possible to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps.
These detailed notes are based on Tom's records, obtained through the offices of the Tasmania Police in Hobart. (Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 a person may request access to information which is held by a Tasmanian Government Agency or Minister.)
Some sheets from his records were withheld, others had names blanked out. Little though was held back, giving a fascinating glimpse into the life of an exceptionally interesting member of the Lello family. His parents and grandparents would have been thoroughly proud of him.
Tom was the fourth to bear the name Thomas Henry Lello. The first was his great-grandfather, a Draper's Buyer, born in 1844 in Shifnal, Shropshire. He raised his family in Liverpool, England, then retired to Ludlow and finally to Cheltenham. He named his first son, known as Harry and born in Scotland in 1868, with his own name. Harry in turn, after emigrating to Tasmania, named his own first son, born 1898, Thomas Henry Lello. This Thomas, however, named his only son Dennis, so it was Harry's younger son Allan who carried on the tradition. There is no Thomas Henry Lello alive now, to our knowledge, since Superintendent Lello chose not to call his own son by the traditional Lello name.
Tom died of inoperable stomach cancer, tragically young, leaving a widow and children, as well as several grandchildren. Had he lived, he would by now be a great-grandfather.
