AUSTRALIAN ABSTAINER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN ABSTAINER

GAVE UP LIQUOR AT 100 The oldest resident of Lismore, Queensland. Mr Thomas Fannin, aged 103, died in the base hospital, on December 29. Born in London on February 2. 1835. ho went to sea at ah early age. and came to Australia first in the barque Gauntlet. In spite of his great age. Mr Fannin had a keen memory, and recently told an interesting story of his life. He said he drank beer in his youth, and in later years was a heavy rum drinker. At the age of 100 years he found that spirits were not doing his health any good, so he gave up drink for good. Mr Fannin, who was admitted to hospital two years ago, was unmarried and had no living relatives. He had had only one other illness in his life; that was a few years ago, when a thunderstorm wrecked his home at South Lismore and he was struck on the head by a piece of flying iron. He had visited almost every country in the world, and at the age of 80 years walked from Sydney to Lismore.