Tom Kirk was born on Mt Wilson, N.S.W. during a snowstorm which prevented his mother reaching a hospital. He was the seventh ('"Septimus") youngest child of a family business that operated a timber mill in the mountain. Three of his brothers fought in World War 1 and returned to work in the mill.

Prior to World War 2- Tom was working as leading benchman: responsible for milling logs in a timber mill in Lithgow, N.S.W..

In 1942 Tom enlisted into the RAAF as a fitter and proceeded to LeadingAircraftman. After the war he returned home in 1946 to own a timber mill in the Lithgow District.

Tom Kirk combined his expertise with timber, magnificent physique and great agility to develop outstanding success as an axeman. He was 183cm in height, had a fighting weight of 102kgs and 135cm chest measurements.
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He won his first chopping competition in 1929 at the age of 14 and was Western Districts champion in underhand and standing block from 1931 until his retirement in 1965 at the age if 51. He first competed at the Sydney Easter Show in 1931 and won the Under 21 Championship. In 1951 his record for the 15 inch standing block was 39 seconds. He competed in events all over N.S.W., in other Australian States and in 1963 competed in the United States of America. On this overseas trip he entered and won 18 events and came second in an axe throwing competition. During his competitive chopping and sawing years he won 22 World Championships.

Tom Kirk's main competitor during 14 years of closely fought championships was Jack O'Toole from Victoria. In 1947, which was the year the Sydney Show resumed after World War 2, he lost the standing block championship to O'Toole but won the underhand.

After retiring from competitive chopping and sawing, Tom Kirk retained his association with the Royal Agricultural Society by acting as a judge, starter and assistant handicapper. He was inducted unto the New South Wales Hall of Champions during the 1980's

Words taken from an Obituary on the www written by Allison Halliday, dated 07/03/2001

A modest man: Tom Kirk was one of nature's gentlemen. He regarded himself as a curator of his mountain and had an intimate knowledge of the trees, birds, and wildlife of the bush. He expressed personal responsibility for the welfare of the surrounding forests and believed that it must be looked after as it gave them their living.

Tom Kirk's (dec) wishes are to live on as a great axeman and one who has the spirit of the newly proclaimed World Heritage Area.

          MOST NOTABLE SPORT OF WOODCHOPPING ACHIEVEMENTS

1940 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 61.6secs

1941 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 55.2secs

1948 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship

1949 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 47.0secs

1950 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 82.0secs

1951 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 64.2secs

1952 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 67.0secs

1954 Sydney 15inchStanding World Championship 52.2secs

1948 Sydney 15inchUnderhand World Championship

1949 Sydney 15inchUnderhand World Championship 39.2secs

1952 Sydney 15inchUnderhand World Championship 47.8secs

1957 Sydney Single handed sawingWorld Championship 31.6secs

1958 Sydney Single handed sawingWorld Championship 27.3secs

1959 Sydney Single handed sawingWorld Championship 29.5secs

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