‘Hug your kids every day’: man buries wife, son (3)

Scott Tomlinson speaks at the funeral of his wife, Nadine, and son, Angus (3), at Flaxes Retreat...
Scott Tomlinson speaks at the funeral of his wife, Nadine, and son, Angus (3), at Flaxes Retreat near Palmerston yesterday. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Overcome with grief, Scott Tomlinson implored people to "hug your kids every day" and tell their husband or wife and children "you love them", as he farewelled his wife and son yesterday.

His heartfelt words through tears to his wife Nadine, who was pregnant with the couple’s third child, and son Angus (3), were spoken in front of about 800 mourners as he stood near a single wooden coffin, sitting on top of hay bales under a marquee set up in the sunshine at Flaxes Retreat near Palmerston.

They died last weekend when the tractor they were in went into a reservoir on the family’s Dunback farm.

Mr Tomlinson said his wife was a strong-willed woman, who fought to the end.

"Your strength and dedication was on show at all times, but exemplified at the very end with your fighting spirit and absolute dedication to your kids."

He said she removed a gumboot in a final, desperate effort to free herself by trying to smash the tractor window.

"You bloody near did it, girl."

Mr Tomlinson spoke of his wife’s love for her family and her safety-conscious attitude towards work on the farm, which went "hand in hand".

Mrs Tomlinson was a beautiful woman in every way, he said.

"And she was truly amazing. I was so fortunate to have her in my life."

When he kissed her goodnight and told her he loved her for the final time before going to bed late last Saturday night, he considered himself to be fortunate, he said.

Angus, he said, had been born premature.

"He was too early into this world, and it was far too early for him to leave."

No matter how stressful life became, his elder son always made him smile.

"You brought so much joy to people’s lives in your short stay. You were the smiley, giggly, question-asking bundle of joy that would greet us every day."

He said the last time he saw his son alive was when he asked him if he "wanted to go on the tractor with Mum", or "watch rugby with Dad".

Angus told his father he wanted to ride on the tractor before hugging him.

Mrs Tomlinson’s father, Alec Restieaux, said as a child his daughter, affectionately know as "Dino" by family and "Nads" by her friends, loved animals and was an active girl who "loved being outside and running around with her blanket".

She was "kind, caring and would do anything for everyone."

Mr Restieaux described his grandson as a "little character who was full of energy and loved farming" and had a love for farm machinery.

Mrs Tomlinson’s mother, Ann Restieaux, read a poem for her daughter, appropriately titled Farm Girl.

Jan Tomlinson, Mr Tomlinson’s mother, spoke of her love for Angus and his willingness to help out on the farm despite his young age.

The coffin, with a large bunch of white flowers on top, was carried by Mr Tomlinson and family members to the 11am ceremony from the back of a ute, parked on a hill a short distance from where the service was held.

A Givealittle page for Mr Tomlinson and his surviving son, 18-month-old Sam, has raised more than $63,000 since it was set up on Wednesday.

— The Otago Daily Times was granted permission by Scott Tomlinson, via the funeral director, to attend the funeral.  

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