HONOURING OBA’S MOST SENIOR MEMBER – (Tissa) Hemapala Piyatissa Goonatilaka )
We (Tony & Joyce Weinman) were honored to take Tissa to the Thomian Christmas Carols last week so we picked him up from St. Paul’s Aged Care in Northbridge Sydney, and he was so excited and trilled to be a part of this event after so may years. On our way to the event I took some notes about his past and was able to identify the following and at the end he gave us permission to pass on this information to the STC OBA.
He resulted in identifying the most senior member of the STC OBA. Tissa Goonatilaka has been a member the OBA Victoria for many decades or at least since membership records were computerised; and being a resident outside Victoria and living in Sydney, was classified as an Interstate Member.
We often visit Tissa at St. Paul’s Aged Care in Northbridge, NSW where Tissa is now a resident; Tissa celebrated his 98th birthday on the 20th July 2023. His a proud Thomian and always talks about his school to us.
Tissa was a product of STC Mount Lavinia, having joined in 1938 and was a boarder in Chapman House (junior rooms) which gave him the opportunity to experience ‘College life’ to the fullest. It is understood that the quality of the ‘boarding food’ and the discipline was not too dissimilar to subsequent generations! As with most boarders, Tissa was a keen sportsman having won colours in Boxing and also representing College as under 14 teams in XI Cricket, Hockey, Football, Swimming and Diving. Unfortunately, the Second World War broke out, which interrupted his education; and in 1942 had to leave College prior to completing the SSC and relocate in Kandy. Tissa subsequently completed his secondary education at Dharmapala College, Kandy.
Tissa was a scout at College and that led to his first interaction with Dr. R. L Hayman who was the scout master and also the sub-Warden. Attending scout camps were memorable especially as a boarder; and has fond memories of erecting tents, singing around campfires and those unique “scout chants”! Dr. Hayman was one of Tissa’s mentors and had a close association with him over the years; and supported various fundraising events including the swimming pool at Gurutalawa. It was fitting that STC Gurutalawa celebrated its 80th year in 2022.
Tissa completed his tertiary education at Agriculture College in Peradeniya and then worked for the Department of Agriculture as a Colonisation Officer. Responding to an advertisement for investors in the Mount Lavinia Hotel, a deal was struck with the hotel to employ him if he agreed to invest. As a result, Tissa was employed as a Trainee Manager moving up the ladder to Resident Manager. It was Tissa who first employed Mr. Publis as a kitchen hand who is now a world-renowned Chef. He continued working in the hospitality sector joining the Hotels Corporation and later in Queens Hotel in Kandy.
Tissa married in 1952 and has four daughters; and migrated to Australia with his wife Pauline and two youngest daughters in August 1975 and settled in Sydney. The kind and caring nature of Pauline and Tissa have been acknowledged by many people who have “stumbled” in their journey of life in Australia. Tissa has maintained a healthy lifestyle and even at the age of 98, his daily routine includes a 2km walk. His advice to younger generations is to play sports as it would help in the future years.
