Warm, generous and fiercely independent, Helen brought compassion, humour and unwavering loyalty to the family, friends and communities she loved. She enjoyed travelling, a good glass of wine, and was an exceptional cook who loved sharing delicious food. A Celebration of Life will be held in Jan 2026, with details to follow.
We invite you to share a memory to help keep her story alive.
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Chris Tomkins Helen born to Gilda Margarita Maria and Douglas Gordon Trigar in Brisbane, Queensland
Leonie . So like the young gilda
Loved By
RWLDTC
14 Jun 1972
Chris Tomkins Christopher Leo Tomkins born.
Loved By
RWLDTC
27 Sep 2025
Chris Tomkins Mums' Brisbane Lions win the 2025 AFL Grand Final
Loved By
RWLDTC
18 Dec 1984
Chris Tomkins Robert Francis O'Brien born.
Loved By
RWLDTC
Chris Tomkins Famer Helen
Leonie . Wonderful photos of Helen the farmer!
Loved By
RWLDT
Chris Tomkins Captain Helen
Loved By
LDT
2006
Chris Tomkins Moved to Delburn, Gippsland - The Farm.
Leonie . Great one
Loved By
LDTC
18 Oct 2019
Chris Tomkins Branan Emlyn Williams O'Brien born.
Loved By
LDT
Chris Tomkins Adoring dog fans
Loved By
LDTC
2022
Chris Tomkins Travel Life
Loved By
DTC
Chris Tomkins Cruising in Norway
Loved By
LKWDT
2018
Chris Tomkins Moved to Portarlington
Loved By
LDT
1969
Chris Tomkins Helen with Grandmother and brother Lindsay
Loved By
LDT
1979
Chris Tomkins At the snow - Chris, David, Helen and Trish - 1979
Helen has been a cherished member of our family for almost 50 years. We shared so many special occasions with her and will miss her terribly. We will rember the happy times with love ,
Alan and Leonie
Leonie20 Dec 2025
Loved By
DTCT
Helen has been a cherished member of our family for 50 years since Julie introduced us. We have so many memories of shared occasions together and we will miss her terribly. She was a loved and loving auntie and sister to us. Leonie and Alan
Leonie
Loved By
DTCT
Loved By
RWLKWCCT
9 Nov 2025
David Tomkins Our last family outing with Helen to see Hair the Musical.
Leonie . A lovely experience
Loved By
DT
Jill Davis Some shots of Helen and Julie (with Jill, Chris , dogs and cows) down on the farm
Loved By
DTCT
1969
Lyndon Wester Helen with Doug, Gilda and Lindsay at their Sherwood home when the Westers from Adelaide visited in 1969
Helens photos bring to mind so clearly her remarkable qualities of courage and compassion - and a never ending and caring curiosity about her world.
We loved our conversations, our on going exchange of ideas and appreciated how good a listener she was. We laughed and had so much fun together and will always remember our last pub lunch with Helen a...
Conboys
Loved By
DTCT
Loved By
CT
Leonie happy memory
We first met our Dear Helen ❤️ when she joined our Support Group a few years ago. We quickly realised what a valued member Helen would become to us all. There is an empty chair and Helen's grace and laugh is missing as is one of the Hyster sisters. Rest in peace our Dear Friend Kev and Kris💕
KEVIN WILLIAMSON
Loved By
CT
Loved By
CT
KEVIN WILLIAMSON Mood support Group 2024 xmas
KEVIN W. Holding court.
Chris Tomkins Angela Walker and Helen in the orchard at the farm.
Leonie Added. On behalf of Helen's neice Tricia
Leonie added on behalf of Helen's niece Tricia
Helen & I lived in Portarlington & met & became good friends during our outings with Vision Australia, she was such an outgoing & social person, always willing to have a go at anything. One of those challenges happened to be Tuesday trivia nights at the Portarlington Grand Hotel, which became a real challenge for us both…..as it was like the “b...
Wendy Quill13 Jan 2026
1 Jan 1989
David Tomkins Helen, Rob and Chris with the Tomkins family in Brisbane .
David TomkinsHelen was my first great love.
She challenged me to express that love in the deepest possible way, which led me down paths I never imagined growing up. I am forever grateful.
She can be proud to have left her part of the world a better place!
Rest in peace, Helen.16th January, 2026
Damon STEVENSONHelen was, and will always be, Aunty Helen to me. She was an exceptional and extraordinary aunty, and I count myself incredibly lucky to have been part of her life. I can honestly say her presence in mine made it so much better.
I was fortunate to spend a wonderful amount of time with Aunty Helen, Aunty Job, and my cousins throughout my childhood—school holidays with Aunty Helen, weekends away to the snow the city and country towns, day outs to the city, and even interstate trips.
Aunty Helen’s love and nurturing were limitless. Her patience and encouragement allowed me and my cousins to develop curiosity and creativity. I am eternally grateful to you, Aunty Helen, and I love you dearly.
Your love and support have shaped me into the partner and father I am today. I have no doubt this world would be a greater place if everyone had even the tiniest dash of your greatness.
I will love Aunty Helen forever and always. Sending all my love to you, Chris, Robbie, and Aunty Job. XX11th January, 2026
Angela WalkerI was in the middle of writing a tribute when my text disappeared off the screen and so I am writing another one.
I got to know Helen when I was working for the intake unit at DHS Dandenong and we got along very well. Helen was a very warm, compassionate and easy-going person with a great sense of humour. Helen relocated to Cheltenham before she and Julie decided to buy a beef cattle farm in Gippsland and experience a more rural lifestyle. Julie relocated to the Morwell Office and Helen to the Leongatha Office. We were invited to the farm for lunch on several occasions and I enjoyed Helen's cooking. Helen was a very talented cook. Helen and Julie ran the farm for several years while they held down demanding jobs and I was most impressed. I have a lovely photo of Helen sitting in the orchard and one of the magnificent rose garden in full bloom that I will post as soon as I get access to my desk-top computer at home.
When Julie decided to retire, they sold the farm and relocated to a lovely home in Port Arlington. Helen took a job working for DHS in Geelong. During this time - Helen and Julie went on many cruises. We kept in touch and met up for lunches when we were staying in Ocean Grove. The last time I saw Helen we had lunch at Curlewis Golf Club and we had a great day full of fun and laughter. I was looking forward to catching up with Helen and Julie again when I received the sad news about Helen. The last time I spoke to Helen we talked about her most recent cruise to arctic regions.
Helen will be sadly missed.24th December, 2025
Jill Davis I met Helen and Julie while working at the Department of Human Services. Julie was, at one point, my supervisor and has always been a mentor to me, and Helen was a valued colleague for many years.
Helen was easy to get along with and easy to know. She was genuinely interested in other people, listened attentively, and had a keen, enquiring mind. She valued friendship and always wanted to do her best and to be the best version of herself she could be.
Helen was open-minded and enjoyed a good joke and a shared reminiscence, yet she was always fair-minded and respectful of others. We both loved travel and spent many hours talking about our respective journeys, experiences, and what we learned along the way.
I will miss Helen as a friend, as so many others will. I wish I had longer to yarn with her, but I am truly grateful for the time we shared and for the gifts she so generously gave of herself.
We do not lose those we love;
they walk beside us
in memory and in spirit.
20th December, 2025
Marilyn VohsGone but will never be forgotten.
I’ve known Helen for 50 years . She and
I had many late nights over a drink or 2 when Chris (and my daughter) Keiran were growing up together. Jobi introduced me to Helen when they came down from Queensland about 50yrs ago . We all had many Christmas’s & Grand Final Day together, we all got on so well . Helen was very social person & I will miss her so much. R.I.P. My Friend , Love Always.19th December, 2025
Lyndon WesterA light has gone out, but a star is born 17th December, 2025
