THOMAS Perrott, the man behind many of the community organisations that people take for granted today died on May 14, aged 82.
Mr Perrott took over his father’s four man painting business in 1957 and six years later Gardner Brothers and Perrott was born.
The company would grow to become an international firm with more than 1,200 people. It was named WA Company of the Year in 1986.
That was the same year that Mr Perrott was named WA Citizen of the Year for his contribution to WA industry and commerce.
He was a member of the Confederation of WA Industry and was involved in the expansion of the State’s north west, the Dampier to Perth natural gas pipeline and much of the alumina expansion around WA.
Besides his work in commerce Mr Perrott was a committed lay member of the Catholic church and was a central figure in coordinating Pope John Paul II’s visit to Perth.
Indeed he had contemplated entering the priesthood and spent a year in the Novitiate of the Jesuits until ill health forced his return to Perth.
He was a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society for 65 years and a founding member of Southern Cross Homes. He was also president of the WA Society for Crippled Children for 16 years and helped guide the development of the organisation known as Rocky Bay Inc.
During this time he was also a founding member of the Child Accident Prevention Foundation, the Diabetes Research Foundation and the Channel Nine Appealathon Foundation – an organisation he chaired for several years.
His community service had him made a member of the Order of Australia in 1982.
Besides his community involvement Mr Perrott was a lover of cricket.
He was a central figure in the Centenary redevelopment of the WACA Ground in the mid-1980s.
Mr Perrott was a member of the WACA’s exeuctive committee for 18 years and served as its president for eight years from 1990.
His son Michael Perrott said his father had played a huge role in his own business career and given him a great deal of confidence.
"I can honestly say he always gave to me every opportunity to do what I wanted to do and even when I made serious mistakes there was never ever the occasion where he said ‘look I told you so’," he said.
Mr Perrott is survived by his wife Eileen and children Michael, Vincent, Tricia, Chris and Julie.