Territory legend Tommy Lawler to be farewelled this Friday

TERRITORY firefighter and footy legend Tommy Lawler has been remembered as a devoted family man, practical joker and a terrible fisherman by those who love him

TERRITORY firefighter and footy legend Tommy Lawler has been remembered as a dedicated family man, loyal friend and terrible fisherman by those who love him.

Tex Tourell, who worked alongside Lawler since the 1986, said the duo fought fires together for more than 30 years and there was nobody better to have by his side.

“You could always rely on Tommy at a job, as well as being a legendary footballer he was a great firefighter,” he said.

“He’s the kind of guy that people want to be around. He was — friendship, mateship, all those sorts of things, loyal, honest, generous to a fault.

“One of the most stubborn guys I’ve ever met, with a strong sense of social justice.”

Lawler lost his long battle with cancer on Saturday.

Tommy Lawler.

Mr Tourell said the most “significant” thing Lawler did, alongside Jock McLeod and other fireys, was campaign to change legislation and properly support firefighters with workplace-related cancers and other illnesses. “That’s going to benefit guys moving forward forever,” Mr Tourell said

Outside of work, Lawler was a devoted family man — who adored wife Labor MLA Eva Lawler, kids Kirby and Lindsay, and his two young grandchildren. “He loved to go fishing and crabbing — he could catch a crab but not a fish; but he’d go boating not fishing,” Mr Tourell said.

“He was always a bit of a practical joker, he could tell a good story.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Lawler left behind a legacy to be proud of and that would live on in his grandkids.

“Vale Tommy Lawler. Footy legend, Firey, first class family man. Always a bloke you could count on. Tough. Hard as nails. But always fair. A straight up bloke,” he said.

In a short post on Facebook, Ms Lawler said a celebration of her late husband’s life would be held on Friday November 2 from 5pm at Garden’s Oval.

“You filled my heart with laughter,” she said.

Lawler played premier league football for the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club and is a life member of the club.