Canowindra’s most colourful character has raised more than $1.1 million for charity, in drag, and won awards for doing so, all in the memory of his mother.
“She was an earthly angel who raised 13 children single handedly”, Tommy Jeffs explained.
“I’ve been raising money for charities since I was 15 and it started with painting the parish church as punishment for starting ‘The Great Church Fire of 1966’ in Cowra”, he confessed. “That was 50 years ago and I”m still going strong at 65.”
“I left school at 15 to help Mum raise two of my 12 siblings then moved to Sydney when I was 17. Living in Kings Cross and working with Carlotta as a window dresser was such fun and developed my sense of style and theatre. This is when Tallulah came to life, always wearing fabulous clothes and creating laughter and happiness.”
While in Sydney, Tommy worked in Riddell’s record shop, took modelling jobs and was awarded 1971 Model of the Year which provided entree to all the A-List parties in town.
“Maggie Tabberah and her daughters became close friends and we’d go out together. One of our favourite haunts was the Spaghetti Factory in The Rocks where a three-course meal would only cost $4.95. It was the coolest place to eat and be seen until a pile of dog food cans was discovered in the back alley and we put two-and-two together. We didn’t go back”.
This was the era of Sylvia and the Synthetics, university students who wore clothes from op- shops and always looked exotic swishing round in capes and 1940’s clothing.
Tommy boarded in a three-storey Mansion in Victoria Road and remembers the night when police were searching the house opposite for Juanita Nielsen.
“We were dining on the balcony and watched all the fuss going on, not having a clue until the next morning what it was all about”.
He returned to Cowra and established himself in hospitality, catering and hosting charity events as the perennial Tallulah.
“While in Sydney I collected fabulous clothes by Australian and international designers, for men and women, and I still have many of these pieces today. I love putting on cabaret shows involving lots of people, especially those who’ve never performed before. Once they have their costume sorted, and a wig and make-up on, they feel liberated and let themselves relax and enjoy the whole experience”.
During the early 2000’s, a number of young men committed suicide around Cowra and Canowindra.
“It was like an epidemic, and this was the time HeadSpace was closing in Cowra due to lack of funding so kids had to somehow get to Bathurst if they wanted to seek help. I organised a cabaret, roped the rugby club in and, in one night, we raised $36,000 to keep Cowra HeadSpace open”.
A few years later, Tommy and his team raised $20,000 for Beyond Blue with a gig in Canowindra. He’s raised funds to keep the Canowindra Bowling Club and Canowindra pre-school open and refurbish the high school after it was vandalised to the point where the students couldn’t attend.
He cites when he was president of the Cowra Rugby Club’s Associates and won “Club Man” in the same year. “The club’s constitution had to be changed as it was slightly unusual for one man to be in both positions”.
Over the past 50 years, Tommy Jeffs has brought laughter, happiness, a well directed serve if necessary, and inestimable joy to thousands of people.
“I think I’ve sort of retired now and have the luxury of a huge dressing room with the bloke’s clothes on one side and, on the other, my gorgeous costumes, shoes, furs, wigs and jewels. Some mornings, I may appear as Scarlett O’Hara and, on another, Indiana Jones. I’ve transformed this beautiful old building into a luxurious bed and breakfast and I love hosting and entertaining people. I think Mum would be proud”.