Gay swan and goose who had a 30 year relationship could be immortalised in stone
Thomas the goose died last year, eight years after Henry the swan
By Steve Brown
An inter-species relationship between a male goose and swan could be immortalised in stone.
Thomas the goose and Henry the swan could be commemorated in bronze following their 30 year relationship on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand.
The inter-species same-sex relationship brought joy to many visitors at the Waikanae estuary and the two spent 18 years together before Henry paired up with Henrietta, a female swan.
Thomas helped raise 68 cygnets over the years and finally fathered his own babies only to have them stolen by another goose, named George, who raised them as his own, Stuff.co.nz reported.
It was reported Thomas even helped teach Henry’s cygnets how to fly.
He was moved to a bird sanctuary after he went blind and became a victim of swan attacks. When Henry died in 2009, Thomas was left heartbroken and could be heard occasionally crying for him.
Sadly, Thomas died last year but was buried next to his partner of 30 years.
Waikanae Bird Tour operator Mik Peryer recorded their relationship in books and said it captured people’s imaginations.
He said: “There’s a love story there but it also goes across the boundaries and brings in the gay relationship which I think was wonderful.”
Now, Eileen Thomas has provided the plan for the life-size sculpture which would cost up to $80,000.
Thomas and Henry’s story captured the heart of everyone including Kapiti mayor K Gurunathan who spoke at Thomas’ funeral last year.
He said: “Complete with bagpipes, speeches and a poetry recitation by that famous raconteur, Pinky Agnew.
“The only funeral I have attended in my mayoral chains. The story of this funeral went global.”
Peryer’s work made Thomas a political ambassador for diversity.
