 After six years of war service, Thomas returned to the industry in 1946 and with son Des began working fairs in large provincial towns.They ventured into the first amusement rides at the Royal Melbourne Show, when merry-go-rounds or carousels were hugely popular after years of war-time austerity.The Melbourne Moomba Festival of 1948 saw Wittingslow present the first new generation "thrill" rides.