Janet, Claire, Charles and Jennifer.
Tim’s extended family, friends and all members of 6th Field Regiment, 16 Field Battery RAA and more recently 6/13 Light Battery both past and present, distinguished guests and friends of SGT Tim Stewart.
I would like to acknowledge all of Tim’s friends that were unable to make it today due to unforeseen circumstances such as the Honorary Colonel of RAA Tas COL Steve Carey.
Like you, I am saddened, but deeply honoured to speak today on behalf of 16 Field Battery and the wider defence community in delivering this eulogy on behalf of Tim’s military family, of which he was a part for over 40 years and through which I had the privilege of both working alongside him for 27 years and later commanding 16 Field Battery from late 2008 through to the end of 2012.
Words often fall short of doing justice at times like this and there is perhaps little that can be said to lessen the grief that we all share today.
Perhaps words are not required and instead we should each take the time now to reflect on Tim in our own way; his being and his service. Tim was by all accounts a larger than life presence within the unit and highly regarded by all who had the privilege to work alongside him over the years.
In saying that, I can’t help but suppress a sly smile when I think that today, when I look around at all the faces gathered to offer their respects and pay condolences to Janet and her family, that the grief we all feel is in itself a mark and testament to the love, regard and friendship that we all shared with Tim.
I hope that in some small way, that Janet, you too can take some comfort in the support that so many have chosen to demonstrate on this day.
It goes without saying that for a member as active as Tim was and for as long as Tim had served, he has a service history that few could expect to match. When I was approached by Janet to help in delivering this Eulogy I was alarmed not at making this presentation but by the challenge faced in going through 40 years of service history to draw from it the relevant points to best summarise Tim’s service.
Born 26 June 1955, Tim at age 17 enlisted on 22 August 1972 and was posted to 6 FD Regt.
Promoted to Bombardier in 1976 and Sergeant in 2001, Tim throughout was always the first to put his hand up to undertake the seemingly never ending army course continuum which changed much as we as a unit progressed from 25 pounders through to 105mm Howitzers and recently to 81mm mortars. Tim was posted to Defence Force Recruiting from 1994 to 1998, deployed to Op Gold in 2000 in support of the Olympics and took on the challenge of a six week Pijin English course as part of his development and preparation to Op Anode.
Tim’s service was not without its recognition. Along the way, Tim was awarded:
the Reserve Forces Medal (RFM) in 1987,
First clasp for RFM in 1992,
Tim was the first recipient in 16 Fd Bty for the Soldiers Medallion for Exemplary Service in 1995,
Second clasp for RFM 1997,
Third clasp for RFM in 2002,
Australian Defence Medal in 2006,
Fourth clasp for RFM in 2007,
On 22 August 2012 SGT Tim Stewart qualified for the Federation Star for forty years of service.
40 Years is a long time. Time is something that Tim had much to offer. Indeed as Tim’s Commanding Officer, I had to appreciate that there were many world time zones that we in the military had to deal with, there was one that existed outside of doctrine and it was affectionately known as Tim time.
It was necessary to subtract 30 minutes from all parade timings, just for Tim so that he had some chance of being on parade alongside the rest of the unit.
Tim undertook many roles and responsibilities during his long career which included signals, gun line, driver, forward observer assistant, recruiting, assisting in the unit Regimental Trust Fund and Paterson Barracks Area Mess. More recently, Tim was preparing to once again step forward and partake in next rotation on Op Anode to the Solomon Islands.
Our army is based on a set of values, courage, initiative and teamwork: values by which we are judged each and every day of our service. I can think of no better or more consistent embodiment of these than SGT Tim Stewart. For so many of us and those who have passed through the unit in times past, Tim’s regard for his peers and those he served alongside is reflected back at him in the esteem in which we held him in.
There is no question that Tim was loved by us all. He has been described by many as a true gentleman, a husband and father first, but soldier all in one, his inspirational character and decency was apparent for all to see. We were not so shy to show it, and he in return was not so selfish as not to acknowledge it and return it in kind....with interest...
While we at army reflect on our loss, we take some comfort that Tim was, up until the very end, amongst comrades whom he had great love and respect and we today look to acknowledge and, in some small part, repay that.
SGT Tim Stewart, you honour us with your service, your teamwork and your commitment. Your love of the Unit and that of your family. You lived by the values and character that we have all been privileged to observe. It has been an honour to have served with you.
Farewell. MAJ Graeme HOWARD RAAHC
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