Military life a shaper for career in politics
Newcastle Herald
Monday March 28, 2011
HE has pledged to deliver action for Newcastle, and Tim Owen has the background to back up the words.His distinguished military career would have any political campaign manager champing at the bit to publicise.The former Ipswich boy turned Newcastle Liberal candidate's defence career has ranged from a space systems director at Woomera in 1980 to surveillance and control group commander at RAAF Williamtown in 2000. He was also an air force attache in London in 2002.There he met British prime minister Tony Blair twice, once at a dinner and during diplomatic introductions to the Queen at Buckingham Palace."I turned around in a buffet line and Tony Blair was standing there," he said."I said hello or something and he said 'aren't you that new air attache?"'A buffet line at Buckingham Palace?"It was basically the chow line, yes," he said.Mr Owen was a strategic planner in East Timor during the INTERFET operation, and calls former defence chief Peter Cosgrove a mate.He served in the Middle East, where he was deputy commander of Australian forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.He said it was not his place as a state candidate to comment on the conflicts."I have my personal views but I don't want to speak publicly on those," he said."But certainly the experience changed my life."Asked what he told residents of his background when out doorknocking, he said he referred to military service: "It was a job at the end of the day, but a privilege."I think it's equipped me for parliament and for relating to people as an MP, for further public service."Mr Owen and his wife, Charlotte, have three sons.
© 2011 Newcastle Herald