Conversation: Tim Fischer, farmer-soldier-MP - Faith as an anchor for the boy from Boree Creek

Sydney
19 January

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Conversation: Tim Fischer, farmer-soldier-MP - Faith as an anchor for the boy from Boree Creek

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Conversation: Tim Fischer, farmer-soldier-MP - Faith as an anchor for the boy from Boree Creek

By Damir Govorcin

"My faith gives a purpose to the template of life," says Tim Fischer, former Deputy Prime Minister, Trade Minister and National Party Leader (pictured).

"It gives your life a set of parameters … helps build inner-strength and confidence. Any crisis is best dealt with underlining faith."

Tim's faith has been his source of inspiration and courage throughout a 30-year political career, military service in Vietnam and his family life.

The boy from Boree Creek, a small town (population 100) west of Wagga, has packed a great deal of living into his 56 years.

Politician, army officer, charity worker, diplomat, author, negotiator, farmer, leader, husband and father are words used to describe the Akubra-wearing country boy.

Tim was educated at Boree Creek Public School and at Xavier College, Melbourne, where he spent his teenage years as a boarder.

He was conscripted into the Army in 1966, graduated from the Officer Training Unit and served as a platoon commander (2nd lieutenant) and transport officer with the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

He saw active duty in South Vietnam in 1968-69.

"I was 21 and thrown into battle. It makes you grow up fast," Tim recalls.

"A lot of mistakes were made and there was corruption.

"The American generals made a lot of mistakes in terms of strategy."

There was some hostility at home about Australia's involvement in Vietnam.

Anti-war protesters turned them into scapegoats for the country's involvement.

And at times there were demonstrations which became ugly when some protesters turned on the young soldiers, fresh home from a tour of duty in the war.

The scars remain unhealed for many of those soldiers.

"I was angry for a period of time with the way we were treated, but life is too short to be angry and bitter," says Tim.

"My faith helped me manage my anger and helped me not dwell on the negatives.

"You have to move on with your life."

Tim left the Army after his three years' service to enter the cutthroat world of politics. In 1971, at the age of 24, he was elected to State Parliament as Country (now National) Party MP for Sturt.

His electorate was abolished in a re-distribution in 1979, with large sections absorbed by the Liberal-held seat of Murray. So Tim stood as his party's candidate in Murray, which he duly won in the 1980 election.

He was shadow minister in three portfolios and National Party Whip (from 1981) before he ended his State Parliamentary career by resigning to contest the Federal seat of Farrer in December 1984.

He won and took his seat in Canberra two months later.

Tim's years in Macquarie St as a State MP - and his service in Vietnam - saw new Opposition Leader John Howard make him shadow minister for Veterans' Affairs in his first year.

He moved to Energy and Resources in 1990, the year he became National Party Leader and Deputy Opposition Leader.

"After leaving the Army, I thought I could make a contribution in politics," he says.

"Politics gave me the privilege of meeting many people up and down the ladder.

I had the privilege of being able to help people.

"I'm not one to beat my own drum.

My record stands for others to judge."

In June 1999, Tim dropped a bombshell by resigning as Deputy Prime Minister, National Party Leader and Minister for Trade.

He didn't leave parliamentary life altogether, though. He led the official Australian delegation to East Timor to oversee the ballot for independence in August 1999, and continued as MP for Farrer until he retired from politics in 2001.

"I'm of the belief that no one is irreplaceable," he says. "It was time to move on.

"I wanted to devote more time to my family" - wife Judy (they have been married 11 years) and their sons Harrison, nine, and Dominic, six.

Harrison suffers from autism and needs extra care and attention.

"Harrison has certain needs, but he is making tremendous progress," says Tim. "He plays chess, can dog-paddle the length of the pool and his command of vocabulary and imagination is as good as any nine-year-old.

"Dominic is also doing great and is swimming very well."

Judy "is a woman of strong character and in the last one-third of my political career she was the rock I could lean on", he says.

"She is a great mother to our children and has made a strong contribution to a number of charities."

Tim is also heavily involved in charity work, assisting organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul Society, Smith Family, Salvation Army, Fred Hollows Foundation, Frontier Services and Autism NSW.

"You have to give something back to the community," he says.

"It's a bonus if it is an interesting and worthwhile cause," he says. "I always like to help people in outback Australia, Asia and Africa."

Tim owns a wheat farm in Boree Creek and, like many farmers in NSW, has had his harvest affected by the drought.

"The community spirit has been tested by the drought, but everyone is hanging in and sticking together," he says.

"I had to halve my harvest because of the drought, but it is all about management.

"I just hope we get some substantial rainfall in the near future."

Tim has settled into his new life as an author, family man and farmer.

He co-wrote a book with journalist Peter Rees*, Tim Fischer's Outback Heroes, and is in the process of writing another one.

Farming and family duties have replaced the pressure and media spotlight of life in Canberra.

So does he have any plans to go back into politics in the future?

"None whatsoever. I have my wife and two young sons, writing and running a farm; that keeps me busy," he says.

"I lead a rewarding life."

* Peter Rees is the author of The Boy from Boree Creek: The Tim Fischer Story.