Vale Tim Britten

Tim Britten in the Bio-notes put together years ago for a Class Reunion said:

 “While, in some ways, I have had a remarkably ordinary life, sometimes it has also been a lucky life.  From Graduation to R Aust Inf – with postings in Australia, Papua New Guinea and elsewhere until 1974.  I worked with the family fruit processing company until 1989 and then as the Australia and Pacific component of a French multi-national group.  To retire from full-time work at the start of 2005 and then more golf, gardens and not much else.  Married to Pamie, with 2 children”.

Tim passed away on Monday 15th February 2021. Tim’s funeral was held at Sydney’s Northern Suburbs Crematorium, East Chapel, on Friday 19th February.

There were three eulogies delivered at Tim’s funeral including from John Ongley and from David Wilkins.

John Ongley

Tim's Early Life

Like all good thoroughbreds, the quality of the mature adult is very much dependent on the early nourishment and environment.  Good pastures produce good products.

Allow me to introduce you to a beautiful town on the Northern Tablelands of the gold standard State called INVERELL!

Tim’s formulative years were there.  He attended Ross Hill Primary School and Inverell High School.  We had a close group of friends at both schools.  Tim and I lived about 400 yds apart and spent a lot of time together.

Until his later years, Tim has always been an outstanding athlete.  In Primary School he was consistently the age group champion in athletics.  I also regarded myself as a bit of an athlete, and fortunately I was born in 1944; Tim was born in 1943.  Primary School athletics was done in year groups, so he could be champion in his year group, and me in mine.  We both went to State Championships as New England representatives.  I was eliminated in the first round, and I can’t remember Tim’s result.  As an aside, Helen was also part of the New England Team, and came home a State Sprint Champion!

In Primary School we played in the School Cricket Team for a couple of years, and also in the Rugby League Teams.  We were sometimes in the same team, sometimes different.  We played in 5.7, 6.7, 7.7.  Even then, Tim looked like a greyhound in training.  He was always destined to play in the Centres, and even then, I think I was destined to play in the Front Row.

Now, you have to be aware that in the 50s there was no TV, no screens, no devices, no computers, and life was what you made it.  Physical activity was paramount.  There were no drugs.  I don’t think Tim ever smoked a cigarette in his life.  There was little mischief to get into.

High School was a continuation of physic activities for both of us.  High School always had a team in the local cricket comp, as it did in the local tennis comp.  We were part of those for several years.  Our Rugby League Firsts trained twice a week in winter with very little opportunity to play.  During a season, we played Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Armidale High and the local juniors.  I might add that Tim was Captain of both football and cricket teams.

Our other main interest was School Cadets, and we both ended up as Cadet Under Officers.  This was obviously our launching pad to go to Duntroon.  As an aside, we also achieved matriculation passes at Leaving : A prerequisite for RMC

I think Davey Wilkins will tell more about Tim’s later life, but I would just like to add here that Tim and Pam have been godparents to our eldest daughter, Jacqui, for the past 53 years, and we thank them for that privilege.

WE’VE WATCHED HIM WILTING OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS,

A MERE SHADOW OF WHAT HAD BEEN

HIS BODY WASTING, HIS CANCER GROWING, HIS COURAGE WAS THERE TO BE SEEN

IT GOT HIM IN THE END, THIS MONGREL MYELOMA

THE LAST FEW DAYS WERE BUT A BLUR, AS HE SLIPPED INTO THAT LAST COMA

THE PAIN HAS GONE, HE’S NOW AT PEACE,

AND WE MEET TODAY WITH GREAT SADNESS

BUT TIM, I WANT TO REMEMBER YOU FROM DAYS OF OLD, WHICH BROUGH US HEAPS OF GLADNESS

HEY, IT’S FOUR O’CLOCK, GO GET YOUR BAT AND I’LL GET THE TEAMS TOGETHER

‘CAUSE ENGLAND PLAYS AUSTRALIA AT ONGLEY’S PLACE,

AND WE’LL BELT YOU HELL FOR LEATHER.

TIM BRITTEN AND JOHN ONGLEY ARE AUSTRALIA, MY BROTHER BRIAN AND JOHN ALLISON, YOU ARE THE POMS

LET’S TOSS THE COIN, PUT OUT THE BIN, TAKE OFF YOUR RUBBER THONGS.

IF WE BAT FIRST, WE’LL MAKE A TON, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO CHASE

GIVE UP NOW, WE’LL FLOG YOUR TAILS, YOU WON’T BE IN THE RACE.

BUT JOHN ALLISON TAKES HIS BAT OUT AND WALKS OUT TO THE CREASE.

TIM BRITTEN HAS THE FAST BALL, SENDS IT DOWN, IT’S AIMED RIGHT AT HIS KNEES.

WHACK! HE’S HIT A SLOGGER, A SIX IS LOOKING FINE

BUT, NO! IT’S GONE TO GROUND, IT’S ONLY ONE,

IT’S HIT THE BLOODY CLOTHES LINE.

‘JUST AS WELL’, I YELLED AT HIM, ‘THAT YOU DIDN’T REALLY CLOUT,

‘CAUSE IN THIS INTERNATIONAL, OVER THE FENCE IS SIX AND THEN YOU’RE OUT!’

I’M SURE TIM AND I WON THE FIRST TEST, SO THE OTHER PAIR TRIED HARDER

BECAUSE THAT’S THE WAY IT WAS IN INVERELL,

TO WIN YOU HAD TO LEARN TO PLAY MUCH SMARTER.

OUR BACKYARD CRICKET AND BACKYARD FOOTY WOULD TEST OUR CONSTITUTION

WE’D PUNCH, AND KICK AND HIT AND LAUGH; IT WAS AN

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTION.

SO, MY FRIEND, YOUR BODY’S GONE, BUT YOUR SPIRIT WILL LAST FOREVER

OUR MEMORIES ARE FOND, OUR HEARTS ARE FULL, YOU’VE INSPIRED US ALL TOGETHER

YOUR CHARM, YOUR WIT, YOUR ZEST FOR LIFE WILL STAY WITH ME AFAR

IT’S NOT GOODBYE, IT’S NOT FAREWELL, IT’S SIMPLY AU REVOIR

I’LL MISS YOU BUDDY

David Wilkins

It is always sad to remember a person by his final appearance in hospital.

Far better to remember his vibrant days which of course were for most of his life.

And so I want to talk about Tim’s vibrant days, his happy days.

I have known Tim for 60 years. We initially became solid friends on the rugby field where we played together for ten years, initially at RMC Duntroon, then in Port Moresby, and finally for Parramatta 1st grade. Tim was fast in attack and fearless in defence with copybook tackling.

He excelled at Duntroon where, in his graduation year, was in the top six college positions when appointed as the senior cadet of his company. He had also been selected in the 1st rugby XV for three years and was team captain in his final year. In addition to the 1962 ACT rugby premiership he later added two other premierships to his name – in 1965 with Colleagues 1st grade in Port Moresby and then two years later there, with the Army side.

Tim served in the Army for 14 years. Following graduation from Duntroon in December 1964 he was posted as a Lieutenant to the 1st Battalion but after a few months was required for service in Papua New Guinea as an instructor at Goldie River Training Depot outside Port Moresby. Early the next year he moved to the Pacific Islands Regiment at Taurama Barracks as a platoon commander involved in patrolling the rugged wilds of Papua New Guinea. That was truly boys’ own annual exciting adventure for any young man.

When he first arrived In Port Moresby, rugby union was in its infancy so, with a rugby league background from school in Inverell, Tim decided to also play league with the Kone Tigers club and made its 1st grade side. Rugby league in Moresby was of high quality at the time. His weekly, winter sporting regime after work was rugby league training on Monday and Wednesday evenings, rugby union training on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, play in the league competition on either Friday night or Sunday afternoon and play rugby union on Saturday afternoons.

Needless to say, he was extremely fit in the tropical New Guinea heat.

Midway through his first season in that remote part of the Commonwealth, Tim received a letter from the Australian Rugby Union saying that it was aware he was playing the professional game and that if he had received any money, he must cease the amateur rugby union immediately. However as rugby was in its infancy in PNG, they would allow him to finish the season playing both codes but he would then have to choose. If he continued playing league in 1966 he could never play union again.

He followed their directions and relinquished league the next year so he could continue as an amateur, I suspect without revealing the wad of notes shoved into his shirt pocket at the end of the league season and told to (quote) “just shut up about it”.

During his second year in New Guinea, he made the best decision of his life by marrying Pamie Harrison, bringing her to live in Port Moresby, and commencing a partnership that has lasted 54 years, typified by generosity, loyalty and durability. Pamie has added charm to Tim’s life, kindness and good humour and together they made a marriage that encompassed friendship, warm hospitality and love.

After three years in New Guinea, Captain Britten was posted to the 5th Battalion in Holsworthy as the Intelligence Officer, working directly to the CO, Colonel Khan. We were training for active service in Vietnam and during a major exercise at Shoalwater Bay in Queensland towards the end of 1968, we nearly lost Tim in a  chopper crash. He was an observer in a two-seater Sioux helicopter which, during a steep turn, pinched its fuel line and stalled the engine. From 1,000 feet and without the rotors spinning, the skilled pilot put it into autorotation for a rough landing … but neither was hurt. The chopper was undamaged, the fuel line was fixed and the pilot told Tim to jump back in. “No thanks”, he replied, “I think I’ll walk back”.

Which he did.

In Vietnam, Tim continued as the unit Intelligence Officer until mid-1969 when he was appointed as 2ic to Murray Blake in D Company. Occasionally if Murray was indisposed, Tim would run the company and did so most competently. Tim is remembered fondly by all those who served with him as a reliable, dependable and courageous officer. He was well-liked and respected by his soldiers, some of whom are here at the service today.

Tim’s next eventful few years here in Sydney saw the births of his much-loved children Annabelle and Will and his eventual transition out of the Army into private enterprise where he worked his way up to become a company director. The business was later taken over by a French conglomerate with Tim remaining as a director. This meant much international travel and meetings, prestigious work he enjoyed immensely.

Indeed, Tim lived a rich and interesting life with extensive family overseas travel, given even more focus with Will’s marriage to Fiona, their relocation to San Francisco and the birth of his two grandsons, Ned and George, with subsequent visits to the U.S. to see them.

Tim and Pamie were always generous hosts, even if at times Tim invited friends without first conferring. Back in 1966, soon after they were married and living in Moresby, I informed Tim that I had invited my good friend, Bethwyn, to visit me over Christmas. Tim immediately said Beth could stay at their place. Mind you, this was to be Pamie and Tim’s first romantic Christmas together.

When he informed Pamie of his invitation, she said,

“But Tim, we’ve never met her. What if we don’t like her?”

Tim resolved that: “Pamie, of course we’ll like her. She’s Davey’s friend.”

Their kind hospitality continued throughout. Friends were regularly invited for dinners or to stay overnight for New Year’s eve at their beach house, all wonderful evenings.

After Beth & I came to live in Sydney in 1982 our homes were in neighbouring suburbs and Tim and I were able to continue our sporting activities together with squash and golf as well as going to watch the cricket and rugby (with Annabelle and good friends like Pete Gabriel and Tim Studdert). All those activities resulted from Tim kindly including me in his group of friends. He had a most generous spirit.

Since becoming too old for playing sport, our group continued meeting each week, initially for dinners but in recent years just for Monday coffee.

I think Tim’s undoubted popularity among a wide range of friends can be seen by the number of godchildren he had.

Indeed, Tim was universally popular. He was a good bloke, a wonderful friend and to me and other close friends, irreplaceable.

*****

We give our deepest condolences to his wife, Pam, and his family.