Tim Walk
Yolngu (Nhulunbuy, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory)
Corporal (retired)
Armourer/Weapons Specialist
Royal Australian Air Force
Medals
Defence Force Service Medal
Australian Defence Medal
I was born in Darwin in 1963 where my father, who was the child of German immigrants, worked as an Air Force Blacksmith in Darwin, Tindal and surrounds. Because my father’s parents worked a lot, he spent a great deal of his childhood with a local Aboriginal family where he was taught a lot about their culture. Although my mother was of Aboriginal heritage, it was my father who and taught me to how make bullroarers, boomerangs, and spears. My mother never really spoke about her people, so I grew up not knowing my where my connection to culture or Country was. My school days were a nightmare as I was the smallest in my class, not black and not white, I was constantly in situations where I learned to run fast from the bullies. I was fascinated with flight from an early age, spending hours laying under the frangipani tree watching its flowers spiral to earth, spinning like helicopter blades. The RAAF Base was nearby, and aircraft constantly flew overhead. When I was 13 my aunty took me to RAAF Base Amberley as a treat. I was shown over the Canberra Bomber, F-111, Iroquois and several facilities. When shown the impact of detonators on aircraft and safety implications for Iroquois aircrew upon engine failure, I designed a system where the rotor blade bolts would detonate allowing the pilots to eject. I sent my idea to the ABC’s Inventors program and although encouraging, they said it would never happen. Russia’s Kamov Ka-50 helicopter has the ejection system I described as a 13-year-old!
I left home in 1981 and, looking for adventure, I joined the RAAF. After recruit training in South Australia, I trained as an Armourer at Wagga and then posted to Williamtown for 15 years working on Mirage, Macchi and Hornet aircraft. During my time in the RAAF I dedicated myself to designing several safety innovations notably the WASP Parachute System and received much encouragement from Indigenous RAAF Vietnam veterans who taught me to embrace who I was. I left the RAAF in 1997 and worked for a variety of organisations where my work ethic and skills were rewarded, eventually moving into mining at Ravensthorpe (2007). In 2008 I transferred to Nhulunbuy where for the first time in my life something clicked and I felt an inner peace. I began seeing many faces that resembled my uncles and my mum. People came up to me, saying ‘Welcome back, where have you been? You’re one us, we recognise you.’ I replied telling them and their Elders about the strong spiritual connection I felt and that I finally belonged.
In 2018 I relocated down to Sydney to become Safety Manager for all the tunnel constructions. Unfortunately in 2023 serious health issues began to impact my life and after several critical life-saving surgeries and ongoing treatment, I was forced into retirement. I met Mel when she offered me support as I dealt with my health issues. Talking every day, we soon became friends and fell in love. She is the love of my life who accepts me for who I am.
