Tim Fischer was a leading Australian politician, diplomat and acclaimed writer. Tim passed away on August 22 and fare-welled at a state funeral in Albury seven days later. For 34 years, he was Bhutan’s unofficial Ambassador-at-large.
He began his love affair with Bhutan in 1985.
Tim was 39 years old and in 1985, had just moved from state to federal politics. As a member of Australia’s national House of Representatives, he had the opportunity to make various visits to Asia.
Educated by the Jesuits, Tim had an enquiring mind. He considered the Jesuits as the greatest educators and instilling curiosity as their trademark. Before his incursions, he started doing research on Asian countries. He made a list of countries and quickly narrowed it down to three, finally choosing Thailand over Japan and India.
Tim led a practical life and had simple reasons, which were often dictated by his heart. At the time, Thailand was an emerging parliamentary democracy. He thought he could be of some help and was eager to share Australia’s experience with Thailand.
So, in 1985 he visited Bangkok. In a short span to time, Tim knew the high streets of Bangkok like the back of his hand. He made friends both in high office and with tuk tuk drivers which was his preferred mode of transport while in the City of the Angels.
While doing research on Asia, Tim’s curiosity got the better of him. He looked at countries in the periphery of Thailand and was pleasantly surprised to come across another Buddhist kingdom but situated in the Himalayas. He decided to visit it straight after Thailand.
The first book Tim read about Bhutan was Shirley MacLaine’s, “Don’t Fall off the Mountain.” Tim used to say that he found the dimensions of Bhutan simple and extraordinary and after reading the book had to visit the country.
In 1985, the Australian bachelor flew to Paro in the Dornier Do 228 twin engine from Kolkatta. Two years earlier, the national flag carrier had started its operations. It was love at first sight. What got Tim hooked to Bhutan was the landing at the Paro airfield. Since then Paro airfield has undergone many facelifts and yet remains one of the world’s most difficult airstrips.
Tim showered praises on the pilots who he thought had to be daredevils to land in the rice fields of Paro. He would often joke and coined the acronym for Drukair as, “Drink Rum Kamakazi. Arrival in Rice field.” Tim’s eldest son Harrison has inherited his fascination and knowledge of aviation.
Four years after his Bhutan trip, at the age of 43, Tim became the leader of Australia’s National Party. He made history in Australian politics as no bachelor had ever been elected to the party’s leadership.
Almost a decade later, in 1998, a year before he stepped down as the leader of the party, Tim visited Bhutan again. He was 52 years old and at the height of his political career. He felt that he to repay the kindness he received. He said, “I felt strongly that I should not forget the smaller countries of Asia, and now I had the opportunity to return the favours and hospitality I had received as a junior politician by visiting Bhutan.”
As the deputy Prime Minster, Tim had a busy schedule. Yet he chose to stop in Bhutan for 48 hours eating into the Nepalese time who were not very happy waiting at the airport.
For Tim, this trip was a game changer. He called on His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. It was his first meeting. Over the next 21 years, the relationship of the two great statesmen forged into a personal one.
During Tim’s visit to Bhutan he used to always look forward to his audiences and straight after which like a soldier, would head straight to his hotel room and spend the next hour or so recording his audience. The two extraordinary leaders kept in touch till Tim’s last days.
Tim Fischer was a well-wisher of Bhutan. Despite not having any trains, the railway enthusiast simply adore Bhutan and its people. Affectionately known as Tim, people in the streets of Thimphu and Paro or at the airport would recognize him with his signature Akubura hat.
In 2013 Tim was appointed as the special envoy of the Prime Minister of Australia to Bhutan. Even before his appointment, he served as our country’s un-official ambassador. In every article, most of his book, radio talks, speeches including the ones at Duntroon; The Royal Military College of Australia, Tim would find a creative way to weave Bhutan’s narrative.
From 2009 to 2011, Tim served as Australia’s first resident ambassador to the Holy See. Appointed by a Prime Minister from an opposing political party, it was a sign of how much he was respected. In Rome, he made friends with one of the only Bhutanese working and living in the city.
As the ambassador, Tim had access to the Vatican library and was able to go through some of diaries of the Jesuits who visited Bhutan in the 17th century. In the Vatican, he always found ways to talk about Bhutan. So much so that close friends had to remind him that he was Australia’s ambassador and not Bhutan’s.
Tim was born to a sheep farmer and the fourth child. His favourite place was his farm, Pepper in Boree Creek in New South Wales. At the farm, he would host his friends and well-wishers of Bhutan. He would drive them up in his hilux talking about Bhutan and listening to recent stories of Bhutan.
His favorite spot was near the farm’s running water because he said the bush around it reminded him of Bhutan. Back in the farmhouse, he would proudly show his Bhutan book collection and the Bhutan corner. In half gist, he would say that he would like to be reborn as a Bhutanese and would like to be the Minster of Transport ministry.
Over the last three decades, since his visit to Bhutan in 1985, Tim visited Bhutan 10 times. His final trip was last September. By then he was already diagnosed with acute form of leukemia.
He negotiated with his doctors who knew that they could not change his mind. They understood his deep interest in Bhutan and emotions and gave him the clearance to travel.
Tim had come to say good bye to Bhutan and his close friends. On the same trip he wanted to introduce his son to the country. During the trip he called on His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. As usual the audience was a long one and Tim headed straight to his room and spend over an hour in his room. Before he left, wrote a card to his His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, “You are my greatest teacher.”
Tim was a friend of Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother who used to send herbal medicines and constantly enquired after his health. Just a day before Tim passed away, Her Majesty sent him a message which read, “We will always cherish your friendship and goodness to Bhutan. We send you much love and thought.”
The following day, Tim passed away peacefully in the hospital in Albury. A day later, on 23 August, on command of His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo, a high level Bhutanese delegation paid respect to late Tim and conveyed His Majesty’s condolences to the family. Tim’s wife Judy Brewer and son Dominic Fischer were highly moved with His Majesty’s kindness and mentioned that Bhutan was the first country to pay respect to Tim Fischer.
Dominic said, “We are very grateful for Bhutan’s relationship with dad. Bhutan has always been a truly special place to him.”
