Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Tim Hanna joined the Australian Army in January 1977 after completing his schooling at Birdwood High School. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon and completed a Bachelor of Arts (Military Studies) majoring in Economics.  Tim was a member of Kapyong Company for his first three years before joining Romani Company in First Class.  During his time at Duntroon, Tim was a keen sportsman and played Australian Football in the 1st XVIII and the 1st XI in cricket. Tim graduated in December 1980 into the Royal Australian Corps of Transport.

After completing his Regimental Officers Basic Course at Puckapunyal, Tim commenced his career with an initial posting as Officer Commanding 87th Transport Platoon, 26th Transport Platoon also at Puckapunyal.  This was followed by postings to Melbourne Transport Unit (Movements Officer where he was promoted to Captain in January 1983) and 9th Transport Squadron (Operations Officer and then Second in Command) in Townsville.

A move back to Victoria followed where Tim undertook studies at the School of Languages before taking up a posting at Headquarters Logistics Command (seconded to Melbourne Transport Unit). From there it was back to Puckapunyal to the Army School of Transport as an instructor in Corps Training Wing.  Promotion to Major followed in January 1988 when Tim moved into the role as the Doctrine and Training Officer.

Limited opportunities for overseas postings existed at that time and Tim  was very pleased to be selected to be a United Nations Military Observer in the Middle East. Commencing in April 1990, Tim spent his first six months with Obserever Group - Lebanon, living in Nahariya in Northern Israel and undertaking patrolling and observation duties in Southern Lebanon on a rostered basis.  During this time the Palestinian uprising (or Intifada) occurred.  Also, in August of that year the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein ordered his armed forces to invade Kuwait. This precipitated the First Gulf War. Tim had moved to Observer Group - Golan in September 1990 and lived in Damascus where, after completing initial duties at various Observation Posts, he became the Senior Battalion United Nations Military Observer on the Golan Heights.

In March of 1991, Tim completed his posting and returned to Australia as the Staff Officer (Grade 2) Plans at Headquarters Logistics Support Force at Randwick.  Six months at Royal Australian Navy Staff College at HMAS PENGUIN followed in 1994 where Tim graduated with Distinction.  Tim then became the Staff Officer (Grade 2) Joint Doctrine at Land Headquarters in Victoria Barracks, Sydney. His primary focus at this point was on the America, Britain, Canada, Australia Armies Standardization Program. Tim then move to Garden Island in Sydney where he was the Staff Officer Plans and Army Liaison Officer at Maritime Headquarters responsible for all amphibious training and operations. Tim's final posting in the Regular Army was as the Materiel Manager - Army at the Defence National Storage and Distribution Centre at Moorebank.

In May of 2000, Tim transferred to the Inactive Reserve having returned to South Australia to live in January of that year.