Vale 46823 WO2 Terry (Bluey) Howard – RAEME
It is with deep sadness I advise that Terry (Bluey) Howard passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening 31 August 2022 while in palliative care at the Atherton Hospital surrounded by wife, Rae, and his daughters, Kathy and Kelly. He was just 66 years of age. He had been undergoing a long battle with a brain tumour which was initially diagnosed with a low grade temporal lobe glioma on 23 March 2018. This cancer deteriorated into an aggressive grade four tumour earlier this year.
Bluey was a great mate to so many people and he has been taken from us far too soon. This world is a much poorer place for Bluey’s loss. He has left behind his wife Rae and two daughters, Kathy and Kelly as well as extended family.
46823 WO2 Terry Howard served as a RAEME Aircraft Maintenance Engineer for 21 years. He enlisted in the ARA on 23 Feb 73 and discharged on 27 Feb 94.
There will be a private service for family to farewell him. This will be followed by a commemorative gathering at Rae and Blue’s large property at Millaa Millaa (Atherton Tablelands) in late October to align with his birthday. All friends will be welcome to attend this gathering and details will follow.
Bluey was Corps enlisted into RAEME when he joined the Army in February 1973 as a trainee aircraft Airframe Fitter. He then completed further training in engines and avionics systems to become a very skilled All Trades Fitter.
He served in PNG with the Air Transport Squadron in 1986-1987 as a SGT instructing the locally enlisted personnel on aircraft maintenance on DC3, Nomad and Arava aircraft.
He was posted to 162 Reconnaissance Squadron in January 1992 as the ASM.
He retired as a Warrant Officer Class Two in February 1994 to pursue a career in his passion of vehicle maintenance and repair. He purchased an Ultra Tune business in Townsville on his retirement and built it into a very successful business. Bluey then went on to purchase a second Ultra Tune business in Townsville a number of years later.
Bluey was a dedicated soldier and a great bloke.
May He Rest In Peace – Lest We Forget.
Regards, Terry
Terry Johnson
