Family hails justice for Teddy Sheean after long campaign
It has taken a 32-year campaign, but Teddy Sheean’s nephew says justice has finally been done for the war hero who has been recommended for a posthumous Victoria Cross medal.
Tasmania
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FOR Teddy Sheean’s family, a decades-long campaign for justice is nearing its rightful end.
The Prime Minister’s announcement the Tasmanian war hero will receive his due is as welcome as it is overdue.
Joined by Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett at the Cenotaph, Sheean’s nephew Garry Ivory said he was “stoked” to receive the news yesterday morning.
“I will remember two dates forever now: the first of December 1942 is when Teddy’s action was and now the 10th of August 2020 is going to be very, very special date in my life forever,” he said.
“I’ve been fighting for 32 years. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve never given up. “The motto for HMAS Sheean, the ship, is ‘Fight On’ and that’s what Guy and I and the family and supporters have done.
Mr Ivory said his late uncle’s exploits were not discussed in his family when he grew up.
“I found out when I read a book called The Ship That Had to Die in 1988, that was 32 years ago.
“After I read the book, I thought he should have got a VC, why hasn’t he got a VC and that’s when I started knocking on doors and talking to anyone that would listen.
“It’s been a long, long fight. I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of people over the years, no more than Guy, as I said, but for all the politicians, the Navy, everyone around Australia, the people who have patted me on the back and said ‘keep going’ you know, all through the years 32 years, I really thank everybody for that.
“The Victoria Cross will go straight into the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. We’re going to try and get it to do a tour of Tasmania, so everyone can see before it goes to the War Memorial.”
Veterans Affairs Minister Guy Barnett — who has long campaigned for Sheean to receive the nation’s highest award for valour — said he was “absolutely joyous” at the news saying it was recognition for all veterans.
“It’s an auspicious day. It’s a special day. The sun is shining the birds are tweeting, the grass is growing,” he said.
“I think in this modern day and age … during COVID-19, more than ever we need our heroes and Teddy Sheean is that hero. He demonstrated courage, he demonstrated mateship and he demonstrated sacrifice – he gave up his life for his mates.”
Mr Barnett said he had conveyed the news the last survivor from the HMAS Armidale\, Ray Leonard, this morning.
Mr Leonard was a part of the campaign to make sure Teddy Sheean receive his due for the valour he witnesses himself.
“As he was swimming away from the Armidale, he could hear the Oerlikon going off and shooting it those Japanese planes that were strafing his mates in the water,’ Mr Barnett said.
“As he was swimming away he knew it was Teddy, when he got to the lifeboats and he knew right then and there when his mates said in the lifeboats: ‘did you see what Teddy did, did you see what Teddy did?
“Ray Leonard knew that Teddy gave his life for his mates.”
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