Tim Bugg AM

10.02.1953 – 23.07.2023

Tim (SVC 1965-70) was born in New Norfolk and lived at Boyer in the Derwent Valley. His parents, Ellis and Madge Bugg had five sons, Paul (SVC 1956-1962), Damian (SVC 1958-1963) Stephen (SVC 1961-67), Tim and Justin (SVC 1967-73). All 5 sons attended St Brigid’s Convent in New Norfolk and later boarded at St Virgils. Ellis, and his brother Len, had lived in Tullah on the West Coast and attended St Virgils as boarders in the 1920’s.

From the year book for 1970 Tim is pictured with the H.S.C Award Winners. He won the prize for languages and was also studying piano (A.M.E.B.).

Tim commenced studying Arts at Utas in 1971 and piano, (AmusA). At the end of that year Tim moved to Canberra so that he could expand his studies at ANU to include Law, graduating in both Arts and Law in 1976. Tim and Liz (Hodgson, NSW) had met in Canberra, both studying Arts and Law, and married in 1976. They were admitted to practise in 1977 and moved to Burnie in Tasmania to work with the firm Crisp, Hudson and Mann, Tim becoming a partner in the firm.

Tim and Liz’s children, Christopher and Katherine were born in Burnie and Tim, outside his work in the Law, was a member of the board of the local Wynyard convent school where their children attended. This commenced a lifelong voluntary involvement for Tim in education and professional standards and qualification. Tim and Liz moved to Hobart in 1993, Tim commencing work with Dobson Mitchell and Allport, one of Australia’s oldest law firms, and becoming a partner in that firm in the same year. Tim remained at the firm where he was Managing Director at the time of his death on 23 July.

The death notice, posted by the firm, contained the following:-

“Tim has been a giant in the legal profession. In a career spanning over 40 years, he dedicated his time to a range of roles supporting and promoting the legal profession at a local, national and international level. An accomplished advocate and respected colleague and opponent, Tim was known within the profession for his extensive legal knowledge. Quick wit, and pragmatism. He believed wholeheartedly in the skill and potential of Tasmanian lawyers, championed and embraced change in the profession, and worked passionately to foster the causes he believed in. Despite his busy schedule, Tim always took the time to mentor younger lawyers and is looked upon as a role model by many.

As our Managing Director, Tim played an integral role in Dobson Mitchell Allport’s evolution and progress. As well as striving to promote and grow our business, he invested significant time and energy into facilitating a sense of comradery and belonging amongst our staff. He was proud of our heritage, and enthusiastic about our future.

Most importantly, Tim was a cherished workmate, friend, father, and husband. His sense of mischief and zest for life was contagious. Always the first to join the party and usually the last to leave, his oft repeated phrase ‘get a grip’ served as his reminder not to take things too seriously, and he lived by that mantra till the very end. Tim was truly one of a kind, and his passing leaves an enormous hole for those who knew and loved him.”

On July 31st, at a crowded celebration of Tim’s life at the home of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, where Tim was Deputy Chair of the Board, the audience heard of Tim’s work in the profession and community and with educational organisations. He had been President of the Law Society of Tasmania, President of the Law Council of Australia and President of the Federal Government’s International Legal Services Advisory Council and a member of the Council of Australian Law Deans. Tim had been invited to and joined the Council of the American Bar Association, the first non-western European and first Australian to do so. (The ABA has approximately 400,000 members.) Tim was also Chair of the Centre for Legal Studies Limited and was a member of the Appeals Committee and the Professional Conduct Committee of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

Tim’s quirky enthusiasm for music, collecting antiques and art was the subject of humorous comments, but more seriously linked to his role as a Trustee of the Allport Bequest, Chair of the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Art Management Committee and his role as Deputy Chair of the Board of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Tim was made a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2014 “for significant service to the Law…..and to the community.

Tim will be remembered as a witty and great contributor who will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.