Steve Gower Explained

Steve Gower
Birth Name:Stephen Newman Gower
Birth Date:10 June 1940
Birth Place:Adelaide, South Australia
Alma Mater:University of Adelaide
Office:Director of the Australian War Memorial
Term Start:March 1996
Term End:December 2012
Predecessor:Brendon Kelson
Successor:Brendan Nelson
Allegiance:Australia
Serviceyears:1959–1996
Rank:Major General
Branch:Australian Army
Commands:
8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (1978–80)
Battles:Vietnam War
Mawards:Officer of the Order of Australia

Major General Stephen Newman Gower, (born 10 June 1940) is a retired Australian Army officer and former director of the Australian War Memorial (AWM).[1] During his time in the Army he saw combat as an artillery forward observer during the Vietnam War in 1966 and 1967.[2] [3] [4] He is also the author of the books Guns of the Regiment (1981) and Options for an Australian Defence Technological Strategy (1982).[5] [6]

Early life

Gower was born on 10 June 1940 in Adelaide, South Australia, to Allan Martin and Agnes Fanny Gower. Educated at Unley High School and Prince Alfred College, he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1959. On graduation in 1961, he received a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Artillery. Gower wed Heather Eunice on 3 July 1965; the couple have one daughter.[7]

AWM Director

Gower was appointed the Director of the Australian War Memorial in 1996.[8] He continued in this role until November 2011 when he took full-time carer's leave. Nola Anderson served as acting director until December 2012 when Brendan Nelson became the new director of the institution.[9]

Bibliography

Books

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gower, Stephen Newman. Vietnam War Nominal Roll. Australian Government. 22 July 2012.
  2. Web site: Steve Gower Bio. Australian Defence College. 27 August 2011.
  3. Web site: Gower re-appointed as director of Memorial. Press release. Australian War Memorial. 28 August 2011.
  4. News: McPhedran. Ian. Ian McPhedran. General talks himself out of a job. 28 August 2011. Courier Mail. 2 February 2011.
  5. Book: Guns of the regiment / S.N. Gower ; line drawings by W.D. Thomas. Catalogue. January 1981 . National Library of Australia. 9780642896889 . 28 August 2011.
  6. Book: Options for an Australian defence technological strategy / S.N. Gower. Catalogue. 1982 . National Library of Australia. 9780867840599 . 28 August 2011.
  7. Book: Singh, Shivani. 2010. Who's Who in Australia 2014. Melbourne, Australia. Crown Content. 978-1-74095-172-2.
  8. Tribute to Steve Gower . Wartime . Winter 2012 . 59 . 11 March 2023.
  9. News: Ellery . David . Memorial has clean sweep of top posts . 11 March 2023 . The Canberra Times . 19 March 2013 . en-AU.