Dr Stephen Alexander Short

A Tribute to Steve Short.
The O’Halloran family where very saddened to hear of the passing of Steve Short.
To Lauren and Liam, Matt and Erin and all the grandchildren we give our deepest condolences with the passing of your father, father in-law and grandfather.
After moving to Stanwell Tops in the late 1980’s we become acquainted with the Short family and both families become friends. We learnt that Steve was part of the hippy movement in the 60th and moved residence from New Zealand to Australia, living in Tasmania remote wilderness. There is where Steve’s first child, Zach was born. They later moved to Wollongong and settled in Stanwell Tops.
When we first meet Steve, he was an Industrial Chemist working for ANSTO as a research scientist. He was studying at the time for his PhD in Geochemist and a Hydrogeologist. Steve defined himself on how the world worked. He was a true greenie. He loved the environment and wanted to make the world a better place.
I remember Steve telling me about the finding of a large rock ledge out the back of Stanwell Tops that once was home to an aboriginal tribe. Steve was so enthusiastic to take me out there and show all the evidence of an aboriginal culture 500 years old. Steve showed me the rock drawing of a dolphin and snakes on the underside of the rock ledge, the camp fire site and the rock where the tribe would skin the kangaroo. He flocked around on the ground showing me evidence of flacking tools that they used to skin the kangaroo. He showed me how they would have captured the kangaroo and where they got water. He showed the pippi shells that they gathered from the ocean and brought to this their winter cave site. I found the whole experience so interesting with Steve, he was such a knowledgeable and intellectual person.
And that was Steve Short, so enthusiastic about the planet. I remember at one of the Shorts parties talking to Steve about a fence post. Yes, a fence post in the outback and how he was trying to work out the erosion of soil in the outback since colonisation. Steve must have spoken about it for an hour but he had me entranced for that whole hour. He loved his work.
Steve was ambitious and in later years resigned from ANSTO and started his own business, Echo Engineering. Part of his work was to monitor water quality of the river system for the mining companies. We are very grateful to Steve, for employing our son Glenn, while studying for his Degree in Environmental Engineering and giving him firsthand experience in environmental field work. Glenn very much appreciated his time spent with Steve.
Steve loved his children Zach, Lauren and Mathhew. Sadly, Zach passed away in a tragic plane accident at the age of 26 that left a hugh void in the family. Steve and the family were devastated following the accident and Steve was emotionally traumatised for a long time after the accident. The good news from Steve passing is that Zach and Steve are together again.

It is tragic that Steve has left, he would have up a fight to stay as long as he could, but now he is peace.
In the small speck in time, that Steve has spent with us, he will never be forgotten because the memories of Steve will live forever with his family, work colleagues and friends. I am sure that Steve and Zach spirit and soul will bond together to always be there in guiding the family through the years that follow.