In 2007, after getting married, Pawanpreet Singh Buttar migrated to Australia. He had completed his education at the prestigious Sainik School in Kapurthala, India, where his dream of becoming an army officer first took root.
Speaking to SBS Punjabi, Simran Singh, brother-in-law of Buttar said, "Although he aspired to join the Indian Army, he was unable to qualify during the National Defence Academy (NDA) interview, leaving that dream unfulfilled at the time".
But arriving in Australia didn’t put an end to his ambitions. In fact, it reignited them. In 2018, Buttar began preparing to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
"With dedication and hard work, he was selected as a lieutenant in March 2019 and went on to serve for nearly five years in the Signals Division of the ADF, based in Toowoomba," said the brother-in-law.
"He was scheduled for promotion to the rank of Captain in March 2024, but fate had a different plan. While on holiday in India with his family, Buttar suffered a heart attack on January 10 and tragically passed away."
Despite this heartbreaking loss, Captain Buttar’s legacy lives on. His son, currently a high school student, has decided to walk in his father’s footsteps. He has now been accepted into the Australian Defence Force Academy, taking forward the dream his father once held close to his heart.
“Following in his father’s footsteps, he hopes to serve the nation as an officer in the ADF, continuing a legacy of dedication, courage, and service,” said Simran.
June 18, 2025: the Punjabi program was presented live with the Punjabi community of 'Toowoomba'. Credit: SBS
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