Family, friends, industry representatives and political leaders led heartfelt tributes to Luke Bowen at a State Memorial Service for the former Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and Cattle Australia CEO in Darwin this morning.

NT chief minister Lea Finocchiaro said Luke was “one of the Territory’s finest”, describing him as a respected leader, a mentor to many and “a powerhouse and a champion for the Territory”.

“Luke was one of a kind and a fierce advocate and supporter of the Territory’s agricultural and livestock industry, and I’m sure many of you here today remember the pivotal role that Luke played when the Australian government suspended the live export trade with Indonesia back in 2011 as the CEO of the NT cattlemen’s association,” she said.

“At that time Luke played a crucial role in driving the industry’s response at a national level, demonstrating his significant leadership and fierce advocacy skills at what was a very challenging time for Australia’s cattle industry.

“Luke railed against this decision which had enormous consequences for northern Australia.

“He fought and stood side by side with the families who are devastated by the financial and emotional impacts of this decision, the impacts of which are still being felt today.

His passion for development in regional and remote communities was also reflected in his determination to improve the living standards of aboriginal Territorians , and the role he played in leading the establishment of the indigenous pastoral program and the northern Australian Development Office.

Delivering the eulogy, former NTCA president Tom Stockwell said Luke “was always there” for others.

“For Luke it was always about looking out for the people. Simply put when people  needed help, Luke stepped up and went to work.”

“We do not need remind anyone here of the sheer heroism, energy and professionalism that Luke exhibited during (2011 live export suspension).

“Not only did he leap onto the saddle of the night horse to get back in the lead and get around that madly rushing mob of the press and the public of Australia, get them back into a tractable mob that they were listening and thinking straight.

“At the same time he was reassuring us, let’s not forget, that our role in society and industry both in Australia and Indonesia was an honourable one, and a worthy one, one that we should be proud of and we should persist against the naysayers.

“His articulate positivity gave us the confidence to fight on and move forward.”

Mr Stockwell said that even when it came at great personal cost Luke “went forward fighting on our behalf”, describing him as the benchmark “of anyone I’ve ever seen in this space”.

“He was our saviour on many occasions and especially so after 2011. He was a man with a beautiful soul, pure intent and genuine compassion, all wrapped in those annoyingly boyish good looks and full head of expertly coiffured hair.

“He was and will forever remain a hero of our cattle community the NT and beyond he truly deserved his exalted status amongst the legends and leaders of the north.”

Luke’s partner Tracey Hayes, also a former NTCA CEO, acknowledged the large crowd in attendance along with the many watching the service online, and thanked all of his friends, family and colleagues “for the thousands of beautiful messages that we’ve received from right around the nation”.

“I want you to know that they mean an enormous amount and I’ve read every single word.”

She said Luke’s “superpower” was that “he understood and cared for people and genuinely connected with most that crossed his path, no matter their background, their heritage or position, in society he treated everyone the same”.

“Luke, my love, you have left us searching for answers with unimaginable pain in our hearts, unfulfilled dreams where you featured in the next chapter, and an uncharted and difficult path to navigate, but also feeling of richness for having loved you and being loved by you, and the strength I will draw from the many beautiful memories we have shared.”

Many heartfelt tributes were shared by Luke’s friends and family, with Damien Bowen, the oldest of Luke’s six siblings, referring to him as “the best of us”, recalling his sunny and gregarious nature, love for adventure and hunger for knowledge and \experiences.

“He joined the NT Cattlemen’s Association in 2008, we’ve read and heard and seen many tributes to Luke recalling his qualities of courage, determination and humour, and his ability to relate to people and provide leadership when it was needed,” he said.

Luke’s son Jourdan spoke of Luke’s “wholehearted devotion to his family”.

“As someone who is fortunate enough to be his son I can confirm he had all the instincts that would make a father great. Importantly though he acted upon them with love and with devotion. He made me feel as though I was the centre of his world which is all I could have ever hoped for from a father.”

In a statement published to its social media channels today Cattle Australia said Luke was not only “one of our industry’s greatest advocates, but also a remarkable person”.

“The inaugural CEO of Cattle Australia, and one of agriculture’s finest leaders, Luke made a lasting contribution to our industry and regional communities, and was a much-loved friend and colleague.

“A genuinely exceptional, passionate, and kind person, and an invaluable asset and advocate for our industry and Northern Australia, Luke was instrumental to the establishment of CA.

“We are extremely grateful for the impact Luke had – a legacy we have no doubt will be enduring.”