“St. Joseph’s Nudgee College” (3 Viewers)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

Yesterday, when I expressed my gratitude to all of our dealers and collectors “down under” there was one person, one particular group of collectors and one special place that I also want to send an extra note of gratitude to...The place is, of course, “St. Joseph’s Nudgee College” in Brisbane. This fine and long-established school has had the foresight and vision to allow a group of talented and highly skillful collectors and model makers to “bring history alive” for a whole new generation of young boys studying at the college.

My good friend, Dr. Martin Kerby, who for many years taught at the school (and now is in charge of the school’s own museum) has worked together with a “hard core” group of highly creative model maker / collectors...Wayne, Bob, Mark and Glen to build an outstanding series of large scale dioramas on display at the college.

Over countless days, weeks and months these blokes have designed and built a range of impressive museum-quality exhibits that could easily find a place in the finest Military Museums in the world.

It has been King & Country’s and my own privilege to work closely with this entire project and for our figures, vehicles and a few boats to be included in these fine displays.

Long may your collective work remain to inspire and help inform other collectors...dealers...and, I hope, future generations of schoolboys. Very well done, lads! With best wishes,

Andy C. Neilson
King & Country​

 

[waynepoo]

Hi Guys,

Yesterday, when I expressed my gratitude to all of our dealers and collectors “down under” there was one person, one particular group of collectors and one special place that I also want to send an extra note of gratitude to...The place is, of course, “St. Joseph’s Nudgee College” in Brisbane. This fine and long-established school has had the foresight and vision to allow a group of talented and highly skillful collectors and model makers to “bring history alive” for a whole new generation of young boys studying at the college.

My good friend, Dr. Martin Kerby, who for many years taught at the school (and now is in charge of the school’s own museum) has worked together with a “hard core” group of highly creative model maker / collectors...Wayne, Bob, Mark and Glen to build an outstanding series of large scale dioramas on display at the college.

Over countless days, weeks and months these blokes have designed and built a range of impressive museum-quality exhibits that could easily find a place in the finest Military Museums in the world.

It has been King & Country’s and my own privilege to work closely with this entire project and for our figures, vehicles and a few boats to be included in these fine displays.

Long may your collective work remain to inspire and help inform other collectors...dealers...and, I hope, future generations of schoolboys. Very well done, lads! With best wishes,

Andy C. Neilson
King & Country​

Thanks Andy,
Brett, Phil and Greg deserve mention also for their contribution with figures and time. :salute:: Now we have to decide what will be next years themes for the dio tables.
Wayne.

 

[Fitzgibbon]

The team gets bigger with each passing year. We happy few could not do without the expertise of the producers of fine figurines, the skills of the painters in the various factories, the artistry of our backdrop painter, and the patience of the perspex company representative who has pains-takingly interpreted our rudimentary sketches, and of course the administration of the college and the Queensland and Federal Governments who have allocated funds - yes, the team just keeps growing, and the good news is that there is always room for more to jump in and spend a few enjoyable hours creating the stories that the dioramas represent. We even had a figurine on the Hougoumont table donated by a resident of New Zealand - it becomes a great international enterprise. All are welcome to make the fun grow.

 

[Jack]

Hi Guys,

Yesterday, when I expressed my gratitude to all of our dealers and collectors “down under” there was one person, one particular group of collectors and one special place that I also want to send an extra note of gratitude to...The place is, of course, “St. Joseph’s Nudgee College” in Brisbane. This fine and long-established school has had the foresight and vision to allow a group of talented and highly skillful collectors and model makers to “bring history alive” for a whole new generation of young boys studying at the college.

My good friend, Dr. Martin Kerby, who for many years taught at the school (and now is in charge of the school’s own museum) has worked together with a “hard core” group of highly creative model maker / collectors...Wayne, Bob, Mark and Glen to build an outstanding series of large scale dioramas on display at the college.

Over countless days, weeks and months these blokes have designed and built a range of impressive museum-quality exhibits that could easily find a place in the finest Military Museums in the world.

It has been King & Country’s and my own privilege to work closely with this entire project and for our figures, vehicles and a few boats to be included in these fine displays.

Long may your collective work remain to inspire and help inform other collectors...dealers...and, I hope, future generations of schoolboys. Very well done, lads! With best wishes,

Andy C. Neilson
King & Country​

Dear Andy and Gordon

Thank you both again for the time and effort it takes to head southward and visit Brisbane. Each year the dinner brings together a rather disparate group of collectors to talk all things toy soldiers in a friendly and collaborative environment. In an age increasingly dominated by online engagement it is always refreshing to establish and maintain a more 'human' connection with people, even if in some cases it is just about putting a face with a name. It is actually quite fascinating to talk to someone with markedly different tastes to my own rather than someone with the same or very similar interests. Diversity is a strength rather than a weakness.

We have been fortunate in Brisbane to have ready access to a shop and a museum through which we have been able to source government funding as part of the centenary commemorations. Dioramas are generally considered 'old hat' in the museum world - or at least in parts of it - so it is always pleasing to see the 'wow' factor when people lay eyes on them for the first time. It has also allowed a group of collectors who may otherwise have pursued the hobby in isolation to collaborate on projects that they could not even have dreamt of had they been compelled to draw only on their own collections.

The success of the project is indicative of the benefit of a collaboration between manufacturers, retailers and collectors. There were some quite robust discussions but it was all interesting, respectful and ultimately quite entertaining. It is always good to have the opportunity to hear the manufacturer and the retailer approach the question of what to make from a different though complementary stance. When considering what should be made I rarely give a thought to the issue of postage because I buy everything from a bricks and mortar store. I was surprised to again hear that their is a labour shortage in China - who'd have thought that was possible?

The museum's next project is on October 24 - a sound and light show projected onto the main building covering the military service of old boys complete with orchestra and choir, a children's picture book detailing the wartime experience of two old boys, an art show inspired by the Bayeux tapestry and of course, the dioramas, which will be augmented by an 8th Army diorama and one depicting Australian troops in New Guinea in 1942.

Our collective thanks once again to K&C, our shop in Brisbane and the collectors who attended the dinner, have purchased the commemorative book or have expressed their support either on the forum or in email.

Regards

Jack (Martin)

 

[Rutledge]

How about some photos please???