Jack
Major
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2011
- Messages
- 6,347
After eight months of preparation, the Brisbane dioramas were eventually unveiled at the Collectors Dinner hosted by The Military Workshop. In a shift of venue, St Joseph’s Nudgee College, founded in 1891, welcomed Andy Neilson and 85 collectors and friends to a night of pageantry and colour. Visitors entered the main building (1891) and accessed the museum exhibition via a marble staircase. The size of the museum space (1904) (which was once a student dormitory) was a pleasant surprise to most first time visitors. It is a very large room overlooking the Chapel (1916) and the Main Oval (1891). The fact that it sits at the heart of a heritage listed building makes it an easy ‘sell’ as a venue for collectors who share a passion for history.
The collectors and their guests were then able to view the dioramas and have a chat with Andy, Brett and the diorama makers from 3.00 pm until 6.15. The feedback – both for the venue and the dioramas – was very heartening. Other countries have much longer histories than us, a building in an Italian Renaissance style does bring with it a certain atmosphere most conducive to a lively discussion between collectors. Although dominated by the three large dioramas, the exhibition included an impressive display of military uniforms, smaller dioramas and a display of the latest offerings from King and Country. How good is that cricket club building?
At 6.20 the guests moved downstairs to the door of the Chapel for a short service and wreath laying. Father John Gillen conducted a very moving service honouring the war dead of the Empire, helped by a very powerful Scottish accent that a lifetime spent in Australia has left almost unaltered. It transpired that he and Andy hail from the same part of Scotland, almost within a few miles of each other. During the service, Andy, Todd (Desert Kiwi), and Wayne (Waynepoo) laid wreaths at the foot of the flagpole to honour the war dead of the Empire, New Zealand, and Australia respectively. The Last Post and the minute’s silence was followed by a three shot salute from the Queensland’s Battery’s 12 pounder. I know the artillery guys amongst us will find this amusing, but I was surprised at how loud it was. It was certainly very impressive as the photographs show. Then as the echo of the gunfire died, a lone piper emerged on the first floor balcony of the Chapel and played ‘Amazing Grace’. The gun was hard to beat, but that piper came close.
The piper them piped us into dinner to the sounds of ‘Scotland the Brave’, which indoors lifts the roof. After Grace was said by Father, the guests enjoyed a three course meal that was, as my wife observed with what I felt was an unnecessarily accusative tone, better than the meal we had at our wedding. What could I say, the Country Women’s Association offered me a good price and the rest, as they say, is history. No such issues with this meal. It was beautiful.
As the guests finished the main course, on came the entertainment. Three Highland dancers with the loyal piper in toe, offered four stirring dances, complete with swords. They got the biggest applause of the evening. As dessert was served, a few short words from Jack seemed appropriate. I thanked Brett and Gerelou Williams for hosting the evening in conjunction with the College. I presented Brett with a Nudgee 1st XV jrsey made in a traditional style. He raised his eyebrows at the fact I had sourced a ‘ youth’s medium’ but I passed that error off with the claim that the gift was ‘aspirational’. I think he bought it but I cannot be sure. A tie and cufflinks rounded out the gift. For Gerelou there were flowers which were both the appropriate size and colour. For Andy there was a copy of the exhibition book and a first edition (1923) of Volume VII of the ‘Official History of the Australia in the War of 1914 – 1918’ by Harry Gullett titled ‘Sinai and Palestine’. This was to recognise Andy’s contribution to the Light Horse diorama specifically and Australian collectors generally by his continued patronage and his preparedness to make Australian figures. It also allowed for a very subtle comment on my part that I might have to source Volume 1 ‘The Story of Anzac’ (Gallipoli) for next year but he was on to that very quickly. What appears subtle for an Australian might not pass muster for someone who has lived 37 years in Hong Kong.
The details of the address by Andy will appear in a later post. I was not present for all of it as I was organising some bits and pieces elsewhere, but I was there for the part where he said I was a top bloke. I will need to rely on my digital recorder for the remainder.
After Andy’s address, which included some very interesting opening remarks about the quality of history education, many of the guest returned to the exhibition for further discussion. We then reconvened in Brett’s apartment across the road from the College. It was a wonderful end to the evening where Andy, with much grace, listened to how Wayne and I would run a TS company.
I will post the details of Andy’s address later but I would like to thank him, Brett, Gerelou, Wayne, Bob (Fitzgibbon), Phil, Glenn, Eliott and John (Dad) for their efforts that culminated in such an impressive evening.
It was, as they say, a night to remember.
The collectors and their guests were then able to view the dioramas and have a chat with Andy, Brett and the diorama makers from 3.00 pm until 6.15. The feedback – both for the venue and the dioramas – was very heartening. Other countries have much longer histories than us, a building in an Italian Renaissance style does bring with it a certain atmosphere most conducive to a lively discussion between collectors. Although dominated by the three large dioramas, the exhibition included an impressive display of military uniforms, smaller dioramas and a display of the latest offerings from King and Country. How good is that cricket club building?
At 6.20 the guests moved downstairs to the door of the Chapel for a short service and wreath laying. Father John Gillen conducted a very moving service honouring the war dead of the Empire, helped by a very powerful Scottish accent that a lifetime spent in Australia has left almost unaltered. It transpired that he and Andy hail from the same part of Scotland, almost within a few miles of each other. During the service, Andy, Todd (Desert Kiwi), and Wayne (Waynepoo) laid wreaths at the foot of the flagpole to honour the war dead of the Empire, New Zealand, and Australia respectively. The Last Post and the minute’s silence was followed by a three shot salute from the Queensland’s Battery’s 12 pounder. I know the artillery guys amongst us will find this amusing, but I was surprised at how loud it was. It was certainly very impressive as the photographs show. Then as the echo of the gunfire died, a lone piper emerged on the first floor balcony of the Chapel and played ‘Amazing Grace’. The gun was hard to beat, but that piper came close.
The piper them piped us into dinner to the sounds of ‘Scotland the Brave’, which indoors lifts the roof. After Grace was said by Father, the guests enjoyed a three course meal that was, as my wife observed with what I felt was an unnecessarily accusative tone, better than the meal we had at our wedding. What could I say, the Country Women’s Association offered me a good price and the rest, as they say, is history. No such issues with this meal. It was beautiful.
As the guests finished the main course, on came the entertainment. Three Highland dancers with the loyal piper in toe, offered four stirring dances, complete with swords. They got the biggest applause of the evening. As dessert was served, a few short words from Jack seemed appropriate. I thanked Brett and Gerelou Williams for hosting the evening in conjunction with the College. I presented Brett with a Nudgee 1st XV jrsey made in a traditional style. He raised his eyebrows at the fact I had sourced a ‘ youth’s medium’ but I passed that error off with the claim that the gift was ‘aspirational’. I think he bought it but I cannot be sure. A tie and cufflinks rounded out the gift. For Gerelou there were flowers which were both the appropriate size and colour. For Andy there was a copy of the exhibition book and a first edition (1923) of Volume VII of the ‘Official History of the Australia in the War of 1914 – 1918’ by Harry Gullett titled ‘Sinai and Palestine’. This was to recognise Andy’s contribution to the Light Horse diorama specifically and Australian collectors generally by his continued patronage and his preparedness to make Australian figures. It also allowed for a very subtle comment on my part that I might have to source Volume 1 ‘The Story of Anzac’ (Gallipoli) for next year but he was on to that very quickly. What appears subtle for an Australian might not pass muster for someone who has lived 37 years in Hong Kong.
The details of the address by Andy will appear in a later post. I was not present for all of it as I was organising some bits and pieces elsewhere, but I was there for the part where he said I was a top bloke. I will need to rely on my digital recorder for the remainder.
After Andy’s address, which included some very interesting opening remarks about the quality of history education, many of the guest returned to the exhibition for further discussion. We then reconvened in Brett’s apartment across the road from the College. It was a wonderful end to the evening where Andy, with much grace, listened to how Wayne and I would run a TS company.
I will post the details of Andy’s address later but I would like to thank him, Brett, Gerelou, Wayne, Bob (Fitzgibbon), Phil, Glenn, Eliott and John (Dad) for their efforts that culminated in such an impressive evening.
It was, as they say, a night to remember.
