It will be a day of solemn commemoration and tangible camaraderie when ANZAC Day dawns on the Southern Downs today, and indeed throughout the nation.
Dawn services, marches, street gatherings that are still important post-COVID19, hot breakfasts, games of old, and a certain feeling of national pride will colour our district. With medals proudly worm, obligatory silences, and customary salutes amid tears and remembering, nothing speaks more of ANZAC tradition than the firing of the cannon.
Brendon Steele will take on this role today, in Stanthorpe, the Warwick resident sharing with The Town & Country Journal that he and his father uncovered the incredible piece, seemingly abandoned in a local shed.
"We have spoken to many collectors and historians about this cannon," he told us. "(And) they narrowed down that it is a mid-to-late 1800s Ship war cannon. It has been sand cast to make the shape and profile as they did in that era, to make barrels."
Mr Steele said that it originally had a two-inch bore (or 50mm) "but had to be sleeved down to 30 (millimetres) to make it compliant for Queensland weapons rules".
"Myself and my father designed and made the carriage that it sits on out of Ironbark timber sourced locally," the local father said. "This cannon seems to be one-of-a-kind with efforts made to see if there is more around. We have never come across another, making this one very valuable and rare."
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton described today's commemorations as a chance to offer "remembrance and respect for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our nation with courage and selflessness".
New Southern Downs Councillor Joel Richters served in the Australian Regular and Reserve Army from 2005 to 2021 and, along with all Councillors of the current term, will today, and ongoingly, recognise what he described as "the price of service".
Lest we forget.
