Military memorabilia takes centre stage at premier art space

Isaac’s premier art space will transform into a private collection of historical military memorabilia as a moving tribute to Australian and New Zealand service personal.

Moranbah’s Coalface Art Gallery will give visitors a chance to uncover stories of the sacrifices made during Australia’s military conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

The Anzac Day 2022 exhibition is an eclectic mix of memorabilia collected by local military history buff Dave Law.

The exhibition features items relating to the service of Australians and New Zealanders in military conflicts from World War I to more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and East Timor.

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said Mr Law’s collection is a credit to his passion and tribute to the sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand service personal made for their respective nation’s way of life.

“The exhibition is an incredible way to intimately understand how important it is to preserve our military history and share it with all ages – especially the younger generation,” Mayor Baker said.

Mr Law has visited many famous battle sites over the years including Gallipoli, Fromelles, Passchendaele, Pozieres, and Villers-Bretonneux.

“In 2016 I went to Vietnam with a number of the 6RAR Delta Company Veterans for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan,” Mr Law said.

“It is a great honour to walk in the footsteps of our forefathers and pay one’s respects to the many that have fallen for the freedoms and way of life we know today.

“This exhibition pays tribute to all men and women who have served in our defence forces.  We must never forget the sacrifices of the few for us all.”

Dave Law and Andrew Tomlinson from the Moranbah RSL Sub-Branch curated the exhibition, with support from ESS Support Services Worldwide and BMA Infrastructure and Asset Management.

Anzac Day 2022 will run from Tuesday, 19 April 2022 to Friday, 20 May 2022 at the Coalface Art Gallery, Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 5pm.

The exhibition will also be open for an hour following each of the dawn and morning services in Moranbah on Monday 25 April 2022.