It is fair to say that when it comes to the Australian War Memorial's warehouse in Mitchell its latest director, Dr Brendan Nelson, is like a kid in a candy shop.
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I was surprised to learn that, before his 2012 appointment the former Howard government defence minister had never been there. ''While I have always spent a lot of time in Canberra I just never had the opportunity to get out here for the 'Big Things In Store' days,'' he told me. ''I wasn't aware we had things like the V2.''
''I suppose I could have pulled rank to get a viewing [while defence minister] but that just didn't seem right.''
An autodidactic history buff of Keatingesque proportions, Dr Nelson's jaw nearly hit the ground the first time he entered the building and had a look around. While he admits to being drawn to boys toys such as the motorbikes, cars and trucks, it is the whole Aladdin's cave thing that gets him going.
''There is militaria here that has been collected over more than a century of conflict; at the time [the end of World War I and World War II] I am sure the services were just glad that someone was taking this stuff but the AWM has shown tremendous foresight in bringing this all together.''
His favourite pieces? One is the piece of T-wall from an Australian base in Iraq that he first saw in situ during his time as the defence minister. Another is the Japanese tank from the battle for Milne Bay, complete with the bullet hole in the armour plate that took out the driver.
This year's Big Things In Store is on this Sunday.
Activities will include a sausage sizzle, precision drill team, and activities for the kids. Entry is by gold coin donation, with proceeds going to support the work of the Australian War Memorial.
Location: Treloar Technology Centre, 8 Callan St, Mitchell ACT. Closed, flat footwear is recommended. No large bags allowed.
Please bring your camera (tripods and monopods permitted after 2.30 pm).
Truth deserted in historical drama on love and loss
The value for what used to be our eight cents a day (to fund
the ABC) just seems to be getting better and better - not!
Aunty's latest drama offering, beautifully timed to coincide with the 99th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, is a celebration of LMF or lack of moral fibre. An Accidental Soldier tells the story of a mythical digger who is surprised to find war includes violence and killing. (You may have thought he would read up on this before volunteering.) As a field ambulance member his pacifist views are respected, but it all gets a bit much and the lad, played by Dan Spielman, cuts and runs.
He soon finds himself in the arms of a beautiful Frenchwoman, played by Marie Bunel, and suddenly the war is looking up. The dramatic tension comes from the fact that as a deserter he could be caught and shot at any time.
This, of course, is the premise on which the story truly founders.
No Australians were shot for desertion during World War I - a fact that incensed the Poms who shot 346 of their own and the French who suffered desertions in the tens of thousands during the forgotten ''mutinies''.
Australia named and shamed instead, publishing lists of those who abandoned their mates in newspapers at home.
A far better desertion story is that of VC winner Maurice Buckley who left his unit after being sent back to Australia from Egypt for catching the clap. Buckley re-enlisted in another unit under a false name only to have his secret exposed when he was awarded the VC for gallantry.
