By Isla Stanich
Warwick’s infamous egg-throwing incident will be brought back to life in commemoration of 100 years since the Warwick railway station became a significant place in Australian history.
The historic event took place on 17 November, 1917, when Killarney man Patrick Brosnan threw an egg at then Prime Minister Billy Hughes, as he was addressing a crowd at Warwick railway station about the conscription of new Australian troops.
Hughes ordered local police to arrest Brosnan, but they refused saying this was out of their jurisdiction and in the hands of the Commonwealth.
Within weeks of leaving Warwick, Hughes announced the formation of the Commonwealth Police Force, today known as the Australian Federal Police.
To commemorate the incident, the team of volunteers at the Southern Downs Steam Railway will be putting together a historical re-enactment of the egg-throwing on Saturday 18 November at the Warwick railway station.
“The day will commence with historical seminars run by lecturers from the University of New South Wales, who will be giving some background information about Australian life in 1917,” SDSR secretary Bob Amos said.
Patrick Brosnan’s descendants and federal and local politicians have also been invited to attend the event.
“Everyone in the community is very welcome, we hope it’ll be a large gathering,” Mr Amos said.
“Our last re-enactment in 2001 went really well, but of course with this year being the centenary it’s an even bigger deal.”
In celebration of the Jumpers and Jazz festival this July, the Southern Downs Steam Railway team will also be running trips to Hendon and Wheatvale.
“We’ll be running trains on the 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th of July that will travel out to Hendon in the mornings and Wheatvale in the afternoons,” Mr Amos said.
Over the two weekends, music will be played on the Warwick station platform, food will be available in between train trips and merchandise will be available for purchase.
The Southern Downs Steam Railway team hopes to see many excited faces at the re-enactment of the egg-throwing incident in November and celebratory train rides in July.
For more information on steam railway and other 2017 Jumpers and Jazz events, visit www.jumpersandjazz.com
