Hi, Just some info on the article which amazingly ended up all over the world. The accident did not happen during the re-enactment and was the next day during cleaning the site. The incident happened as a result of complacency and being in a hurry. Which was a stupid thing to do? However, it was not just throw a drum on a fire. The detonators had been removed and I had vented the drum for some time. What i did wrong was i had gone to get a saw to cut open the end of the plastic drum but could not find it i got side tracked and did not follow through on opening the back to vent it at a better rate. I cleared all others of the area because I new it would go off (i did think not to a big extent) but forgot I had left the plugs out that I had removed to vent the drum. This is why it wicked while I still had hold of it. If it had been re plugged it would have sat on the fire burnt through and then gone off with me at a safe distance. It was a lapse in concentration and a case of the obscenity of assumption, as the bomb had failed to explode during the re-enactment when set off. As this was a gas filled bomb i had experienced in the past some which had leaked and I half assumed this had happened again. Bad assumption and as said the obscenity of.
I was flown to the Alfred hospital and did undergo 8 hrs of surgery that was because of some nerve damage. I did not lose any fingers as reported. I did not get burnt on the face anymore than a case of sunburn. I don't know about comas but i was awake the next morning after the accident that is Monday morning. I don't wish to down play the accident but i was annoyed at some of the media reporting. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story. I am back at work and am still doing some hand therapy.
For those who seem to think that because they are qualified things don’t go wrong. Here’s my qualifications proving qualified people do make mistakes. However, I have never hurt or caused another person to be injured.
I am qualified in pyrotechnics (worksafe no PYR574) Prior to having my pyrotechnicians qualification I had an Explosives in Agriculture licence No 234 29/9/94. I did this course and was duly licenced by worksafe to use explosives, as at the time there was no such thing in Victoria as a pyrotechnicians licence, but as we were working with pyro’s in re-enactment I felt it necessary to gain training with explosives.
.I have spent 8 years in the Aust Army Reserve in RAEME. And had my army licencesB3,B4,B7,B8G,B9CG, I won student merit awards for both my army driving courses..I also won National Army Reserve Craftsman of the year in 1992. I also instructed on army driving courses with 2/10 medium Reg. Also threw grenades, used MG’s and all that other Infantry stuff one does with the army.
I have a crane and fork lift drivers licence (worksafe no 0001030159) I am an “A” Grade Automotive engineer no 2782 issued 1985. Victorian Licenced Vehicle tester LV No 0043276 and Heavy Vehicle No MAW01160253HV. AAFRB LPG gas licenced. Licenced to work on Automotive Air Conditioning. Member of the Institute Of Automotive Mechanical Engineers. I worked in the Earth moving industry for over 20years and have my own automotive repair business first established in 1982. I have 4 employees and have never had a work place accident in the life of the business.
I am a teacher in the TAFE system and would not be considered a dick head. I work as a .5 (2.5 days a week) in the TAFE system, teaching automotive.
I have been involved in Re-enactment since 1994 having organized, covered safety and all aspects of the operation in the last 14 years. We have done over 35 re-enactments in that time many using pyro’s and all using firearms. I am licenced for blank firing of MG’s. The two most memorable re-enactments being one done for the Australian War Memorial on their front lawn. You can imagine the safety and planning for such an event. We drove 5 WW2 vehicles from Geelong to Canberra. Fired a 25 PDR on the front steps and did a re-enactment encompassing pyros and blank firing in front of 3000 people.
The other being at the Army Museum at Bandiana for the Bi annual conference of the Military Historical Society of Australia, You can imagine the prep to do such a thing for the Army including an environmental impact assessment. We used pyro’s and blank firing, a first for civilians on army property.
For the vehicle buffs I have restored, ground up a LP2 carrier, Chev Blitz 3ton RAEME WS truck. Not the tools. White Scout Car, 25 PDR . Ford 3to GS truck. Bofor gun, These for myself. Currently I am restoring at my workshop for clients a White Scout Car, and a MK5 Acco which saw Vietnam service. I have also done for customers a number of Jeeps.
Sorry for blowing my trumpet but have gone through a lot of reflection on the dumb mistake I made and get a little bit annoyed over one line comments from people who don’t know me or make assessments from newspaper articles which are sometimes not as accurate as they could be.
However, I am the first to admit it was a dumb thing to do. But in 52 years I have never had an accident at all that includes every day driving and 5 years of car racing as well. It just shows don't make assumptions about anything. Robin Mawson
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