MUNGINDI St Joseph’s Primary School Year 6 student Theodore Landman is a young bloke passionate about military history.
And late last year, 11-year-old Theodore drew on that passion to create an inspirational wartime piece of art he exhibited during Mungindi Anzac Day commemorations.
The seeds of a project that would take more than six months to complete began when Theodore and his younger brother, Thomas, were playing with discarded styrofoam packing from a washing machine their parents Jake and Yvette had purchased.
Theodore used the styrofoam as the base of an historical military diorama that intricately details the June 6, 1944, D-Day Landing at Omaha Beach at Normandy.
“When we got a new washing machine, Theodore took the styrofoam from the box and sat very quietly one day on the back porch at home,” mum Yvette said.
“I went to see what he was doing, and there was styrofoam everywhere,” she laughed.
“That’s how it all started. He began with layers, and it took him about six months to create the diorama.”
Theodore’s incredible, finely-detailed creation was displayed in Mungindi on Anzac Day and drew widespread attention from locals as well as visitors.
Veterans from across eastern Australia, from as far as Lismore on the coast and north to Mission Beach, descended on the border-town for the Anzac Day long weekend.
The veterans wore pink shirts in memory of local, 32-year-old Tom Grey, who died in 2022 when a crop duster he was flying crashed at Cananga near Chinchilla.
The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau determined a bird strike involving an Australian bustard was the cause of the crash.
Theodore said his passion for military history began when he was five years old.
“I developed a love for history when I used to play with plastic army figurines at my grandma’s house that used to resemble the scenes at Gallipoli,” he said.
Theodore, whose distant ancestor, General Gerrit Maritz, served in the 1899-1915 Anglo Boer War, said he began the diorama with a firm plan in mind.
“When I started, I wanted the theme to be about the D-Day landing and that it was in memory of all the fallen soldiers and how they served their country,” Theodore said.
“I had a basic idea of what I wanted. As I progressed, I kept adding and got more creative, but kept in mind that I needed to stick to the theme of D-Day.”
Theodore’s efforts truly confirmed the belief that from little things, big things grow.
“My project started with styrofoam and thinking what could I create with it,” he said.
“I did layers then painted the scene – heaps of painting. I got most of the paint supplies for the background at my local newsagency and I used 1/35 scale Tamiya kits as well.
“They come in the smallest of pieces which all have to be glued together and each one hand-painted.
“It took about six months to complete. I started it as a project after school – when I didn’t have sports – and during the school holidays,” he said.
The D-Day Landing diorama is Theodore’s first project of its type. However, he’s created multiple Lego scenes with military backgrounds.
“I enjoy making things with my hands, and made a small chair with wood for the Mungindi show,” he said.
“I also enjoy building Lego kits and making them into scenes like the D-Day landing – dioramas are my new hobby, other than Lego,” he smiled.
Theodore, who lists history as his favourite subject at St Joseph’s, followed closely by maths and Science, is already workshopping his next project.
“I’m thinking of doing Battle of the Bulge from the Second World war (1939 or maybe the landing of Gallipoli,” he said.
Mungindi police sergeant, Stephen Wade, said the Anzac spirit is still very much alive at the border-town.
“I arrived at the Anzac dawn service and was surprised by the number of people in attendance, ranging from newborns to people in their 90s,” Mr Wade said.
“People were telling me about Theodore’s exhibit and when I saw the masterpiece, I was amazed at the intricacy and workmanship that went into it – it was the talk of the ceremony.
“I congratulate Theodore and his exhibit brought joy to the entire community. It’s great to see a young person like Theodore remembering the sacrifices our Anzacs made for our countries.
“It warms the soul of an old sergeant to know that long after I pass, the Anzacs will be remembered by young people in our community like Theodore,” he said.
Words: Bill Poulos
(Images Supplied)
(Historical Images: Imperial War Museum)
