Hi all. This is Anthony Williams, son of Brett Williams.

For those of you that didn't know him, Dad was the founder and proud owner of The Military Workshop. I think it's only fitting that we take the time to honour his memory here. 

Brett opened up The Military Workshop in 1997. We moved here from Hong Kong where Dad was a narcotics detective for the Royal Hong Kong Police. His love for history and the fresh start Australia provided to our family gave him an avenue to start his own business.

The store was very different back then. Wooden model airplanes, plastic miniatures, and prints were the shops original focus. For long time customers of the shop, they would have seen a wide variety of products and ideas flow through as Dad funneled his passion for history into the business. I think that passion is something that always stuck with him and was certainly evident for those that met him. 

Brett passed away suddenly in October 2024. It was a great shock to us all. It has been a difficult journey without him but we have been supported by this wonderful community. 

I want to say a big thank you to everyone that has come in and shared stories about Dad. A extra big thank you to Mark Harrison and Phil Charlwood who helped us get the store back up and running after Brett passed. They've been great sources of comfort, advice, and wisdom and our family can't thank them enough. Thank you to all our customers 

Another special thanks is owed to Sven De Braekeleir of Peter Nathan Toy Soldiers. Every year, Brett would host a collectors dinner and host Andy Nielson from King and Country (also a big thank you to Andy as well, a great friend of Dads). I know this was an event that Dad always looked forward to and would be planning and talking about for months. This year, our family had a lot on our plate and it was uncertain whether or not the dinner would happen. Sven took the time, money, and effort to organize the dinner this year so we could all gather to talk miniatures and remember Dad. 

After speaking with so many of you about Dad and reflecting on the shop and his life, I can take great comfort. Not many people are lucky enough to have a job they are passionate about. For Dad, he was fortunate enough to have a passion that he was lucky enough to turn into a business.   While I'm certain he worked very hard, I think there was a very real part of him that enjoyed talking and interacting with everyone in a store of his own. 

I know Dad had his bad times with the shop, but I also know how much it would have meant to him to have a space to talk miniatures (and frankly anything else that was on his mind) and share his lifelong passion with his friends. 

I get reminded of that feeling every time someone comes in talking about the latest model or figurine or when kids come in with their parents telling them about Soviet tanks in WW2 or when Mark is showing me the four versions of the Panzer tanks he’s got. There's something  there that reminds me of how Dad would talk about this stuff and I think that’s a good way to remember him.

He is sorely missed but his memory is carried on by all those that met him and I know he would be proud to see the shop today.