Go behind the fence and take a look inside look in Roma 25th/49th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment depot

Once a bustling hub, Roma’s army depot now lies mostly dormant. Take an inside look in the depot and meet the lieutenant trying to reform it to its former glory.

Lieutenant Brett Pulsford outside the Roma army depot. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Tucked away on a quiet Roma street, a once-bustling army depot now lies all but dormant, however there are hopes that new recruits can breath life back into the historic site.

The home of the 25th/49th Battalion of the Royal Queensland Regiment of the Australian Army, the battalion has a rich history of service dating back more than 100 years, and the depot itself has been on Edwardes St in Roma since 1972.

Inside, the echoes of the depot’s former glory are apparent, with photos, plaques and memorabilia abundant, but the population of reserves who operate out of the depot are dwindling.

Lt Pulsford said the population of reserve soldiers and officers at the Roma depot has dwindled dramatically. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Lieutenant Brett Pulsford, who operates as an officer out of the depot, said the reserves were important for the community and the defence force, but could also be a great opportunity for young people unwilling to commit to anything full time, or anyone looking for a side hustle.

Lieutenant Pulsford said in the scope of the defence force, the reserves act in a homeland defence capacity in times of conflict, and can help their communities in emergency situations like bushfires, floods, and even Covid-19.

The reserves help their communities in times of crisis and emergency. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

However, Lieutenant Pulsford said a reserve soldier’s only regular responsibility is to train one night per week, attend a training weekend once per month, and a camp for a week once per year.

At the Roma depot, Lieutenant Pulsford said they train at the depot every week on Tuesdays.

“The breakdown of a Tuesday night would generally see a session of physical training, which would normally be tailored to a combat scenario,” Lieutenant Pulsford said.

“That could be a weighted casualty drag using some sandbags, jerry carries, or a fire and move, which is where two soldiers will take up their rifles and run in bounds, hit the dirt, get back up again, to create physical training that simulates what they may have to do on exercise or in their jobs.

“Then they move into an instructional period.

“That’ll generally look like an instructor … (giving) a summary and demonstration of what they’re being taught; That may be how to patrol, or how to conduct certain different tactical activities.

“When that’s done, generally the bar will open up, everyone will come in for a beer and a chat, and sort of a breakdown of what happened.”

The Roma army depot has instructional facilities for training on Tuesday afternoons. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

He said the idea is that you can be a member of the army reserves, and still have a full-time job.

“I live about 120km west of Charleville, which makes it about a four-hour drive, and I’ve found a way to be accommodated at this depot,” Lieutenant Pulsford said.

“We want to have our soldiers as engaged and doing as much time with the unit as they can, realistically.

“People have their own lives in the reserves; They’ve got their own jobs, their own businesses, their own families, so if they’re unable to attend an event or a training weekend, that’s absolutely fine.

“On the inverse of that, for people who join and find that they want to devote even more time to it, there’s generally always opportunities coming up for people to reach out and do a little bit more.”

Lieutenant Pulsford said that as well as providing people with an additional source of income, it can give people the opportunity to experience the mateship and camaraderie the army is known for, and training to help their communities in times of need.

At an in-person peak behind the barbed wire fence, the Roma army depot welcomed more than 30 people on the evening of Tuesday, May 21. To find out more about joining the Australian Army Reserve or the depot visit https://www.facebook.com/2549RQR/.